West Feliciana sentinel. (St. Francisville, La.) 1876-1877, 1876-12-02


during the said day of election. The
colored men at the said poll 4, and
throughout the Parish were impressed by
the said violent acts of the Democratic
''BulldOozers' that it would Ee exile or
death to them to vote the republican
ticket at the said election. While there
was, on election day, IL show of peace and
liberty of action at the said poll the con
viction of dar ger was still present with
most OF the republican electors, and they
voted under a duress as compelling as if
they had been marched before force
70 the polls. The same duvess operated
20 COMPEL those c0lorea Ipen of said Par
ish, who have signed certificates of fair
and peaceahIe. election in said Parish, to
append their names to said certiticates.-
Two colored men who had voted the
Democratic ticket at the said 4th ward
poll, under the durcss and Influences
mentioned, went home and exhibited
shame and distress when they r.aported
the fact to their families. At the said
poll, on the said day of election, a prorni-
ue8t colore,l republican took soure tick
cts, at atlantis request, for distribution.
After making active efforts to have the
c"i"red people to receive and vote the
said tickets, he retained to ailiant and
reported that 1t was no use that the col
"Tcd voters were afraid to vote a repuhli-
can ticket; that although at a large
gathering of voters on the morning of
November 5th, l@76, at Beach Grove
Church. it was unanimously resolved by
tnc 'o'"red voters present, to vote the
republican ticket at the said election:
yet. that the night raid of tie armed
"Sul!G0oEerS," Democrats above fnention-
eel, had so terrified them that they could
not be induced to vote the republican
ticket. At the said pol! Of ward number
ioHr, Il Democrat who was not n State
Commissioner kept n book in which he
recorded the names of all the coIorel
men who voted the republican ticket as
wetf a. Of those who voted the Demo
cratic ticket. But t,r This many co,orcd
men who voted the Democratic ticket
"ou!d have voted the republican ticket.
as the captains and other members of the
ciab5 had constantly and repeatedly
people that sIch as enrolled themselves
rs Democrats and voted the Democratic
ticket would have protection, and sncb
as Gid not would have no protection
from the ''Bulldozers," and that every
man would he watched ard marked on
the day OF election how he voted Aaia0t
iUrthcr states that such acts as above
Ytnp l,,l., 4,
lent character, occurring in the said
Parish of West Feiiciana during the two
or .ilcce months Just preceding. the SAID
general election of the 1til of November.
l-|o, brought about a condition of ter
ror among the Coorcd men in said Parish:
that the said acts and their conseuuerces
tit prevent and tend to prevent a full.
irc" and fair vote Of all the eIectors j.,
'2iL Parish 1T he said election That il
- the unera,i;cable conviction of af.iant
that with a full. free and fair expression
of the Will ofthc electors in the said Par
ISh of West feNciana. IT," majority tor
the republican National State aud Par
i-h t!"Hcts IN the said Parish, a; the said
election 0f the 1th of November. I-.6.
dred votes. This above and foregoing
statement is made without auv desire 81.
intention TO prptit by the same, for. al
though ai4iant is perfectly sure that he
wnu.d have been elected for the Office
for which lie ran. had the ballot boxes
expressed the will of the people, by more
than five hundred majority. he does not
intend t" accept the place, IN the event
OF the proper authorities declaring him
TO have been elected. In the present
troubtous times he prefers the walks of
private life, and has uatie the above and
foregoing a:tidavits in the interests
of truth and justice.
Loisnedl
Wh. d. .POSTLETHW4ITE.
Subscribed and sworn before Re, Nov.
22d, lo76. Lsigncdl