Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-01-21

and II state as conceded fact any matter that
is disputed they can correct me-" After stating
the origin of the difficulty, which grew out OF an
attempt OF white persons to drive the Parish
Judge and Sheriff, appointees OF Kellogg. from
Office, and their attempted protection by colored
persons, which led to some lighting IN which quite
q number OF negroes were killed, the Judge states
that "most Of those who were killed were taken
prisoners. Fifteen or sixteen of the blacks had
lifted the boards and taken refuge under the noOr
Of the CourtHous They were all captured;
about thirty-seven men we're taken prisoners; the
number 10 not definitely fixed. They were kept
by two and shot Most Of the men were shot to
death. A few were wounded, not MORALLY, and
by pretending to be dead were afterward, during
The night, able TO make their escape. Among
them Was the Levi Nelson named in the indict-
ment. The dead bodies OF negroes killed In this
affair were left unburicd till Tuesday, April l5
seer Of b @1 militia prsans These
sons found ffty-nine dead bodies. They showed
pistol shot wounds the great majority In the beart
addition TO the dead found some charred remains
OF dead bodies were discovered near the Court
House. Six dead bodies we're found under
warehouse, all shot in the heart but one or two,
which were shot In the breast The only white
men injured from the beginning OF the troubles
to their close were Hadnot and Harris. The
Court House and It's contents were entirely con-
sumod. There is no evidence that anyone In the
crowd Of the whites bore any lawful warrant for
the arrest Of any Of the blacks. There is no EVIL
dence that either Eash or Cazabat, after the
even set up claim to legally act, but the Regis
.er continued to act as Parish Judge"
These are the facts In the case, as understand
them to be admitted. To hold the people OF
Louisiana generally responsible for these afroc-
titles would not be just; but 1t is lamentaDle
fact that insuperable obstructions were thrown In
the way Of Furnishing these murderers, and the so
called Conservative" papers OF the State not
only justified the massacre bat denounced as
:. Federal tyranny and despotism, the attempt OF
the United States officers to bring them to JUS
tice Fierce denunciations ring through the
country about ofice-holding and election
matters in Louisiana, while every one. Of
justice, and no way can be found In this
boosted land of civilization and Christianity to
punish the perpetrators Of this bloody and mon
Not unlike this was the massacre in August last.
Several Northern young men Of capital and en-
terpriss had started the little and hourishing town
and ofiice-holders under Kellogg. They were,
therefore, doomed to death. Six OF them were
seized and carried away from their homes and
ished and the :" Conservative" press of the State
denounced all efforts to that end and boldly justi-
fed the crime.
committed In individual cases which cannot here
be detailed. For example: T. s. Crafford Judge
OF the parish. and the District Attorney OF the
Twelfth Judicial District OF the state, on their
way to the court were shot from their horses by
men In ambush on the 9th Of october. 1873, and
the wife of the former, in communication to the
Department Of Justice, tells Piteous tale OF the
persecution OF her husband because he WAS
Union man, and Of the efforts made to seize those
who had committed q crime which, to use her lam
guage, = left two widows and nine orphans deco
To say that the murder of a negro q white
Republican is not considered a crime In Louisi.
ana would probably be unjust to great part OF
the people, but IL Ii true that great number OF
such murders have been committed and no one
has been punished therefor, and it is manifestly
true that the spirit OF hatred aud violence there Is
stronger than law.
Representations were made to me that the pres
ence Of troops in Louisiana was unnecessary, and
that there was no danger OF public disturbance II
they were taken away Consequently, early
last summer the troops were Withdrawn
from the State with the exception of
q small garrison at New Orleans barracks. 1t was
pervened; that the political excitement as to
Louisiana affairs seemed to be dying out; but the
November election was approaching and IT was
necessary for party purposes that the flame should
be relghted Accordingly, on the 18th OF Sep
tember ID. b. Penn, claiming he was elected Lieu
tenant Governor Ia 1872, issued an infammatory
State to arm, assemble and drive out the 'usurp-
ere, az he designated the officers Of the State.
The White Leaguers, armed and ready
formal requisitIon upon me in pursuance
OF the act OF 1895, and Sec OF the Constitution,
to aid in suppressing domestic violence. On the
next day issued my proclamation commanding
the insurgents to dispense within five days from
the date thereof, but before the proclamation
was published In New Orleans the organized and
armed forces, recognizing usurping Govern
mcnt, had taken forcible possession Of the State
House and temporarily subverted the govern
ment. Twenty or more people were killed, in
Guiding a number Of the police Of the city, The
streets OF the city were stained with blood. All
that was desired in the way of excitement had
been accomplished.
Prior to and with view to the late election in
Louisiana, white men associated themselves to-
gether In armed bodies called 8 White Leagues"
and at the same time threats were made In the
Democratic journals of the State that the cleo
ton should be carried against the Republicans at
all hazards, which very naturally greatly alarmed
Of Of Feb % ISL i Is made .rt the .h dq
deputies, At the polls where votes are cast for
Representatives In Congress, to keep the peace
and prevent any violations OF the so.calied En-
forcement act and other offenses against the laws
Of the United States, and upon requistion Of the
Marshal Of Louisiana. and in view of said armed
organization and other portcntous circumstances,
caused detachments OF troops to be sta
toned In various localities In the State to aid him
In the performance OF his official duties
| and the enforcement OF the State laws. The
officers and troops OF the United States may well
have supposed that II was their duty to act when
called upon by the Government for the purpose
That there was intimidation Of the Republican
voters at the election, notwithstanding this pre-
caution, admits Of no doubt. The following are
specimens OF the means used: On the 18th OF Oc-
tober eighty persons signed and published the
Following u shreveport. we, the unuerslkneu
merchants OF the city of shreveport, In obedience
to request OF the Shreveport Campaign Club,
agree to use every eDdeavor TO get our employees
TO vote the Peoples ticket at the ensuing cleo
ton, and In the event of their refusal
so to do, or In case they vote the Radical
ticket. to refuse TO employ them at the expiration
of their present contracts" On the same day an
other large body Of persons published In the same
place q paper In which they used the following
language: "We, the undersigned merchants of the
city Of Shreveport alive to the great importance
of securing good and honest Government to the
State, do agree and pledge ourselves not to adj
vance any supplies or money to any planters the
coming year who will give employment or rent
lands TO laborers who vote the Radical ticket in
the coming election"
have no information of the proceedings of the
Returning Board for the said election which may
not be found in Its report. which has been pub
lished, but II Is matter of public information
that great part OF the time taken to canvass the
votes was consumed by the arguments oflawyers,
several Of whom represented each party before
the Board. have no evidence that the proceed
ings of this Board were not in accordance with
the law under which they acted. Whether in
excluding from their count certain returns they
were right or wrong Is question that depends
upon the evidence they had before them; but 1t
is very clear that the law gives them the power, IL
they chose to exercise It, to decide that way, and
| prina fdcie, the persons whom they return az
selected entitled to the offices for which they
were candidates.
Respecting the alleged interference by the mil
ifary with the organization OF the Legislature Of
4 IL H. s~.s L..