The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-29
THE CONGRESSIONAL INVESTIGATION.

NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 81, 1878
Major Merrill was recalled before the Congress
sional Investiq asn9 Committee yesterday, and ex.
amined BY Mr.. Marshall.
The witness said:-I did not obtain all my In.
formation rom ore side; my reports are based
on information from various sources; have no
political bias or prejuctce in this matter; have
mad conversations with Kellogg, PACKARD, Pierson.
Twitchell, Ray and Field, but they did not In
nuence me particle; do not know that Person
and Twitchell had anything TO do with the Legis.
lature my conclusions are made from observa-
lions and reports made by subaierns; the chief
crime that the colored people are guilty OF Ii
petit larceny: my experience Is that they are
very generally truthful; have had considerable
intimate knowledge OF the race; In De Soto parish
the negroes are deliberately robbed before JUS
tlce OF the peace; as q class the democrats are
the most intelligent in the country; white men
commit crimes and are not punished Tor their
offences as strictly negroes are; the white peo-
pie generally assert that there has been malad.
mlnistraton and corrupt men IN the State on1ces;
taxation has been unreasonaoy hign aud the
white people regard the State government as op.
pressve.
DISCHARGE OF NEGROES.
Cross e. amin alton resumed Never heard OF
republican meeting In Caddo parish; am very
sure that in the last election the colored men did
not vote there or register freely; they did not
dare to; when was up the river election day
many colored people called on me to know what
they should do about being discharged for having
voted the republican ticket: In Caddo parish there
are at least 500 colored men out OF employ menS
for that reason; had proofs that 100 negroes
were discharged because they refused TO vote as
the whites demanded: the consequence Is, and
viii be. that these uniortunates will ta9e TO the
woods aud must steal or starve; made
gfF VII affatp dor n hat OIL
States commissioner hoping thereby 10 arouse
feeling among the best citizens 10 induce the
worst 20 OBEY the civil law; The civil law was nos
resisted in mat instance.
To Judge Hoar-l have never seen handbla
did not vote the democratic ticket out have seen
THE TESTIMONY TO-DAY.
To-day Is the sixth OF the Inve tigaticn before
the Congressional Committee. All Inc members
o. the committee are present;
Lieutenant De Rudlo testified IL belong to the
cavalry and nave oeen stationed az 81. Martins
vile went there Last octob r; on toe I'd of octo
Der last went with United states Marshal TO
help serve writs Of Hreaax fridge; while SO doing
some men saluted US with tDres cheers for the
wults League; when az Breaux Bridge the coiorsd
peope informed VA that white men had roDoed
them OF tnelr firearms, and asked US 10 make ar
rests: We were told that II we made al arrest the
orisoner would be rsscued; we TOOK one prisoner.
and. on the way, some mounted men talked TO
nm eut cSnd 20, near o wss .1ey sac oaa oo:
Dotn to ST. Martinsvilei 90 election gay We were
crossing deid, saw squad OF men soat msn
tod " we're VOL e Leagners.
CoLoaED VOTERS OvERAwED. -
We met some coored meu, woo told US tnat tney
had not voted and dared not unless they voted
the democratic ticket, winch they would not 90
several days aitefward was at New iberia, where
saw q cortGge OF about 800 mounted men. who
must have learned where the prisoners were
they gave three CHEERS Ior the White League, ana
uad o oand oil music; these ineu appeared 10 slGn
Tor the prisoners; United states commissioner
Riddle took tue pond; we did not 90 oil the way
PACK TO sf. Martlnsvills that night, but remained
&C . gsnteman's mouse and Stsrted for 1T.
uAstiusviIls tue next day. witness stated,