Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-01-29
LOUISIANA.
Governor EellOgG's Message in Regard
TO the Troubles i'm Certain
Parishes.
Document Prepared for Bloody
Shirt MortOa's Especial Benefit
Etc, Etc.

NEW ORLEANS, January 2S. - The
house having passed resolutions ask
ing Governor Kellogg for Information
in regard to the troubles in the parishes
OF East and West Feliciana, East Baton
r ugs AID st. Helena, tae governor
sent a lengthy message, in which he
Gays: 81 have the honor to transmit
herewith such facts and official reports
as have come to my knowledge, or are
in nay possession. A disturbed cOndi-
tiOn of affairs began to manifest itself
in the parish Of East Feliciana in the
summer OF 1873. The parish has a from
tier Of about twenty miles, bordering on
the State of Mississippi, and Clinton,
the parish seat, is distant ODlya feWmiles
from the counties in Mississippi which,
at that time, were considerably dis
turbed. An election campaign was in
progress in the neighboring State, at
tended by excitement and bloodshed."
Here follows the correspondence be-
tween the executive and the parish Off
cials, most o! which has been published,
the governor says: "About this time
John Gair, formerly a member of the
house Of representatives from the ps rish
Of E ist Feliciana; Hon. r. r. Ray, the
present member Of the house from that
parish, and T. NJ. J. Clark, recorder of
the parish, waited upon me at the state
house in this city, and represented that
they had been compelled to flee from
their homes in East Felicisns, and were
threatened with death if they returned
tl the parish. / subsequently had in
terview5 with gentlemen of influence
and prominence ia that parish. and in
the early part OF August, when l left the
State for short time, had every as
surance from them that the peace would
be preserved. Subsequently, John Gair
was arrested, charged as accessory before
the fact of poisoning DR.. j. w. Saunders,
and while being taken toward Clinton
by a deputy-sherif and posse, was
shot to death by an armed mob. His
sister-in.law was hung in Clinton court
house squaTen The governor ssys: Il
have bat scanty official information of
the very serious disorders in West Fell
cisna parish" Here follows a dispatch
from the sheriff of West Feliciana, de-
tsiIipg the burning of gins and stores
Tne governor Gays: "The complaint
appears to be that the keepers Of fcountry
stores purchased stolen seed cotton and
cltton from the Legroes, resort being
had TO the torch OF the incendiary to
remedy this alleged evil, and equally
lawless measures were adopted in repri-
sal by the burning Of gin-h0uses, etc.
Much valuable property has been de-
stroyed in this manuer, and some worthy
citizens have been rendered homeless or
driven away. The sheriff was dire cted
to exhaust sli the means at his disposal
for ihe maintenance of public order, and
for that purpose to call upon all law
abiding citizens to assist him. Tne dis.
orders prevailing in the Felicianss ex-
tended to the sdjoiniDg parish OF East
Baton R3ugen Correspondence be-
tween officials again fjllows. The
governor ssys: "With regard to the Ie
ported disturbances in the parish of st.
H5lena, | have no official Information,
and no official reports Of any Of the cir
cumstances connected with these crimes
has been msde to the executive depart
ment, DOR so far as am aware, has any
Indictment besn found or any legal in
vestjgaiiOn been held"