Year: 1876

THAT WERE NOT POLITICAL


tvpon srAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUYE.l


rw-ORIEANs, Dec. 7.-The Democrats of this
State assert that there was peaceabe election on
tbe 7th of NOyembeT in every ono of the buildozed
parishes of Louisiana. l think they have failed to
nroye it. But suppose that it is admitted to be true;
sunnose that no disorder occurred at or near any
poI on election day; that voters were threat
snod: that no election officers were intcrfered with
n the performance of their duties; that no man was
;nAnepeed by anything which took place Onelecton
dov to vote otherwise than as his best judgment
d,cated: and suppOse 60 still further and admit
,bot no evidence is found land there is abundance OF
IN that any man was prosecuted abused, or mur-
ae-ed during the whole of the campaign on account


f bis political opinions, do these admissions close
tbe oontroversyS Must we then cOnclGde that there


as full, fair and free election all over this StateH
Eo. unless it is also held possible for the people to


ye free expression to their win through the ballot
hox in the midst of general disorder and in spite Of
the entire absence of most of the wholesome re-
straints of law.


Peace certainly did not reign in the five buldozed
marshes of Louisiana during the Summer and Fall
even If there was peaceable election. For year
or more there has existed in every of the dis
turbed districts organizations known as "regu-
lators7 or "rifs clubs" and called by the negroes
abulldozersr-societies which in the North would be
known as vigilance committees or stock and crop
rroteetive associations. don't believe they had,
when organized any political object; they were the
natural outgrowth of disoFganized state of society
The parishes in which these societies sprang up
border on Mississippi, and tho negro population
in each one of them has been increased during the
past twelve months by considerable immigration
from that State This is the natural result of last
years political revolution in Mississippi, which,
whatever we may think of the methods by which 1t
was brought about, accomplished two things-it
destroyed the occupation of large class OF Rcpub-
hcan politicians who in spite of their entire UNFIT
ness for any public position held most of the county
Offices and it substituted strict perhaps sometimes
harsh, enforcement of laws for the protection OF
property for very lax one Stealngis the besettinG
sin of the cOlorcd man; he is rarely guilty Of
burglary but no crops or stock are sacred IN his
ewes Before the war he had very simple way of
excusng any little theft Massas niger, massa's
mcatD nc would say, and il was impossible to make
him understand that there could be anything
wrong in massas niggeTs eating maSSa's meat. l
have no doubt, therefore, that the white people OF
the buldozed parishes tell the truth when they say
that about a year ago they found settling among
them great many strange negroes and that 1t was
followed during the crop gathering season of 1875
BY greater losses by theft than had ever before been
known.


The "regulators,7 which were then organized for
the protection of stock and crops were not composed
entirely Of white men. Many of the oblored people
cultivate the land for share of the crop and others
lease il from the white owners. These men were
equal sufferers with their white neighbors and when
they were assured that the societies formed were
not political many of them Joined. Every eoiored
member was furnished with certificate, or &" show
ingo as they eallit which an evidence not only
that he was a man of good character who would not
be guilty of stealing stock crops but that he was
entitled to the same protection as white man. The
regulators took the law for tine punishment OF
thieying and other crimes into their own hands,
their excuse being that the constituted authorities
were either unable unwilling to afford them any
protection. Negroes who were accused or suspected
of theft were warned to leave on penalty of being
bulidozed; some who did not heed the warning and
Others who were not warned were taken out and
whipped q few were shot or hanged


kftor pretty careful examination of the subject,
lam fully convinced that none of the acts of vio-
lence which occurred in the bu1dozed parishes be-
fore the first Of last June were political in their
character / know that an examination OF many OF
the afdavits fled with the Returning Board by the
Republicans might lead to another conclusion, but
1t should be remembered that those dispositions were
ex parte prepared for partisan purpose, and by the
assistance of Incn wh0se single object was to prove
political intimidation. Tho witnesses, too, were
generally the victims of budOzng or their friends,
and if they were guilty of any crime had been ac
cused of any they would not naturally volunteer IN
formation on the subject, and they were not asked
about it. I was often at the Custom-house while
this testimony was being taken. Witnesses were
ALWAYS asked if the man who was hanged or shot or
whipped was q Republican, and if he was bulldozed
On account Of his politics, but tho inquiries never
went further for the purpose Of asecrtaining just
what the proyocation was For instance, man was
taken out and hanged in East Baton Rouge Parish
last March. Several witnesses made ethdavits IN
regard to the case in all Of which 1t was asserted
that he was Republican, &c, &c. but nothing
was said about the mars character or reputation.
In less than five minutes' talk with Of Che wit
nesses found that the man had been accused OF
stealing hogs and | have no doubt nc was guilty.
IdOni mean 10 defend the manner nor the degree OF
punishment but cite this instance simply to prove
what believe TO be true, and that is that the
troubles In the five bulldozed parishes Of Louisiana
were net political in their origin whatever they may
have been in tIeir result There has been reign of
terrofon the Mississippi border for year, and it
would have occurred had thcro been no election for
five years to come.


Now do rot believe that free election can Oe-
cur in any Southern community While reign Of ter
Tor continues 40 matter what the cause Of general
apprehension is. When On ignorant negro is flight
ened for one purpose, the chances are that he is
frightened for ali. / have already referred to the
propensity Of the colored people TO steal. think
that IN many, perhaps a majority Of cases, the con-
seicnce Ct the negro thief does not rcproach him.


Know That q ieIm in jail OF in the pententlaiy car
nes with II 40 Disgrace Punishment inflicted by
midnight riders for stealing is therefore considered
lr flta e of