New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-07-25
fCom IN unicated
Affairs in MOreh0use Parish.
BAsTROP, La. July 20, Is.


EDITOR REPUBLICAN,
political military organization, called
bulldoZers, having been formed in this
parish, for the purpose OF controlling par
ish affairs according to Democratic notions,
and TO inaugurate campaign on the plan
of intimidatlng Republican voters, l sub
init to you statement OF our past and
present political condition, to show how far
the Democrats are justified in again stirring
up strife here.
Morehouse is parish in which only one
Republican vote was cast IN 1865. In 1877
the Republican party was fairly organized
here for the first time, and By old citizens
of the South. With the exception OF Mr..
Blanchard tax collector, there was no car
pet-bag official in the parish from l6'0 to
1872. The parish officials elected on the
Rapublicsn ticket in 1872 and il 1874 were
all old Confederate soldiers, with the ex-
ception of the coroner and two members OF
the police jury, who are intelligent coiored
men. The aforesaid Republican officials
were considered very clever and honorable
men until they became Republicans since
which time they have been subjected to
ostracism and abuse, and are now looked
upon as unmit;gatsd rascals By Democratic
eyes.
The tale OF 1876 is soon told. Some Elk
months ago young man named u. 5. Nor
Texas diploma as a lawyer from East + O.
lciana to this parish and took charge OF
the Clarion. a Democratic paper. Previous
to this time political affairs had been quiet,
and campaigns were conducted with vim,
but with decorum, and without violence.
The Clarion was successful, q Ia teilcl
ana, IN stirring up a most bitter partisan
feeling. For the past two months open
| threats have been made against Republic
Aary baav vaIy NO RI OF
| tempt party organization. Secret military
companies were organized, which furnish a
band OF "bulldozers" for a raid on any To-
cality with military precision. The Con
seryative element has been dragooned into
| line. A good many of the colored people
fearful of violence and reasoning, as was
natural, from their fears, have Joined the
| Democratic clubs.
Some months ago man named Law, Re
| publican ex-sheritf, was tried here for mur
| der. Previous to the trial he joined g
Democratic club. He was acquitted ano
the verdict OF the jury applauded will
loud cheers. A few days after his acquitta
he renounced allegiance to the Democratic
| club and announced himself Republican
| This excited bitter feeling against hin
from the Democracy. A difficulty between
Law and the editor of the Clarion was thu
result. Clarion. editor shot at Law twice
Law did not shoot. No one hurt A few
days after the editor received an anony
nous letter requesting him to come to
certain place, at a certain store, nine mile
| from Bastrop, and he would meet the write
| of the letter and they could then settle al
| difficulties.
| Norwood published the letter with ;
flourish of trumpets, alleging it to be au al
| tempt at assassination. 1t was imputed Il
Law as author. Great excitement over il
About 400 armed men visited the spo
named in the anonymous letter. protessin.
to desire to catch Law. Laws brother wa
| threatened and abused at his home. Law
was not found. The armed squads yell il
front of houses of Republicans at night ant
woe to the luckless negro caught on tn
road by them. There has been no bodily
injury done, however, as yet to any one
| Several teachers have been visited an.
| given twenty-four hours TO leave. Som
two weeks ago several negroes had dis
pute, not political. Manning, coioret
| man, belonging to a Democratic club. ana
colored boy named Hunter, Republican,
the parties) Manning told his Democrat,
friends that Hunter was abusing him be
cause he had Joined the Democratic club
TIE Jealous Norwood attacked Hnnte
with a brickbat and struck him with
piston on Saturday evening. Hunter cr
not resist, but ran off as Norwood snappe
his pistol at him.
The next Monday Norwood met Hun'e
and told him he had heard he was caTryin
a pistol to kill him with, and attempted t
search him. Hunter told Norwood he ha
| no pistol, bat immediately drew one an
fred twice at Norwood. wounding hiI
slightly in the forehead. Norwood shot a
| Hunter. Hunter ran Off unhurt. TremeI
dous excitement; the whole town excited
wild. A crowd rushes after Hunter The
catch him and bring Linn back (beating hiI
over the head with their pistols) to tn
courthouse square, the crowd shoutin
"shoot him, shoot him" The sheriff take
charge OF Hunter and does his best to pr
tect him. The Methodist minister and se'
eral citizens iamong them Democrats) al
peals to the inturlated crowd to let tn
law take its course. About tn
time Norwood, who had had b
wound dressed came running over tOwar
the court square. The crowd call on th
sheriff to turn Hunter loose He refused
Hunter sees Norwood with gun, and, e.
pecting death, pulls away from the sheri
and runs. Twenty shotguns and pistols al
levelled at him and shot. He falls, pierce
with balls. He was permitted to be carrie
away and taken care of, everybody expec
ing he would die, being filled with shot an
bullets. Strange to say, he is recoverin.
Martial law inaugurate6 in town that nigh
| ex parte investigations instituted; thor
| sand rumors about the negroes marching o
the town., ETC.; all the reports false; wol
derful tales told about the Vaccinations {
the white Republicans and leading colore
men, and of course believed.
The excitement has died down of cOurs
but the Democrats here accomplished the
ohject-inaugurated Mississippi policy, CT
ated reign of terror and brought the gres
mass of the white people to believe thu
whatever they do to white Republican
right That scallawag has no rights ths
Democrats are bound to respect. The
| policy seems to be to attend lin ''bulldOzer
form) all meetings of Republicans and il
suit the speakers and break up the assen
bly,.
The suggestion would naturally be mad
bv one at distance, ':Where is your Law
Why not enforce the law and punish sue
otfenders!" In q community that has bee
educated to hold law and order supreH
such would be practicable; but in con
munity where nearly all the white peop
are opposed to law and bent on succeedin
at the polls by trampling on all law, it is I
no uee. The public mind is feverish-tas1
vitiated. Reason is dethroned and there
| no respect for law. An attempt to entOrl
the law against such offenders would
construed into political maneuver and /
met as such. How will 1t end,
''' BASTROP.
| Parish of St. James.