Middletown transcript., 1876-12-16
CRIME IN THE SOUTH.
Negro Government a Failure.
How the Prevalent Disorder II Magnided
Into Political Outrnges-The Negro
as an Oath.Tnker and as an
Omcer OF the Peace.

Into Political Outrnges-The Negro
as an Oath.Taker and as an
Omcer OF the Peace.
New ORLEANS, November Both.
have not thought it worth while Il
!! fill The Times with copies of the intim
idation afidavits on file with the Re
D turning Board. and which will never b,
9 read by the members of the board or by
$ anybody else, for the reading would
consume years, if not a lifetime
Wherever the Democrats have major.
ity, the Republicans swear there was
) riot, tumult or intimidation. and the
Democrats bring testimony to disprove
the charge The leading cases, how
ever. upon which the Republicans rely.
those of Pinkston and James, both
located in the parish of Ouachita, have
been investigated by me very fully and
} reviewed in my .telegraphic correspon-
dencs. The shooting of Ben James
was the act of Democratic desperadoes,
and had political object, although it
does not seem to have been prenedi-
tated The killing of Henry Pinkston
and his child had no more to do with
politics than the Nathan murder 10 New
York or the Probst murder in Phila-
dclphia. There are several cases very
much like that of James in which the
Democrats have not cleared their skirts
to my satisfaction, but if the number of
these cases were increased hundred
per cent. and multiplied by ten the Re-
publicans would make mere beginning
in plausible attempt to prove that the
vote of Louisiana was secured for Til
den through violence or intimidation.
There is no evidence whatever to show
that any considerable number of colored
men voted the Democratic ticket from
this cause, or that this campaign has
been conducted by the Democrats with
any reliance upon such improper politi-
cal methods. On the contrary, it is
beyond question that the platform and
nominations of the State Convention in |
the summer were an abandonment Of
the white line policy and that under the |
constant admonition of General Nichols
and the Democratic Conservative COM
mittee that peace must be maintained,
the efforts of Democrats throughout the
State were, as rule, directed to this
end.
THE SOUTHERN NEGRO,
In forming an opinion upon the value
of the testimony upon which the charge
of intimidation rests the bluntness of
the average Southern negro's moral
perceptions must not be forgotten. It
is less bis fault than the consequence of
the barbarism from which he springs,
and the state of slavery in which he and
his fathers have lived, that his veracity
is an unknown quantity. He is firm
believer in the idea that the end justi6es
the means. and that evil may be done
that good may come. 1t is rare that
negro of the uneducated laboring class
will tell the same story twice in the
same manner, and to make him believe |
that thing is true it is only necessary
for one in whom be has confidence, or {
who is in authority over him, to say so. {
Here is an illustration. In Texas, i'm
mediately after the war, planter was I
arraigned before an agent of the Freed
mems Bureau to answer for the viola q
ion of contract with freedman. He 8
vas adjudged guilty, and ordered to a
'ay the aggrieved negro the sum of fifty l
lollars. ''What !" said the irate plan t
er. "do you decide against me on the o
estimony of that niger ?" "Yes," re- 6
'lied the arbiter; II would have you Q
o know that his word is as good as 9
ours now that be is a freeman. p il
Very WE'LL" rejoined the Southerner. o
Here is the money but would thank
ou to give me my spurs-I see you
7ear them" and be pointed to an ele. a.
ant pair which adorned the officers ;,
oots. "Your spurs You, sir What .,
o you mean? wore those spurs all ~
trough the war" "You are mis- -
aken." was the quiet rejoinder; "they .,
re mine, and will prove it. Come 7,
ere, Sam" In came Sam, the plant N
rs groom, who had stood at the door I,
uring the conversation. "Sam, can't =
gu identify those spurs as mine ?''- Sc
am advanced with serious face, took al al
old of one of the spurs, examined it LEI
'itically for moment. and then ex- H rs
aimed "'Fore God, Massa Charles. tt
reckon l do. Why, I'd cognify dem be be
'urs anywhar. Amt 1 seed you war Pc
m TO or five yeahs, and want in de ~ -.
oh in Galveston when you bought tt
m? Why. could 60 dar now and m1 nu
1t nay hand on de very shelf you tuck
m from" The Freedmen's Bureau /,
an saw the point and rather than sur :.
ndor h., .nu.a IN ,r.b