New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-09-13
CHAPTER vi.
JUSTIFICATION OF THE TAFT LETTER
How West Feliciana is to be
Carried for the Democracy.
Colored Republicans Bulldozed into
Submission, White Republicans
Exiled and Officials Forced
to Resign.

SUBMISSION, WnlCe kepuOnc0nS
Exiled and Officials Forced
to Resign.
The Nation Only Can Protect
Its Citizens in this Section.
The Times Gays purchase OF loOO
Zouave uniforms for colored regiment OF
Democrats in West Feliciana has been
made by Bayou Sara gentleman.
The Democrat says that at the Democratic
barbecue at Laurel Hill, same parish, q
spot made bloodily famous by the killing OF
"niggers," the principal attendance was of
c0lored men.
A leading citizen of West Feliciana, a
native, whose name we dare disclose only
at risk of his life, tells how these colored
Democrats are made such and become SO
tractable. The cOlored citizen is visited by
some well-ksown gentleman, and solicited
to join . Democratic club, and an evening
named when his attendance is expected.
The colored man, being Republican, does
not attend, whereupon squad Of the young
regulators, with crack of whip and display
of arms, visit his nearest neighbor or friend
and threateningly tell him that his friends
life is not worth pinch OF salt if he re-
fuses longer to 'join in with the people,"
What can the poor negro dot Flee and
leave all his worldly possessions, submit
to Democratic demands, or experience
the cruelties the Regulators 90 we'll know
open to him. Nominslly he submits. and
he will remain in this political servitude
without the government gives him that pro-
lection which will enable him to reassert
his freedom and liberty of political opinion.
As some of our readers may consider this
picture somewhat strained, let them read
these afidavits illustrative of the cruel and
inhuman manner in which these citizens of
the United States were brought into such
pitiful subjection:
BEATEN INTO rAMENEss.
Thomas Rice sworp-Says I reside on
parish of West Feliciana; have resided
there for the last forty years. About eleven
O'Clock on the twelfth Of October, 1875,
while picking cotton, looked down the
hill and saw four men armed with Win
chester rifles who cried out, "Halt!' and
arrested me. Then four other men came
up, one of whom started to strike me, but
was prevented by another. One of the
men took me on his horse; 10Y partner was
taken behind one Of the others. They after
ward made US get down and run. l became
tired ahd told them could not run. One
of the men then struck me with his rlhe
twice. / walked to the Star Hill headquar-
white men who told the parties who ar
rested me that they had no business to do
it. l was let 60.
1 don't know of any colored organization.
Do not believe that Republican can hold
Office in the parish in safety. The citizens
of B 4you Sara are quiet. Never bought
any seed cotton. / have seen armed bodies
of white men on three different occasions.
Recognize among the parties of Regulators
McMutrav. Ventriss jones, James L. Pee
bles, j. w Smith and others. l have eeen
as many as 100 armed men together, with
pistolf, shotguns and rifles. do not know
what should have eccasiOned armed men OF
thai kind to be organized in the parish, az
the cOiOred people were always orderly and
quiet Don't know Of any Republican Off
clal keeping store in that parish while hold
ing office. Never was instructed. told or
advised, by Republican officials of that par
ISL or any other source, to array myself
with other Republican, against the white
people, As general rule the colored peo-
pie are industrious and quiet.
THEY ONLY WANTED HIS OFFICE.
Julius Green sworn-Says am resident
of the parish of West Felicisns; live on Q
portion Of what was once the Walker and
McClelland tract. own my land by pay
ing for it. Some time in the month Of JAN
nary, 1876, about dozen men on horseback
and armed came to my house and asked for
me- l was 1T o neighbours house on visit,
and in returning heard these men talking.
l hid myself to hear what they had to say
They talked to my wife. They told her to
ton as police Juror. Ii did, things would
be all right; if I did not, it would oe bad
for me. I went to town and resigned as
they told me, fearing for my life. am
Republican and property holder; don't
sec any otherre fer them making me
resign than that l am Republican and a
cololed man. i have been police juror
to the position. Previous TO this l was
not molested. believe that if l
had not resigned I could not live in the
parish. I signed two designations: one
gave to D. A. Weber, and the other to
Messrs. Wickliffe and Fisher. lawyers in
Bayou Sara, because they had more ln1u,
ence with the people Of the parish, and
would prevent them from hurting me. l
have not attempted to serve as police
Juror since, and no one has acted In my
place from the third ward. have seen
large bodies of armed men ride into bayoo
Sara; don't know what rhey came for; did
not stop to see. j. NJ. Gibbons is member
of the police jury, is Democrat. ana Was
not asked to resign. The police jury 10
now composed of two white men and one
eclored. The colOred people OF the parish
are peacesble and quiei; there is no armed
organ izatiOn among them.
A RAID OF THE BAsHI BAzoUKs.
Ebenezer Schuyler sw0rn-Says live in
the Darisb of West Feliciana, on the Star
Hill miami alton; don't hold any office.
waa in tho field picking cotton, and heard
an armed body Of white men on horseback
whoonino and yelling. They came to the
Seid Ana wanted to know where that damn
man vaa. / was hid in tho cotton. My wife
asked what they wanted. They told her to
tail Them where was or they would blow
her damn brains ont. One OF these men
drew q gun on another woman VINO WAS
helping me pick cotton, and asked where
was. "Tell, damn you, or will blow your
brains out" She said: "There he Is" AT
the same moment l raised up from my
hiding place and said: .Here am; what
do YOU want?" One of them said: 1--WE
want you, you God damn niger son -.
I want you to understand we own this
land" and ct the same time struck
ma over the heal with pistol; then
he fred. but missed me. He then
struck me several times with the pistol,