The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1876-11-03
The Army, and Freedom Of Discussion

two highly respectable white citizens
Of this parish respecting the conduct
Of Lieut.. McAuley ut a recent politi-
miles below this city. We have never
heard before of a similar case of inter
ference by an officer of the army with
the immemorial usage, common at all
public meetings, of interrogating
speakers on the stand nor OF any
speaker who was not only willing, but
even DESTROYS of being Intercepted.
Lieut.. McCawley appears to have Sc,
out to reform the manners and customs
of the American people, and will
doubtless add an appendix, in tina,
direction, to the Army Regulations;
provided, always, Uncle Sammy Tilden
does not add one himself as Comman-
der-in-Chief Of the Army and Navy:
PARISH OF OUAcHrrA, STATE OF LOUISIANA.
Personally appeared before me, the
undersigned authority, Filhiol Wat
kins, a resident of Ouachita parish, who
being sworn says that he on the Both
October, 1876, at Cuba in this parish,
WIS present at Republican meeting;
that there were present ut said meeting
about twelve United States soldiers
The soldiers were stationed about one
hundred yards from the meeting
Lieut.. McAuley and one soldier wer,
immediately present. o. II. Brewster,
Geo. Il. Hamlet, cOtoreu sheriff of Qua
chita parish, John IL. Dinkg grave, U. $.
Deputy Marshal and candidate on the
radical ticket for District Attorney,
and w. II. Hardy, Parish Attorney,
spoke, and were violent and vindictive;
denounced the white people of this
country as liars, thieves and scOundreis;
they appealed to the race prejudices OF
the negroes, telling them that the
whites were their worst enemies, and
if they voted the Democratic tickle,
they would be placed in Il worse condi-
ton than VIXEN they were slaves. Their
speeches were calculated to produce
riot and bloodshed. A. A. Lacy, :,
white citizen, in Il respectful, quiet and
pelceable manner addressed w. II.
Hardy, who was speaking, for the pur-
pose of getting Hardy to explain II por-
ton of his speech. Lieut.. NfcAuicy or
dcrcd Lacy to sit down; that he had no
right to say anything; that Mr.. Hardy
was not addressing him, and that he
would arrest if he did not sit down.
AT the same time Il negro in the audi
ence drew Il pistol and presented it at
Mr.. Lacy. A large number of the
negroes in the audience were armed
with pistols and clubs. J. IL. Dinl1-
grave, U. S. Deputy Marshal, told the
negroes that if any white men dis
charged any of them to come to him
that he would fine him $500 and divide
the amount out among the negros. AS
far as he could hear, he heard the drum
and fife playing, as the Republican
speakers and soldiers approached the
place of meeting.
Two negroes, MCGEE and Bill Watts,
and others, stated on yesterday that /,
resolution (unwritten) in secret meet
ing was adopted by the Radicals, to kill
Democratic negroes.
Deponent further states that perfect
order and quiet existed in his neigh
borhood, and in fact all over Ouachit:.
parish; that there was and is no ncccs-
sity OF using troops at Republican
meetings. FILHroL WATKINS.
Sworn to and subscribed before me
this LIST November, 1876.
+. McCLOE, J. Z.
PARISH OF OUAcuIrA, STATE OF LOUISIANA.
Personally appeared before me the
undersigned authority, DIR. II. c.
Burch, 4 resident of Ouachita parish,
who being sworn deposes and says that
on Monday last, the 3Oth day of Oct,
1876, he was present ut Republican,
meeting at Cuba in the lower part of
this (OuachitaD parish. There were
some twelve soldiers in the vicinity,
the Lieutenant, McAuley, and one
soldier being Immediately present.
States the soldiers preceded the speak
crs, the drum and fife next. Passing
plantations the drum aud fife would
play and the negroes would be collect
ed and join the procession. At the
meeting, o. II. Brewster, J. II. Dink-
grave, deputy U. S. Marshal, w. r..
Hardy, Parish Atty, and one Gorham,
all white, made speeches., of Il violent
and incendiary character. They de-
nounced the white people and endeav-
ored to raise the race prejudices Of the
negroes. For long time past there
has been unusual good feeling prevail
ing between the races. There was no
necessity for L. S. soldiers accompany
ing the speakers to the place of speak
ing. There was no danger to them or
any one else and that said troops were
yrin I 70 SeiI f,lo NV, L.