Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-01-02

/ forts 81 intimidation, except WHAT vas lOlu
| him by Gov. Wells; is an old line Wing
never voted the Democratic ticket in his
| life; was a Union man during the war was
arrested by the COnfederates and thrown
into prison with 800 negroes and Jayhawk Z
ers; had never made any effort to influence
the cOlOTed men on his place 10 vote Tor the
Conservatives; did not know OF his neigh
bOrs taking any such steps; the eoiored
people became dissatisfied with the heppo-
iican party because Of bad local govern
ment and the failure Of the Freedmans
Savings Institution.
A TAX Collector Heard OF no EntiEns
idatiOn.
MiclsR. LeGras, Tax Collector OF
Rapides parish, testified: Don't know Of
any unusual effort being made to get the
negroes to vote the Conservative ticket.
Heard Of no intimidation. Heard no col
ored person say he had been threatened
with discharge on account Of voting the
I Republican ticket. Heard nor knew of
nothing but a friendly feeling between the
blacks and whites. Believed any honest
man who attended to his own business and
let other peoples alone, could live in
Rapides parish and exercise his political
rights without regard to party.
A Defeated COlOred Candidate Ex.
plains the Situation.
Joseph COnnaught, c0lored candidate for
the Legislature in Rapides parish, told a
dOleful tale about threats and intimidation.
He heard Of White Leaguers riding over
the country and threatening negroes, bUt
never saw them. The whites made threats
after, not before the election. Gave no no
tice that be intended to contest the cleo
ton, but told Mr.. McManus four days after
the election that he would do so. The
majority against him was about 800, but
he has been counted in by the Returning
Board.
Why the Negroes Voted the COnsePv.s-
tive Ticket.
Benz. Cooper, Of Rapides parish, planter,
eight miles from Alexandria, testified that
he never saw any White Leaguers in his
neighborhOOd. Never heard Of a''y except
in New Orleans. When asked to explain
the reason why the negroes voted the Con-
sentative ticket, be said: Gin my neighbOr-
hood, few days before the election, a col
Ored preacher made a speech, telling the
eolOred people that about $4,000 Of the
school fund had been deposited in the
Freedman's Savings Bank, at New Orleans,
and the bank had busted" This produced
great dissatisfaction among the cOlored peo-
pie, and after that about forty Of them told
him they were going to vote with him.
aIr. LeCIerk, Chief Of Police,
testified that he had information that those
persons who were elected or claimed 10 be,
would 90 the State-house in such force as
to be able to install themselves; that if per-
sons attempted to meet who we're not duly
elected by the Returning Board, difficulty
would ensue; that he called Gen.
Brooks attention 10 the matter. He knew
Ofn0thing TO prevent such a body from meet
ing. Only those declared elected by the Re
turning Board were allowed to meet. Men
had been drilling in the street. He knew
Of no law to prevent persons from drilling.
II the Democrats should attempt to expel
the Republicans, there would be trouble;
if the Democrats went there claiming to
represent the people and nobody interfered
with them, there would be no difficulty.
DR.. Lueketf, Of RaPides,
testified that the election was as quiet as
any be ever knew. Many cOlOred peoP'
voted the Conservative ticset, but {
through intimidation.
Capt. ROdiey, OF New Orleans,
bad been there two years. His business
had declined because of the bad govern
ment. He bad mandatory in Wheeling,
Va, and sold goods in New Orleans. Their
business had declined from a sale Of $780,
600 10 $4,000.
Isham Jones, Of Assum ptiOn,
testified that he was a Republican did
not vote for the Republicans in 1872 be-
cause he could not affiliate with those Of
that party in his section. The election
was fair; he never saw one eOndUcted more
quietly.
Capt. i, w. Sylvester, Of Sc. Landry,
is n planter and Republican, but voted
the mixed ticket al the late election has
never been Ostracised because Of his poll
tics; was a soldier in the Federal army:
knows colOred men who voted the Demo
cratic ticket; knows Of nothing in the con-
dition Of society that prevents a man from
being Republican.
N. III. TWitcheII, OF Red River,
a planter by occupation, said lie has lived |
in the parish four years; was Union sol |
der; was married in Bienvi'le parish; IS a |
Republican; there have been attempts at |
OstTacism, but he felt it very lightly since |
the murder of his brother; the people |
there seemed very anxious TO speak |
with him, doubtless hoping he would |
assist them out Of the trouble they |
were in; the reign Of terror did not |
set in until just before the Coushatta affair; |
he was warned by his friends to get away, |
and left. He knew it would not be safe to |
return there in the absence of United |
States troops.
Other Republican witnesses complained |
of social OstraciSm.
The committee adjourned at II p. N. |
to meet at the custOm-hOuse at 10 A. NJ. to- |
morrow