New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-12-22
rae SENATE COMMITTEE.
Ranrlh Uay.

TIE SENATE COMMITTEE.
Fe.r,h Day..
Tha committee met ut about halfpast ton
o'clock Yesterday, and frat considered Son
ktor McDonald's motion relative to obtain
M more data from the Returning Board,
but concluded to postpone 1t to future
4 discussion on the manner Of taking
Eliza Piukston's testimony followed.
The chairman asked whether either side
expected to add to or detract from that a.
III. White could not answer, Mr.. AcGloin
The matter then went over till today.
The chairman then asked how many wit
nesees would be offered on the Oaachita
III. Gorham said about forty or fifty wit
.nAsees. About twelve Or fifteen were here.
MI. White stated that it required thirty
ak hours to communicate with hie, but
would furnish list to be summoned by
telegraph during the day. They would not
likely be present till Tuesday.
Mr.. Gorhsm also stated to Senator NC
Donald that he had . complete list, whic b
included about 500 witnesses.
Senator Salisbury suggested that tne
inquiry should be limited.
Senator Mcdonald was satisfied that some
EQUITABLE rule would have to be adopted.
As one parish had been commenced 1t might
be better to conclude il, and then rule
could be adopted.
The chairman stated it was the desire OF
the committee to reach the truth IN regard
to the condition of certain places. 1t one
parish was dug over to establish whether or
not there was certain state exlsung, anu
the conclusion was that it did or did not,
then that would be q pretty good rule to de-
eide whether the same did or did not exist
in halt dozen others.
Senator Oglesby was disposed to limit the
matter There was no use of 100 witnesses
when twenty-five would prove the same
thing. He thought thirty witnesses Q side
from Ouachita would prove - much ae 500.
He was in favor of going on with 1t.
Senator Mcdonald was in favor Of going
on, but had not faith in the result being IN
average He noticed that there were twen-
ty-two parishes where votes were thrown
ont. He thought ct the end of this parish
the committee would have to be divided.
Senstor Mcmillan was in favor Of going
ON with the witnesses present, and it was
90 determined.
David GsIIager, to Senator Mcmillan
Was born in ireland; resided in Wisconsin
first: three yesrs in Ouachita; lived on Mr..
Whited's plantation; was there during last
summer and fall; states the first disturb
ance occurred July 4, 1876, at the Methodist
Church, where there was chlldren's pic
mic. about ten miles from Monroe: mp to
evening all was quiet and peacesble; then
= dispstch came from the Island that there
vas an anticipated uprising Of the colored
people; the bearers came there to notify
the rifle companies to 20 there that night,
as q fight was expected on the fifth; knew
afterward there were three rife com panies
orsanized-Csptains AcCloud, Burlington
and TheObalds; never saw them en- masse,
but frequently riding in squads day and
night visiting the different plantations;
three gentlemen waited on Mr.. Whited and
clnbe; only heard q small portion Of the
conversation; they went into dinner; Lieu
Tenant Ball lett q pistol on the gal
lery: both McEnerys we're with him;
they said nothing to me; thought l wae
q Democrat because was Irish; heard Mr.
Whited ask by what authority they had
come; said, 1--WE are the authority; We in
tend to win the election at all hazards.
The week after, Mr.. and Mrs. Whi,ed
of the bulldozers at the depot, and many
other men; they asked several who Mr.
Whited was, and alarmed both of them
very much; afterward, they rode to Mr.
BoWman's one mile from Whlted's, called
for water, used it, threw the bucket in the
road, and presented a revolver at the head
Of Mrs Bowman, an old lady; they asked
where Whited lived; on these things the
family expected trouble; about dark por
to the quarters; one of the hands came run
ming across the field, crying that they were
killing Uncle Ben. This so alarmed Mr.
and Mrs. Whited and me that We left
the house for the cotton field; 1t also
90 terrified the hands that they ran through
the fields to the house; began to be afraid
they would clean ont the house; all left the
house and went back into the cotton field
remained there all night; two or three bull
danger to Mr.. Whited or family; came bacl
Sunday morning; about two weeks previous
to the election went to Democratic bar
becue; after the speaking they commenced
organising Q colored club; told me they go'
sixty-two TO join; saw the way they gol
come; those who were reluctant they
dragged out to 1t; the next thing was the
election; went to the polls at twelve ant
remained two hours; sll peaceable there, M
disturbance; for . very good reason-ther<
was no one to m nike 1t; it was all on'
they hunted the man who tried tt
distribute them; carried one in bis pocket
the colored people had to have their tickets
examined; the Republican was blue, th'
Democratic buff and white; there wer'
thirty-one Republicans voted; only twenty
eight were counted; only three white he
publicans voted-Mr. Hall, Judge Bakel
and myself; they thought l voted th'
wrong ticket as Democrat; knew OF thu
clubs riding the country, in squads
every night, armed with guns; the effect OI
the colored people was to terrorize them
they all fed from their homes that nigh
and hid.
To Senator Oglesby-There was no up
rising of the colored people on the fifth o.
any other day; there were no colored clubs
armed; they were scared to death; 1t wa
Thad. Meyers who tried to distribute
tickets and was told to leave by the Dem
Ocrats; he left and went home.
To Senator McDonald-Witness gave tn,
residences of those named; the ''eOlOny" i!
the fourth ward; came to Louisiana thre'
years ago last October; went to Mr.. Whites
in November; did not remain with
him constantly: worked in Monroe
part of the time; have no persona
knowledge of what was told Mr.. Whited
James Z. Hsll-Lived in Louisiana il
civil capacity ten years; was in Unltet
States army before; came to Ouachita Feb
ruary Is, 1867, and have been there eve
0inCo. Previous 10 July 4. 1S|o. everything
was peaceful; that day there was picnic
at the Masonic schoolhouse; during the dsy
quite . number of men assembled to de
tsch portion to 60 On the island, where 9
oolored rising was expected; they held
caucus under the trees; on July - / wal
waited on by o committee of three, claim
ing authority from the Democratic parish
committee to call On all to request them II
helD form rifle clubs; they presented q ps
per, saying if l didn't read it they would
read it tor me; asked them to step in and
have something; they refused; went fol
some water for them while they waited out
side; came back and read the paper; one
cIausa aaid that those who did not JOIN the