Year: 1875

and its contents we're entirely consumed. |
There is no evidence that any one in the
crowd of whites bore any lawful warrant
for the arrest of any of the blacks
There is no evidence that either Nash or
Cazabat after the affair ever demanded
their offices to which toey had set up a
claim, but the register continued to act
as parish judge and Shaw as sheriff.
These are the facts in this case as under
stand them to be admitted.


To hold the people of Louisiana gen.
orally responsible for these atrocities
would not be just, but it is lamentable
fact that insuperable distractions were
thrown in the way of furnishing these
murderers, and the so called conservative
papers of the state not only


JUSTIFIED THE MASSACRE,


But denounced as federal tyranny and
despotism the attempt of the United
States officers to bring them to justice.
Fierce denunciations rung through the
country about the otfiee-holding and elec-
tion matters in Louisiana, while every
one of the Colfax miscreants goes un-
whipped of justice, and no way can be
found in this boasted land of civiliza-
ton and Christianity to punish the per-
petrators of this bloody and monstrous
crime.


THE CoUsHATTA MASSACRE.


In August last several Northern young
men of capital and enterprise had start
ed the littleand fourishing town of Cou-
shatta. Some of them were republicans
and office-holders under Kellogg. They
We're, therefore, doomed to death. Six
of them were seized and carried away
from their homes and murdered in cold
blood No one has been punished, and
the conservative press of the state de-
nounced all efforts to that end and bold
ly justified the crime.


MANY MURDERS


OF like character have been commit
ed in individual cases, which cannot here
be detailed. For example t. j, Craw-
ford, Judge of parish, and the district at
torney of the 18th judicial district of the
state, on their way to court were shot
from their horses by men in ambush on
the 8th of October, 1871, and the widow
of the former in a communication to the
Department of Justice tells the piteeus
tale of the prosecutions of her husband
because he was Union man, and of the
efforts made to screen those who had
committed crime, which, to use her
own language, " left two widows and nine
orphans desolate." To say that the
murder of negro or white republican
is not considered a crime in Louisiana
would probably be unjust to a great part
of the people, but it is true that great
number of such murders have been COM
mitted and no one has been punished
therefor. Representations were made to
me that the presence of troops in Louis
lana was unnecessary and irritating to
the people, and that there was no dan
ger of public disturbance if they were
taken away. Consequently, early in last
summer the troops were all withdrawn
from the state with the exception of a
small garrison at the New Orleans bar
racks. 1t was claimed that compara-
tive state of quiet had supervened; the
political excitement as to Louisiana af-
fairs seemed to be dying out, but the No
vember election was approaching, and it
was necessary for party purposes that
the flame should be re-kindled. Accord
ingly on the 14th of September, ID. Penn,
claiming that he was elected lieutenant
governor in 1872, issued an infammato-
ry proclamation calling upon the militia
of the state to assemble and to drive from
power the usurpers, as he designated the
officers of the state.


THE WHITE LEAGUE,


Armed and ready for the conflict, prompt
| ly responded. On the same day the
governor made formal requisition upon
me pursuant to the Constitution, to aid
in suppressing domestic violence. On
the next day | issued proclamation
commanding the insurgents to disperse
within five days from the date thereof,
but before the proclamation was publish
ed in New Orleans the organized and
armed forces recognizing a usurping
governor, had taken forcible possession
of the State House and temporarily


sUBvERTED THE GOVERNMENT.
| Twenty or more people were killed, in
cluding a number of the police of the
city. The streets of the city were strewn
with blood, all that was desired in the
way of excitement had been accomplish
ed. That there was intimidation of re-
publican voters at the election, notwith-
standiuc thaSa ,,raoaufiopu olpoi4o &c ~