New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-01-12
THE HOWE COMMITTEES.



Senator HSwe's committee convened at
the usual hour yesterday morning, and CON-
tinued the investigation of East FelicianR.
Judge t. b. Lyons was recalled, Senator
Howe not having completed his examine
tion of the judge on the previous evening.
To Senator Howe-The gathering of
armed negroes occurred on the McCant
place; Jones, the leader, was president of a
Republican club in that ward, and a mem
Der OF the police jury; the police jury
passed an ordinance submitting to the con-
alteration Of the people q proposed tax of
i've mills to take up outstanding indebted
ness; the ordinance received but five or six
votes in the parish, and Jones was one of
those who voted for it; he alleged that John
Skipwith and a man named Dubose said
any one who voted for the tax ought to re-
ceive 100 lashee, and threatened him with
whipping; he assembled his men, as he
alleged, to protect himself; do not think
they made any advance toward Clinton;
do not know why Mr.: Norwood was
taken by them; he might have gone
down to see what the matter was;
think he was detained all night; opposed
an organization of the whites; a cartel was
agreed upon which allowed the cOlOred peo
pie to retain their arms without prejudic-
ing any future proceedings at law; believe
that Judge Dewing claimed that his charge
was substantially that men assembling
for purely defensive purposes were not
guilty of crime; think that is sound law;
the community did not put that conatruc-
tion upon the charge; in reference to the ex-
citement in Clinton in regard to eOlOred men
coming into town in 1875, my servant told
me that there were men on the road south
from me; did not see the men; could not
say they we're armed; heard that a body
dispersed on the approach of Captain Pipes
company; really saw only two men who
said they had seen body of colOred men.
Senator Howe inquired of witness if in all
his experience or all his reading he ever
heard of so much excitement being created
on SO whimsical pretext.
Judge Lyons replied that he thought the
excitement altogether disprOportionRte to
the cause, and he did what he could to
| allay it; 1t was the popular belief that the
cOlored Republican club meetings were &C.
cret; they did not ask Democrats to address
them, and would not attend Democratic
meetings; believe that that lie the privilege
| of freemen everywhere; do not complain of
it, but it was a misfortune; the Republicans
solicited Democrats to become candidates
on their ticket, not having good material
| themselves; they wanted Captain Wedge
and others to run; they declined; the Re-
publicans then supported the Democratic
ticket, because they thought them good
men.
Senator Howe-I will say, not for the re-
| porter, but to yourself and those present,
that although we have come from intelli-
/ gent Republicans in the North, l have
never known more persistent efforts made
anywhere, nor any greater sacrifices of po-
litical preferences, for the sake of obtaining
creditable nominees, than you say the col
Ored Republicans made in that parish.
have never known Republicans in any To-
cRlity to so trample on their political in
clinatiobs for the sake of obtaining good
officers; nor Democrats either.
Judge Lyons-I think myself that the
colOred men are well-meaning people, but
ignorant and credulOus and easily led;
many white people supported Gair for State
Senator against BreauX; he was generally
believed to be bad msH: the consideration
was that a Democratic Representative
should be elected; Gair would not agree to
it, or absented himself; he was supported
by Democrats after it waH reported shat his
vote in the Legislature had been sold; those
reports were of general character; think
he favored bill to redeem some COnfed.
crate obligations; am not sure that he was
in the Legislature when that bill was under
| consideration.
To Senator Oglesby-Believe that negro
suffrage is q necessity as projection to the
colOFed people; as an abstract principle be.
lieve in an educational qualification, applied
to whites and blacks alike.
To Senator HOwe-Do not know of any
specific instance whore the school fund Of
my parish was stolen; believe the State
Superintendent is man of education and
| culture.
james ri. Doyle, sworn-TO Senator
Saulsbury-Reside In New Orleans; spent
the summer in East Felicisna; heard the
speeches of Nichols, Wilt and Packard;
NichOlls' speech was conservative; advised
the young men to put a stop to the lawiess
ness that prevailed; Wiltz's speech was the
most conservative ever heard in my life;
he said to the cOlored men that he knew
they had been subjected to wrongs during
the past year, but that they would be afford
cd ample protection when the Nichols gov
ernment was in power; he said the whites
owed debt of gratitude to the blacks for
their fidelity in the war; am sure that
there was a great desire on the part of the
Democrats of that parish to have it appear
that there was no violence or intimidation
on their part to influence the cOlored peO-
pie,
Judge McVea. of East Feliciana, wai
sworn, and testified to the same facts which
have been stated in Judge Lyons testi
mOny.
The committee adjourned to 1880 P. NJ.
/