New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-01-28

telling what would happen; colored men
are terrOrized and they constantly fear
violence; white Republicans are ostracised
that l know Of; there was no tree expression
OF political views and the control was in
| the hands of few men; those men are
leaders Of the Conservative or White
| League party; they would like to over.
throw the State government; there still
exists q spirit of hostility to the govern.
ment; there is an antagonism to equal
rights; an impartial election could not
have been held in that country;
the several massacres have had continual
effect to intimidate colored men; weeks and
weeks after the COushatta massacre colored
men did not dare to remain at their homes
at night; l think that no free or fair election
could have been held in Louisiana; white
no persedal knowlege OF the Coushatta
murders; when I visited Shreveport there
was but little semblance of law; there was a
volunteer police, but it had no authority to
act; 1t would not be safe for stranger
to travel through the Red river country
and declare himself a Republican; an
once was vacant in that section and
two gentlemen who conversed with me
about it, stated that they would not dare to
accept q commission; think that the people
generally consider that if man is q Re.
publican he can have no integrity; it would
make no difference how honest Republican
ofhclals might be they would not be re-
spected in Office or out; am engaged in
making report of all the massacree and
political murders in Louisiana since 1866;
IN numerous instances colored men were
deferred from voting because of the fear en-
gendered by the massacres; do not know of
single instance where colored man vol
unfairly voted the Democratic ticket; do
not believe Republican speaker would
have been tolerated; in some instances he
might have got half through, but under
most circumstances he would have been
drawn into quarrel had he tried to avoid
it; do not have any positive knowledge of
the existence of White League in Streve-
port, but think there was one; there WAS an
organization Of white people; 1 will furnish
THIS committee copy Of my official reports
OF the condition Of affairs in Louisiana;
previous to the last election there were uni
versa! threats Of discharging colored men if
they voted the Republican ticket: those
threats had their effect.
The committee adjourned until half.pas:
seven o'clock P. NJ.
Evening Session.
Major Merrill recalled-To Mr.. Marshall:
did not obtain all my information from
one side; my reports are based on informa.
ton from various sources; have no politi.
cal bias or prejudice in this matter; have
had conversations with Kellogg. Packard,
Pierson, Twitchell, Ray and Field, bus they
did not influence my mind particle; DO
not know that Pierson and Twirchell had
anything to do with the Legislature my
conclusions are made up from observa-
tons and reports made to me by subal-
terms; the chief crime that the cOlOred
people are guilty Of is petty larceny; my
experience ls that they are very generally
truthful; have had considerable intimate
knowledge of the race in DeSoto parish
negroes are deliberately robbed before a
justice OF the peace; as a class the Demo-
Gratis are the mostinteiligent in the country;
white men commit crimes and are not pun.
ished for their otfenses as strictly as negroes
are; white people generally assert that
there has been maladministration and cor.
rupt men in State Offices; taxation has been
unreasonably high and white people regard
the State government as oppressive.
CrOss-examination reSumed-Never heard
OF Republican meeting in Caddo parish
am very sure that in the last election col
ored men did not vote there or register
freely; they did not dare to; when l was I'D
the river after election day many colored |
people called on me to know what they |
should do about being discharged, because |
Of their having voted the Republican ticket: |
in Caddo parish there are at least 500 col. !
oreo men out of employn ent for that reason;
had proofs that hundreds Of negroes were |
discharged because they refused to vote as |
the whites demanded; the consequence is |
and will be that those unfortunates will take |
TO the woods and must steal or starve: | !
made afh6avits against some residents be- |
tore United States commissioner hoping |
hereby to arouse feeling among some Of |
ihe best citizens 10 induce the worst to obey |
he civil law; the civil law was not resisted |
Il that instance.
To Judge Hoar-Have never seen hand.
bills calling on employers to discharge en-
,loyes who did not vote the Democratic
icket. but have seen notices to that effect.
Lieutenant De RudiO-BelOng to the cav
Try, and have been stationed at St. Mar
insville: went there last October; on the
econd of October last went with United
states marshal to help serve writs at Breaux
5rldge; while SO doing some men saluted |
IS with three cheers for the White League;
vhen at Breaux Bridge colored people in.
orned us that white men had robbed them
+ their firearms, and asked Us to make
rrests; we were told that if we made an
rrest the prisoner would be rescued;
7e took one prisoner, and on the
7ay some mounted men talked to him. but
could not hear what they said; we arrested
mother man the following day, and took
9th to st. Martinsville; on election day we
Tere short distance from st. Martinsvllle, |
nd when crossing field saw a squad of
len that q man told US were White Leagers;
e met some colored men who told US that |
hey had not voted and dared not, unless
ley voted the Democratic ticket, which |
icy would not do; several days afterward |
as at New Iberia. where / saw a cortege
about 800 mounted men, who must have
armed where the prisoners were; they gave
iree cheers for the White League, and had
band OF music; these men appeared to sign .
lnds for the prisoner; United States Com
issioner Riddell took bonds; we did not 90
l the way back to St. Martinsviile that !
ght, but remained at a gentleman's house
'ar the bayou, and started for St. Martin I
'xt day.
The committee adjourned until ten O'Clock
is morning, when the last named witness .
II continue his testimony. 2