The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-12-02
a Leaf I'm the History of oar Time---
The Embarrnssnsc nf Of the Franchise
I'm Louisiana.

n AcuI MA VIC zskSSOFy Oh OuE ahNtesS'
The Embarrnssn, cnt Of the franchise
In Louisiana.
Editor Ne,c Orleans Democrat: We arc
making history very rapidly in this "land
OF the free and home Of the brave" and al
data should be carefully recorded. / there.
fore give you my personal experience at the
polls on the 7th day Of November, 1876.
At five minutes past A. NJ. OF the 7th in.
slant took my position in asingle-fle line
ut the poll near the corner of Carondelet
and Lafayette streets. ] was about forty
feet back from the poll, and such was the
rapidity with which the work was accom-.
plished inside the window it was just one
hour and three quarters by the watch before
had the ineStimable privilege OF present.
ing my certificate OF registration.
thought ] was now on the eve OF the
undisturbed exercise OF the great first
right OF an American citizen, when ]
was very calmly informed that my name
was "erased" from the printed lists.
"On what ground am erased?"
81 don't know, Doctor. All know is
that it is so, and l can't make any dis.
tinction. must reject all who stand
erased.'
"But my registry papers are all right
have lived here nearly thirty years, and
have lived in my present residence since
1862
"Well, Doctor, you had better go and see
Pat. Creagh."
"He is the very man | want to see, sir.
Where is he to be found?"
"He has an office over there on Caronde-
let. in Dayidson's row."
Just then our Democratic supervisor in
side called out to one Of his friends outside ::
"Bill, take the Doctor over and show him
Pat. Creagh's office"
Friend Bill took me over, and we soon
found ourselves in the police premises-the
inside court-wherc we had to make inqui-
ries. 4 young man came up to us and po-
litely offered to show me Pat. Creagh'S office,
and put myself in his charge. He knocked
at the back door OF one of the drinking
saloons that extend from the court to
Carondclet street; an inside bolt was
drawn, and we were admitted into the
empty drinking saloon. We then advanced
to tue front of the saloon, and here we
found the doors on the street closed and
several armed policemen at the foot of the
stairs. There was man with papers in his
s'"""'n" on the stairs. and adj
, Vanee III 10 Fellow tim, when Il policeman!
held his baton before me and gruhiy clied
out, "One at time, here." ! replied:
81 want to see Pat. Creagh, sir, and am
told his Office is upstairs" At this
moment my conductor said to the police
man-calling him by his first name" This
is DR.. Brickell; he's all right"
"Pass on" grufily said the policeman;
and I assembled the stairs. In the hall, at
the top, was another policeman; again the
words 'spass en"; and in the third floor,
front room, we found his Majesty Pat.
Creagh, with two OF his Majesty's privy
council.-the most notwithstanding trio |
have laid my eyes on for many day. The
room was filthy beyond description, and his
Majesty and counsellors were the tilthiest
of occupants. On entering the august
presence my name was announced by my
conductor, when his Majesty arose from his
seat with an evident air OF astonishment.
said, "Mr. Creagh, your man at the poll
will not let me vote without your permit,
and have come to get it,
"Why, what is the matter, Doctor?"
"My name is erased from the printed
lists" .G
mo, sir, your name is not erased, and
I will show it to you on my books" advanc-
ing to the table and opening one OF two
large books, his counselors at the same time
opening the other. I said: 81 don't care
lOI Iuo pOOhS3 fou hhoN ain ShtitiCu w
vote, and want your permit" .. 5.
s'But / show you here that your name is
not erased from either of the books; it is a
mistake OF the printer"
THAT makes no difference, Mr.. CFeagh
want the permit" ~
His Majesty then sat down to his desk and
wrote
ode. Brlckell's name is not erased from
either OF my books. Allolc HAM to cote. q
italicised the last four words.) s.A
I now walked downstairs, through tht
same Gordon OF police, through the dram
shop. The bolt OF the back door was drawn
for me to pass out. passed, and heard the
bolt pushed back in it's place. -
] now went back to the poll, placed m!
registry certificate and Pat. Creagh's per
init on the ballet-box, and said: "Here''
Boss Creagh's permit to vote, and sup
pose it's all right; but want to keep tha
permit" He only recorded me, Endorsed
my registry paper, and branded 1t, blu
quietly put Pat. Creagh's permit in hi
right-hand breeches pocket, saying, g.
must keep this" and thereby depriying m,
and my friends forever Of an autograph
document which, in its few lines, tells NOR
OF mans inhumanity to man than can else
where be found.
A few. remarks In connection with thi
little experience Of mine may not be out o
place at this critical iuncture in the politica
affairs Of this unfortunate country, .,.r s
The unthinking or casual observer ma,
say ali this is only little question of votin,
under difficulties, and that at least was no
treated as badly on election-day Tor before
as the thousands who were entirely de
priyed OF the privilege OF voting. AS
merely personal MISTER I would not hay
taken tho trouble to write out my state
menf. Vital principle, however, underlie
the whole affair, and Tor the safety OF tlii
principle and the welfare OF the State do
write. For raysels, Il would not, ON any o,
count have missed the experience related.
have personally proved that in this so-calIe
cree country o man may be native borr
may have lived IN the sans house in Oh
same cry hieeen years, may be general