Year: 1875

mark, Evarts closed. Judge Nelson
stated that he would give the matter his
utmost consideration, but warned
counsel that he would deliver no written
opinion, but that it would bo frankly
spoken opinion on the merits of the case,
The Court made an effort to induce the
counsel to go on with the case tomorrow,
or meet next week half an hour earlier
and adjourn half an hour later every
day. but to this the legal practitioners
demurred. Judge Nelson, in answer to
exJudge Fullerton, said that his opinion
would be delivered Immediately on their
meeting on Monday next.


Adjourned.


LOuisiana Congressional Committee


Governor Wells Imag mary Assas-


sinntiOn Plot.


New ORLEANS, January 29.-Dr.
Scraggs was brought forward to prove
the attempted assassination Of Governor
Wells at the City Hotel He said he
SAW no demonstration of violence; that
he and Governor Wells were dining ut
the hotel together; at table near by
were two drunken men; witness under
stood from Mr. Watson that the men
might cut up, and on that insisted on
Governor Wells leaving the house; the
men said nothing to Wells, and it was
only on witness suggestion that he left;
witness simply thought that the men be-
ing drunk, might become involved in a
difficulty with Wells. On another occa-
sion. about three weeks before man
made some offensive remarks about Gov
ernor Wells, and the latter told him that
he intended to act squarely in the Re-
turning Board.


Buford Blurt (colored), who resides in
Natchtoches, State Senator, said, am
pretty we'll acquainted with the people of
my parish. Last June meeting was
held by persons who called themselves
taxpayers; Mr. Cunningham said if the
people desired they could take charge; |
was slave in Georgia and louisiana
have u little education; have lived in
NatchitocheS 81 years; the general
condition of affairs between the whites
and blacks there was tolerably pleasant
up to the last of June; a portion OF a meet
ing was not tax payers; it was proposed
to reduce the taxes, also to demand the
resignation of some officers in July; the
Republicans held mass meeting, and
many white men made suspicious move
ments, and Mr. Duplex white Rcpubli-
can was carried off; the officers were told
to resign on the sixth of July or they
would be assassinated; some
of Us were in favor of the police
jury resigning and they did resign, when
on steamboat; on my way to New Or
leans saw the men; went on board and
saw they intended TO fix them during the
night; the men were put off the boat on
July 26th, we held II nominating conven-
ton in our parish, and men were assem-
bled in room in town; | understood
they were there to assassnatc If We nom-
mated certain district judge and dis
.trict attorney; we did not nominate
these officers then in consequence OF the
threats; as soon as the convention ad-
iourned the delegates left for their
homes, believing that it was not safe for
them to remain in town. a few days
afterwards Amendner appeared again
and was made tax collector; | was told
there was no objections to me when /
was in Alexandria in August last; II man
assailcd me and said that all of Us would
be strung up before this tronble was
over; had to pay S25 for hack to go
home in, and l expected to be killed atter
that | was hunted and | believe the
white men wished to take my life as
they said had too much influence and
was in their way; they (the white men
told me | must 90 out of the way
would rather than be killed; l told them
if they attacked me | would try and sell
my life dearly; l resigned my position
on the School Board they continually
said they had nothing against me per,
sonally; there were regular meetings heId
by persons known as White Le"gurS;
did not dare to attend their meetings; l
seldom slept at home; other colored men
remained in the woods until atter 'he
registering Office closed; 500 colored men
did not register; some OF those VINO
did register could not vote because the
Registrar had spelled their names wrong;
there was IL reign of terror up to election
day; l resigned my position as Senator
to save my life; there is petition IN my
parish asking Congress to do something
TO protect the colored vote; colored men
believe that the whites intend to
reduce them to slavery again. the
negroes are better of financially
than when they were slave; many OF
them have purchased properly since the
war;


CoIored Men have Made More Money


Since the War than Planters Have.
On election day many OF my people
were prevented from voting as they
chose; some of them voted the White
League ticket; they voted that way to
save themselves; without the presence OF
the troops on election day, l think not
more than 500 colored men would have
voted; the white people agreed to employ
men who voted the Democratic ticket,
and not meu who did not vote at all the
public schools in Natchitoches parish are
free, and at present the colored children