Jasper Republican, Volume 1, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 January 1875 — What Are “Fictions?” [ARTICLE]

What Are “Fictions?”

The committee say that there was no intimidation of the colored voters last fall; that theelection was conducted with remarkable'fairneißs: The stories of oppression- and lawlessness by White League are fictions. The report of the sub committee of Congress who visited New Orleans .thus summarized by a Democratic newspaper. Taken altogether, this is perhaps the most remarkable report ever submitted by a committee of Congress. If there is anything stranger than the report, it is that such a committee were ever sent to Louisiana to make it- We know of no other instance in which a dominant party has delegated work of like importance to individuals' ' all of whom were either opposed to it or were utterly indifferent regarding the subject investigated. If the report were not so palpably and transparently false , it might cause the country to believe that all the stories of outrage in the State named were purely imaginary; but the sub-committee have gone so far in thoir prejudices that they have overreached themselves, and their report will only create a smile of contempt. - “ There was no intimidation!” Where, then, the necessity for such certificates as the following: ; <- -v »■ * New Orleans, Nov. SB, 1874. This Is to certify that Charles Dnrassa, a barber by occupation, is a member of the First Ward Colored Democratic Club, and that at the late election he voted for and worked in the interests of the Democratic candidates. William Alexander, President First Ward Colored Democratic Club. Nick Hove. Secretary. Was this to insure the safety of the bearer of it? Everybody knows it was, and for this reason the colored men clung to these certificates as they would to a life-preserver. Those who did not have them occupied dangerous ground indeed. “No intimidation!” Wherefore, then, such words as the following, from the Westville Newt, which were substantially repeated by every White League organ in the South: u « , The white man’s party is the only salvation for the State. Show the negro his place and mate him keep U. If we cawt vote him down we can knock him down, and the result will be the satne.% “No intimidation I” Why was language like the following by the Shreveport Times again and again: The white people are determined to protect themselves to the last extremity, and by the moie desperate means the better. We say again, to carry the elections in this State “But toe stories of lawlessness and oppression are fictions.” Are they, indeed! Pray what kind of peace, quiet and liberty are indicated by the following? T%e victims, it need scarcely be remarked, were ail Republicans:

An inquisition taken for the State erf Louisian at Caspian* and Campo Bella plantations, tnvhe parish, upon toe bodies of six unknown men, three of whom are on the Caepiana plantation and three on Campo Bella plantation, lying dead. The jurors, whose names are hereunto subscribed, being dulv sworn, do hereby render as their verdict that said six men came to their death by gunshot wounds produced by parties unknown to us. r , ,--.7 Signed by W. J. Hutchinson, Foreman, and eight other jurors, and attested by John Marion, Justice of the Peace, acting as Coroner. But why quote these positive acknowledgments of guilt from the members of the White League themselves? Have they not been given again and again, and if the committee would not believe men who confessed themselves guilty of murder, and boasted of it, what testimony oan satisfy them? “There was no lawlessness,” and yet this committee were walking the streets where a few weeks before an organized army of rioters defied the law, murdered the guardians of the city’s peace to the number of a score, tod only retired when driven out by the power of the Federal army. Even while the committee were there in persotrthey witnessed an attempt toovprturn thelaw of the Btate by violence, and organized the Legislature by force; tod yet they have toe temerity to say that all is peaceful and serene! The report is an insult to the intelligence of the country, and the feeble-minded gentlemen who made it have evidently mistaken their calling. — lnter-Occan.