RADICAL REPUBLICAN CONVENTION.

REPORT

COMMITTEE ON GRIEVANCES.

Your committee on outrages and grievances have to submit the evidence as gathered by them from delegates to the convention. Such an array of facts should not be suffered to pass without an effort on the part of this convention to put an end to them. In every portion of the State remote from the city of New Orleans, outrages are perpetrated upon that portion of the people who identify themselves with the radical Republican party, while men whose hands are yet red with the blood of Union men are retained in office, and are

the judges of those who have by their valor saved the government. Thus those who saved the government are under the control of those who attempted to destroy it.

We, your committee, therefore request that the convention take such action as will give the control of the State to those who have saved it from destruction.

Respectfully submitted,

JAMES H. INGRAHAM,

Chairman.

R. H. ISABELLE, Secretary.

Report from St. Bernard.

NEW ORLEANS, June 12, 1867.

To the President of the State Convention Radical Republican Party:

SIR—In the parish of St. Bernard everything is progressing well. Our club has been formed since the 12th of May, 1867. We are progressing very well, and have

not, as yet, been interfered with or threatened. I am under the impression that we owe our escape from interference to our close proximity to the city.

Respectfully submitted,

LEOPOLD GUICHARD,

Delegate from St. Bernard.

Report from Caddo.

NEW ORLEANS, June 12, 1867.

SIR—In the parish of Caddo there is no security to life and property. A man who publicly advocates the principles of the radical Republican party endangers his life by so doing. The citizens who desire to attend public meetings are afraid to do so, as there have been many threats made to interfere with and disperse them.

The troops of the United States at Shreveport are of little use. They do not practically protect our people, and their moral influence is a nullity. No person has been punished for murder in the parish since the surrender, though more than ten murders have been perpetrated, and whipping has occurred in the parish.

Respectfully submitted,

JAMES H. INGRAHAM,

Delegate from Caddo.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON GRIEVANCES,

Report from Lafayette.

NEW ORLEANS, June 11, 1867.

To the President of the Radic 1 Republicans Con-
vention;

I, Michael Casey, delegate from the
parish of Lafayette, do certify that the
colored voters in and for the parish of
Lafayette, and Union men, are in dread to
exercise the right which the congress of the

United States has secured to them, unless
we are protected by United States troops,
who are greatly required in the parish.
Murders are committed, and whipping oc-
curs within the parish, and no person has
ever been punished for these outrages:

MICHAEL CASEY,

Deputy from Lafayette Parish.

Report from Avoyelles.

NEW ORLEANS, La., June 11, 1867.

To the President of the State Convention of the
Radical Republican Party;

It appears that in our parish we had
much trouble to organize our club in our
town at Marksville. But, under the cir-
stances, I hope they will be quiet.
Yet, we have no justice whatever in our
parish for our colored citizens from the au-
thority appointed under the government
of Governor Wells, and we hope to have

support from the Commanding General
Sheridan, from those who are against us.
We hope for justice. And there is no hope
for us to have any success if there is no sup-
port furnished to us in the way of troops.
Our priest in the prairie of Avoyelles, is
one of the greatest rebels I know, and he
is addicted to the habit of passing coun-
terfeit money. Respectfully yours,

O. VOURCHE.

Deputy from Avoyelles Parish.

Report from Assumption.

NEW ORLEANS, June 12, 1867.

Our parish has organized three radical
Republican clubs of about two hundred
and fifty men each, but we are greatly op-
posed by the rebel citizens, who threaten
the lives of the members of our clubs,
and do all in their power to deter the
people from attending our meetings by
threatening their lives.

A Union man has no security for his
life; neither has he any law or protection.
If he speaks in a public meeting, his life is
in danger; while, on the other hand, a
good rebel can commit murder with im-
punity, and he allowed to run at large
and insult and abuse Union men. The
justice of the peace, (as he is called,) Wm.
Stams, is one of the most unjust men on
the face of the earth. A Union man,
and especially a freedman, can receive

nothing but injustice and abuse at his
hands.

They threaten the lives of the school-
teachers, and they are continually abused,
and have even been ordered to leave the
parish or lose their lives; and the loyal
men of the parish beg that the radical
Republican convention will take such
measures as will secure protection for the
loyal people of our parish.

Our civil officers are, without an exception, men whose hands are still red with the blood of Union men, and it is not safe for such demons to have authority over the loyal people of our parish, and the loyal people recommend their speedy removal.

I am, respectfully yours, etc.,

JOSEPH R. ACHUFF,

Deputy from Assumption Parish.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON GRIEVANCES.

5

Report from St. Landry.

NEW ORLEANS, June 11, 1867.

To the President of the Convention of the Radical
Republican Party;

It appears on the 21st April, 1867, the
trustees of the Catholic church prevented
colored people buying benches in said
church at a public auction.

There is no justice for Union men in our
parish on the part of the officers, and we

hope to have support from commanding
General Sheridan.

The postmaster at Opelousas, in St. Landry, refuses to deliver papers addressed to the members of the radical Republican clubs. Respectfully, ours,

THEOGENE CASTILLE,

Deputy from St. Landry.

Report from West Feliciana.

NEW ORLEANS, June 12, 1867.

To the President of the Convergion of the Radic
Republican Party;

SIR—In the parish of West Feliciana at-
tempts have been made to break up the
meetings of the radical Republican party.

but thus far their efforts have been frus-
trated. Unless troops are sent to the par-
ish, the freedmen will not be allowed to
vote according to their convictions.

ROBERT J. TAYLOR,

Deputy from West Feliciana.

Report from West Baton Rouge.

NEW ORLEANS, June 12, 1867.

To the President of the Radical Republican Convention;

SIR—In the parish of West Baton Rouge
here exists no impediment to the expres-

sion of political opinions. Respectfully
submitted.

