The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1875-03-20
Testimony OH. 6, Myers before
the Congressional G Committee.
DIRECT EXAMINATION By COL, FIELDS.
January @s9,.1675. IL

y l.
Natchitoches and Rapides. r..
Q. Where were you born
A. l was born in Louisville, Ky fl"
Q. How long have you lived IN tho
State Of Louisiana
A. l have lived in Louisiana since
was twelve years ofage, l am now
40. "'N.. ~ - T.
O.. What is your profession !; what
is ,ypur' business { ID -, - 80 ra',r,
A. I am a lawyer. ...,...,
"a: Have You held auy official po-
! sitipn III this State:H@''aed a'.Fi''a nH
"A, / was Parish Judgs of Natchi.
toches from 1870 to March 1874. .qaa
Q. You were appointed District
Judge afterwards Nv
A. Yes, sir $50 f...' '"'''1' IT,
@. Have you ever held. any posi-.
ton under the United States Govern
mehti ....
A. was appointed prior to that
U. S. Register Of Lands. ''' d. q
Q. By whom were you commission
"A. I was commissioned by. Presi,
dent Craft.
aaQ!Are you weltacquaiutcd ID The
Parish ufi lSatch,tOches I X 's9#t 29!
- a., I, am very,svell acquainted in
| tile parish of Natchitoches. -, 4.,..o
70 Were you il the army : :" ,>''
! A. Confederate armyi 's'..''
* <. NJ. sir, did rot go i, into III. w VI
twas opposed to secession bnt when
the tconscript lawn was passed. was
bound to take some steps l. was osp.
pointed on post, duty at Shreveport
q. We're you. in the lines of the
Confederacy during the whole war -
A. Yes, sir, i was within the lines
of the Confederacy during tho whole
war. TIA e,y -,-f,. et,a e-e,f.--. 'fu,
a. When did you become identi;
fed with the Republican party as It
uowaexists1ioi.isi aasaa! O; r 1,l'f'-~h
IA. In1869, that ia, in that parish.
| became a member Of the party here
in 1867, at a club room over "Victor'a''
it was then held over "Victor's," on
Canal str1et.ns '3@ i'it''aiI ~ i
q. State nov ii! that you know in
relation to the political troubles; eat
RACES and difficdltiaa in that, parish,
tho parish Of Natclitoches, meant
| A. Upto 1872, ,I.thiuk. Natclitas
ches parish was considered the most
peaceable parish in this State aqd
even then, 1T twas 2,ptaoeablo.' A'rho
FIRST. disturbance;l think, secured -
little before the election, in'l872. The
control of the Registration laws DO,
ing in tie hands Of Governor War
moth. It was GENERALLY nooted
around, that in as'much as he had
been beneficial, to the Republican
party, the Democrats would try it.
They thought it was very good law
this time. The Republican eandi.
dates were, bo~ever, returned elected.
In March, 1879, I did what l thought
had never been done in the parish, at
least, If in the State before. l got
THE Republican party TO appoint d
cUhimitteo til wait On the Democratic
party of that parish for the purpose
81 dfvidms tie Offices With them. /
was appointed chairman If the Re
publican committee, and C0l. VIM.
NJ. Levy was chairmad'of che Demo-
cratic committee. Judge Morse, a
leading member ,,pf the Democratic
party, was q member Of that com.
mittvs. We met in consultation and
agreed upon q divisiosy The Repab-
licans to take the Parish Judge; the
Democrats to take the Serif the
Republicans the Clerk " tk6a Court
the Democrats the Recorder, and the
District Judge Was to have fbeen ~.
lected BY the Republicans from the
Democratic party; tue reason of that
was that there was one member d
that party who had sense enough "a
keep his mouth shut, whatsoever might
have been his opinion. That wal
agreed upon. The convention bad
!, organized and tue next day 1t met
hue 0eSe Morse whom the paperl
. was eo.bo. signed by, tho pEspBs Of
! ficers, ofathe, ecQpWittes ,eudt ,thost
gentleman who aspired at those 20.
sitions were allowed to make 4 speecl
, in tho convention although the!
. were not delegates. The enthusiasm
! went to such an, extent a. to dete
Gen. Morse from making any report
He stated that nothing had been done
But in 1875, W. carried !; sut TIL
part of the, programme. Col. Burke
q prominent Democrat in that parish
was. elected hy the, Democrats 10
{ Sheriff, Mr.. Meziere, 4 Republican, a
, Clerk, ard Geo. w. Kearney, Record
H, and1' wass unasin0usly selscte'
q, tho PariNsh 1pdge.. In rthe1 mean
d time, the conysntion put up. for nom
, inatioh q gentleman, MI. C. "a
= District Judge sbut'thBl balance 1
tho prseshmn6 asad1bssn satried 6d'
d After the election 10 laaS We mad
: another compromise we CAV
/ the Democrats three Democrat
:. II iPolice 'Jnr6K,Hg6d wS vb0k tt,
= The aubdtHmpatsS iwhs that the
A. ware tebaEss Oatrol sftlle Parocbi'
:, goyy.er9HsssAt; s,IEhAy. conceived Il!
parish had 4 sum tdis IL money 9l50,N
!, bolougidk - the parish -they inst
!, tuted snis, ttvept to the Distrit coar
= i was tried before a jury, the
|, brought in verdict against him f
: $1,000, the basiG OF which 'kno
70 aot. ~ webtetol ihs auprsms Coo
alaPpeal sod nthey decision sfatl
y Jury was 1eyersed, The judgment b
j ing to the effect, that the parish b,
III % sansa. Of complaint; that the n
"a co'lsrtor had collected, this mon,