The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-01-14

=
which grew out Of an attempt of white per.
sons to drive the parish JGdge ana sheriff
fappoiutees Of Kealogg} from 0ftice, and their
attempted protection by colorea persons,
which led to some fighting, In which quite
number Of negroes were killed, the Judge
states: "Most of those who were not Killed
were taken prisoners. Fifteen or sixteen OF
the blacks had lifted the boards and taken
refuge under the floor Of the courthouse.
They were all captured. About thirty.seven
men were taken prisoners. The number is
not definitely fixed. They were kept under
guard until dark. when they were led out two
by two and shot. Most OF the men were
shot to death. A few were wound
ed, not mortally; and by pretending 10
be dead were afterwards, during the night,
able to make their escape. Among them
was the Levi Nelson named in the lpdict.
ment. The dead bodies of the negroes Killed
in this affair were left unburied until Tues
day, April 18th, when they were buried by
a deputy marshal and an officer of the militia
from New Orleans. These persons found
ffty-nine dead bodies. They showed pistol
shot wounds great majority in the head,
anu IllOSL vi Ill TIC paSh VI IuC pSats
Iu addition to the fifty.nine dead bodies
found, some charred remains of dead bodies
were discovered near the courthouse. Six
dead bodies were found under warehouse.
All were shot in the head but one or two,
which were shot in the breast. The only
white men injured from the beginning of
these troubles to their close were Hadnot
and Harris. The courthouse and its con-
tents were entirely consumed. There is no
evidence that any one in the crowd Of whites
bore any lawful warrant for the arrest Of any
of the blacks. There is no evidence that
either Nash or Cazlbat after the affair ever
demanded their offices, to which they had
set M claim. but Register continued to act
as parish Judge and Shaw as sheriff. These
are facts in this case Us understand them to
be admitted"
To hold the people of Louisiana generally
responsible for these atrocities would not be
just, but it is lamentabe fact that nSupcra-
ole distractions were thrown in the way OF
Furnishing these murdcrers, and the so-caled
Conservative papers OF the State not only
justified the massacre, but denounced as
Federal tyranny and deSpotism the attempt
of the United States officers to bring them 10
justice. Fierce denunciations ring through
the country about office-hoding and election
matters in Louisiana, while every one Of the
ColtaN miscreants goes unwhipped Of justice,
and no way can be found in this boosted
land of civilization and Christianity to pun
ish the perpetrators of this bloody and mon
strous crime. Not unlike this was the massa-
ere in August last. Several northern young
men of capital and enterprise had started the
little and flourishng town Of Coushatta
Some of them were Republicans and office.
holders under Kellogg. They were there
seized and carried away from their homes
and murdered in cold blood. No one has
been punished, and the Conservative
press of the State denounced all efforts
to that end and boldly justified the crime.
Many murders of like character have been
committed in individual cases which cannot
here be detailed. For example: T. S. Craw-
ford, judge, and p. II. Harris, district attor-
ney, of the Twelfth judicial district OF the
State, on their way to court, were shot from
their horses by men in ambush on the Sth OF
october, 1873 and the widow Of the former,
in communication TO the Department. Of
Justice, tells a ptcous tale of the perSecu-
lions of her husband because he was Union
man, and of the efforts made to screen those
who had committed crime which, to Use
her own language, cleft two widows and
nine orphans deSolate." To say that the
murder Of a negro or white Republican is
not considered crime in Louisiana would
probably be unjust TO great part of the
people, but it is true that great number of
Ich murders have been committed, and no
one has been punished therefor; and mani
testify, as to them, the spirit of hatred and
violence is stronger than law. Representa-
tions were made TO me that the presence of
troops in Louisiana was unnecessary and ir-
ritating to the people, and that there was
10 danger OF public disturbance if
they were taken away. Consequently, early
in last summer the troops were all With
drawn from the State with the exception Of
L small garrison at New Orleans barracks. 1t
was claimed that Il comparative state of quiet
had supervened. Political excitement as TO
Louisiana affairs seemed 20 be dying out, but
The November election was approaching, and
it vas necessary for party purposes that the
flame should be rekiudled. Accordingly, on
The 14th of September d. 2. Penn, claiming
that he was elected Lieutenant Governor in
1872, issued an intlammatory proclamation
calling upon the militia Of the State to arm,
assemble, and drive from power the usurp-
crs, - he designated the officers Of the State.
The White Leagues, armed and ready for
the conflict, promptly responded. On the
same day the Governor made formal re-
QUESTION upon me, pursuant TO the act of
1895 and section article of the Coustitu-
Lion, TO ala IN supprc>Sing domestic violence.
On the next day issued my proclamation
commanding the insurgents to disperse
within five days from the date thereof. But
before the proclamation was published in
Nn,I- lrlaans the ORC mir l and
recognizing uSurping Governor had taken
forcibe possession of the State.House and
temporarily subyerted the government.
Twenty or more people were killed, inclu.
ding number Of the police of the city. The
streets of the city were stained with blood.
All that was desired in the way of excite
ment had been accomplished, and, in view Of
the steps taken to repress it, the revolution
was apparently, though it is believed not
really, abandoned, and the cry of Fedora!
usurpation and tyranny in Louisiana was re.
ncwed with redoubled energy. Troops had
been sent to the State under this requlsition
Of the Governor, and as other disturbances
seemed imminent they were allowed to re.
main there to render the Executive such ad
as might become necessary TO enforce Inc
laws of the State and repreSS the continued
violence which seemed inevitable the mo-
ment Federal support should be withdrawn.
Prior to and with view to the late election
in Louisiana white men associated them
selves together in armed bodies called White
Leagues, and ut the same time threats were
made in the Democratic journals OF the State
that the election should be carried against
the Republicans at all hazards; which very
naturally greatly alarmed the coored voters.
By section 8 of the act Of February Is,
1871, it is made the duty Of United States
nnd thnlr danntinS at nnllS where