New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-01-19
THE HOWE COManTTEE.
Twenty.Rnh Day.

LwOuky-NALu DHys
The committee met at eleven O'Clock,
Henry Blair, col0red, of MorehOuse par
ish-Republicans were not allowed by the
Democrats to make canvass before the
last election; was told the only way to save
himself was to Join the Democrats; had to
slip around Sundays and talk to each other;
was afraid to hold meetings at night; Mr..
SOnerliDg and PsrsOn Gates told witness OF
plot to kill him, and that he had better
leave; DR.. Larkin, for whom he worked,
told him the same thing, and advised him
to join the Democrats or leave; Lsrkin
finally told him he would kill him himself if
he did not leave; also that bulldOzers rode
around at night, hunting him and George
Boyd, the school teacher, and broke up his
school and drove him off; the day of election
about fifty oOlOred men left the polls be-
cause they could not vote the Republican
ticket; Bob MILESTONE told his hands at the
polls if they voted the Republican ticket
they must get up and leave his place.
Alexander b. George, of Webster parish,
and State Senator, testified to the peaceful
character of the campaign, and that it was
the earnest desire of the Democrats to pre-
vent any action on their part to give the
Republicans pretext TO say there was in
timidation; colored Democrats were as
saulted and intimidated by colored Repub-
licans, and this has been testified to by
others; never heard of any ObjeotiOn to the
canvass, as made by the Democrats, until
after the supervisor left; the Democrats in
tended to make no objection; would not be-
lieve Gardner on oath; his character for
truth and veracity is considered bad in our
parish.
William R. Hardy recslled-Was not a
candidate of the fourteenth judicial dis
trict for district attorney; Captain w. w.
Farmer desired that l should be a candi-
date, but he said he would lot advise me to
,atra in MI oh hat
that could make the canvass in Ouachita,
my own parish, and in Morehouse parish;
did not like the idea of being a candidate in
district in which would not be allowed
to make a canvass, and told Captain
Farmer so, and was informed by him it
would make no difference about Richland
parish.
Il. F. Vickers oalled-Resided at Alto,
Richland parish, for the past eleven years ;
voted the Democratic ticket, and took an
active part in the last canvass; voted at
poll four, ward four; knew of no iRtimida-
ton in the parish by the Democrats; col
ored man who was living with his family
previous to the war informed witness that
he would not vote, because certain parties
visited his house and told him he must vote
the Democratic ticket, and he would show
them if he would; told the oOlored hands
employed on his place that any one who
voted the Republican ticket need not look
for any more work on the place after their
present contract expired; claimed the right
as an American citizen to employ any one
he chose; Thomas Jones, prominent Re-
publican, voted for General Nichols and
Hayes and Wheeler, and a mixed parish
ticket; knows Mr.. Moore, who testified be-
fore this committee on Wednesday; the only
thing against his character is that he is a
hard dFinker; about twenty-five cOlored
voters joined the Democratic club in our
ward.
John A. Hemler called--Resided in Rich
land parish thirty years; voted and lives in
ward four; the last was enc of the quietest
and most peacesble elections ever wit
messed in this State. DIR. Hill was presi-
dent, and witness vice president of the
Democratic club; knew Mr.. Dixon, but not
personally; did not know anything against
his character; has five men employed on his
place; all but one voted the Democratic
ticket, and he stated thai his registration
| certificate had been mislaid and he could
not find it. In employing hands on his
place he would give the preference to col
Ored hands who are men of his party, but
would employ Republicans if they were bet
ter hands; the cOlOred men voted the Demo
cratic ticket of their own free will; does
not know of any intimidation of any col.
ored man voting the Republican ticket at
the last election.
The committee then adjourned until ten
| O'Clock to-day.