RAYMOND RICARD,

Deputy from West Baton Rouge.

Report from St. Tammany.

NEW ORLEANS, June 12, 1867.

To the President of the Radical Republican Con-
vention;

SIR—In the parish of St. Tammany, at
Madisonville, everything is progressing fa-
vorably. The rebels have not made them-
selves an impediment to the organization of
Republican clubs; but in the inferior por-

tions of the parish the freedmen date not
express themselves, and cannot, for fear of
personal violence, assemble together to
form a correct idea of their interests in the
approaching election. Respectfully,

GUSTAVE DUPART,

Deputy from St. Tammany.

Report from Concordia.

NEW ORLEANS, June 12, 1867.

SIR. In the parish of Concordia there
have been no outrages perpetrated upon
the freedmen as yet on account of political
sentiments, but threats have been made, and
there is a probability that they will be car-
ried into effect.

There is no justice done to freedmen
where they are parties to any charges
against white men. The civil authorities
ignore the rights of the newly enfranchised
citizens and pamper their sympathy with
the rebels.

Respectfully submitted.

DAVID YOUNG
Deputy from Concordia.

6

Report from St. Martin.

NEW ORLEANS, June 12, 1867.

To the President of the Radical Republican Con-
vention:

SIR—In the parish of St. Martin there have been a great number of threats made against those who ally themselves with the radical Republican party; and un-

less there are troops sent into the parish, I am fearful that the threats of the rebels will be carried into effect. The papers of the parish do all they can to inflame the minds of the rebels against the freedmen.

Respectfully, MONROE BAKER,
Delegate from St. Martin.

Report from Rapides.

NEW ORLEANS, June 12, 1867.

SIR—In the parish of Rapides there ex-
ists lawless violence, and the civil authori-
ties use no efforts to bring the guilty par-
ties to justice.

Freedmen have been brutally beaten and have appealed for redress—mere mock trials have been held—but in no case have the perpetrators of these acts been punished.

Appeals for redress have been made to the freedmen's bureau, but no action has taken place.

Papers addressed to the members of the
radical Republican party have failed to
come to hand through the postoffice—also
letters.

The troops stationed in the parish are
of little use as regards protection.

Respectfully submitted,

GEORGE Y. KELSO,

Delegate from Rapides.

Report from Orleans.

NEW ORLEANS, June 12, 1867.

To the Convention of the Radical Republican Party of Louisiana:

Your committee to whom was referred
the subject of grievances of radical Repub-
licans of the parish of Orleans, respectfully
submit the following report to wit:

That it is grievous to the loyal men of
this parish to see men on the police who
were engaged in massacring peaceful Un-
ion men, on the 30th of July last, and whose

hands are still stained with the blood of
loyal men.

It is also grievous to see Harry T. Hays
still holding the high position of sheriff of
this parish, notwithstanding we believe that
he is guilty of assisting in exciting the riot
of July.

Respectfully submitted,

R. H. ISABELLE.

Delegate from Orleans.

Report from East Baton Rouge.

NEW ORLEANS, June 12, 1867.

The parish of East Baton Rouge contains a number of lawless and violent rebels, under the head of Mayor J. E. Elam, who are resorting to any and every scheme to oppose and persecute the advocates of the radical Republican party.

Mayor Elam has upon several occasions riën when I was addressing the people and called me a liar, and when silenced claimed that he had a right to do so be-

cause he is mayor of the city of Baton
Rouge.

Because a few of my friends met on the
occasion of my being assaulted by a rebel
recently, he (Mayor Elam) had an affidavit
made against me for inciting a riot, and by
one of the must unfair prosecutions im-
posed a fine upon me of one hundred and
sixty-four dollars.

I have all the evidence in the case in
print and can produce it.

GEORGE W. RAGAN,

Delegate from East Baton Rouge.

Report from St. John Baptist.

NEW ORLEANS, June 12, 1867.

To the President of the Convention:

I have the honor to state, as we have never been molested by any one, and we

are organizing clubs rapidly in our parish.

Respectfully submitted,

J. M. DESLONDE,

Delegate from St. John Baptist.

Report from St. Charles.

NEW ORLEANS, June 12, 1867.

SIR—In the parish of St. Charles the civil authorities are very severe upon those freed-men who may be brought before them for minor misdeeds. Threats are openly made to the effect that they will disperse the

Republican meetings, and at Good Hope
plantation they have for bad in mind the freed-
men employed there to assemble and dis-
cuss political matters.

Re:

Respectfully submitted,

ALFRED F. MONROE,

Delegate from St. Charles.

Report from Jefferson.

NEW ORLEANS, June 12, 1867.

To the President of the Radical Republican State
Convention:

I am a resident of Jefferson City, and at present a member of the State Republican Convention which meets in the city of New Orleans, Louisiana, June 19, 1867. At present the law is very unjustly administered by the justices of the peace for minor

offenses, and the fines on colored people are exorbitant. Men are hired and discharged without regard to previous contracts made between said parties, and without receiving any compensation for services rendered, and it is impossible to collect any money through the courts for such services.

JOSEPH CLAYTON

Delegate from Jefferson Parish.

Report from St. James.

NEW ORLEANS, June 12, 1867.

SIR—In the parish of St. Charles there has been no interference as yet with the radical Republican meetings.

Meetings have occurred throughout the

parish. There is a good feeling existing amongst a majority of the whites toward the colored people.

Respectfully submitted,

C. OLIVER,

Delegate from St. James.

Report from Iberville.

NEW ORLEANS, June 12, 1867.

SIR—There exists in Iberville parish a

good feeling among all parties, and every-
thing is quiet.

Respectfully submitted,

A. DUBUCLET,

Delegate from Iberville.