The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-12-27

largely IN excess Know only from reports
THE SHAMEFUL NrsRULE OF THE REPUBLICANS
The state government for the past eight
years has beer very bad, having wrrng
heavy taxation from the people, conferred
no benefits on the people and had not the
confidence Of the people, either white or
black, as far as his personal observation ex-
tended The state tax upon the dollar val
uatioB IS Il mills; prior To the present sys-
tenn II was two per cent Lands were report
ed being assessed at more than their market
value ia New Orleans. On his property, as
sessed at sO0o, the state tax is Sl16 and the
city tax SIG The city tax IL determined
by the CITY council. which IS now demo-
cratic His property, IL sold at auction,
would not bring over Sc 900. Would be will
ling to take s., 600, what he gnye Tor it. Wit
ness was Intercepted at great length in ref
erenee TO the subject of taxation and the or
ganization of the Judiciary of the state under
the republican regime, and his objections
10 the latter system as adopted, and the uni
verSal powers conferred on the government
He said unless they had democratic admin
istntion it would be impossible to have
democratic state administration. We elected
a democratic state government, but the re-
turning board reversed that order. This S
a matter of fact. In common with eminent
counsel, think the law creating the return
ing board is unconstitutional, but it did con-
fer the power upon the returning board an
der certain contingencies to reject
votes No tribunal in the state has the
power to decide the uncOnstitutionality of
the returning board as created. III there was
a change of the national administration the
national government will see that the state.
has a republican form of government, or
at least one fairly elected by the people.
/ Though the supreme court had decided that
| il had no power to go behind the acts of the
returning board IN one or two instances
could not state what process would be
necessary in order to have the
/ supreme court pass upon the constitution
ality of the law creating the returning board.
Thought the board had violated the law
/ creating it in throwing ont three polls in
| Concordia. The boxes were sent for and
counted by the board. In East Baton Rouge,
where the supervisor also rejected polls,
the board refused to do so and there were
other instances. This action made
( difference OF about 900. In poll
! , in the 1lth ward over 500
votes were thrown ont bv the supervisor
on the ground of intimidation, and the
board had refused to go behind his rejection;
knew that large number of votes had been
/ thrown out by the board the ground of
/ intimidation thus making republican ma
| jority Witness was asked and detailed the
/ operation of the sewing machine circulars
used by the republicans in reference to reg
/ istration. all of which has been heretofore
: sale issuance of warrants was 10 keep many
/ from the polls.
a SPECIMEN LEAP OF CLOVER.
In one case Mr.. Clover, registrar of Fast
Baton Rouge, was a member of the Missis-
! sippi legislature last year, and not a legal
voter in the state Had seen a certificate of
the auditor of Mississippi that Glover had
drawn pay as clerk OF the board of equalza-
! ton up to last December but Clover had
1 4 10 10 4bo 70 locf
ness was asked if a large number of warrants
for fraudulent registration against
colored men had not been sworn out by the
democrats before the republicans had war
/ rants issued for democrats, and replied that
il such was the case it was without his
knowledge.
| Witness was asked by Senator Oglesby in
reference TO the organization of the rifle
clubs in 0uachita, and stated that he knew
nothing of them until after the election, and
! that the instructions issued by the commit
tee early in the campaign were not carried
out in the interior OF the state.
To Mr.. Wadleigh: Wasin the United States
army from lS45 to 1855, when left it and
settled here; was in the confederate army in
1868. Belonged to the order OF Knights of
the White Camelia, which was intended to
perpetuate the government. 1t was a secret
organization. Think there were members of
the republican party in it. Could not re-
J
I banded in 1863. The ritual was published
! in Newman's Methodist paper. The order
had no affiliation outside of the
state. Knew nothing of the organi-
zation of the ku klux. Had belonged
| to the Crescent City White League club,
which was not a secret one. Didn't know
of any captains of rifle clubs in 0uachiia.
Had never heard of them till after the cleo
ton. Had never heard aught from
that parish during the canvass except
that all was quiet and peaceable.
! Knew nothing of the killing of Rhodes,
Johnson and Others. Heard Dinkgrave's
murder was personal, not political. Heard
that troops were riding through East Baton
Rouge telling negroes il they voted the dem
ocratic ticket they would be arrested. Be
lieved the republicans desired collision be-
tween the races. Witness said in answer to
a question that had a collision occurred dur
ing the election IL would have been used by
the republicans 10 influence the people there
against the people of the south and against
the democratic party there. DIDN'T know,
that the number of colOred people killed in
the south since the war was thousands.
Didn't think all the violence committed in
the state was due TO political causes. The
examination of the witness lasted nearly
six hours, after which the committee adj
journed till 1880 to night.
EVENING SESSION.
Samuel McEnery was the first witness
called. Born and raised in 0uachita parish
Resided there during the late campaign. j
am lawyer and member of the dem
ocratic party. Was chairman of the
executive committee of the parish
All the colored men took an active part
Several of these were presidents of colored
clubs. The parish is divided into seven
wards On the nights of the 18th and 30th
of August, lsiah CARROTS and Mr.. Cham
- e.-la k~-I<.~
and Mr. Foulcks's, IL miles below, all on the
Ouachita river, were fired into. Up
TO that time the parish had been
very quiet, except a few days before, when a