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

What Are “Fictions.”

“The committee stay there was no intimidation of the oolored voter* last fall; that the election was conducted With remarkable fairness, The stories of oppression end lawlessness by the White Leagues are fictieus.” The report of the sub-committee of Congress who visited New Orleans is thus summarized by a Democratic newspaper, Taken altogether, this is perhaps r remarkable report ever submited by A oommitto of congress. If there is'anything stranger tha» the report, it is that such a committee were over sent to Louisiana to make ifo We know of no other instance in which a dominaut party has delegated work of like importance to individuals all of whom were either opr posed to it or were utterly indifferent regarding Che 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 immaginary; but the sab-eommittee have gone so for in their pejudiees 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 foUewmg : NrW Ok leak*, Nov. 28, 1874. Thfa 1* to certify that Charles Doraesa, a barber by occupation, Isa Member of the First Ward Colored Democratic Club, and that at tbe late eleectiou he voted for and worked In the interests of the Democratic Candidates. WILLIAM ALEXANDER, PwHdent First Ward Dol'd Democratic Club. NICK HOPE, Secretary. Was this to insure the safety of the bearer of it ? Everybody kaowi itwaa, and for this reason the colored men clung to tiicse certificates as they would to -ir life preserver. Those who did«ofc have them, occupied dangerous grtmnd indecd“No intimjgation P' 1 WhereforA* then, such words as the following from the Westvlte Nam, which were substantially repeated by every White League organ in the South: . The white man’s party Is the only salvation for tbe state. Show tbe negro bis pises and make him keep it. If we can’t vote him down we can knock him down, and the result will be the same.' “No intimidation!” Why was language like the following employed by the Shreveport Times again and again: The white people sore determined to protect themselves to the last extremity, and by the more desperate means the better. We. say again we are going to carry the elections in this state this toll, “But the stories of lawlessness an op. pression are fictious.” Are they, indeed! Pray what kind of peace, quiet, and liberty are following? The victims, it need scarcely be remarked, were'd* Republicans: An inquisition taken for the State of Louisiana at Caspiaha and Campo Belio plantations, in the parish of Caddo, on the Astdaypf August, 1874, before Jostioe Marion, acting Coroner of said parish, upon the bodies of six unknown men, three es whom are on Caspiana plantation and' three on Campo Bello plantation, lying, dead.— Thejurefs, whose names are hereunto sabscribed, being duly sworn, do hereby render as their verdict that said six men eame to their death by gunshot wounds produced by parties unknown to us. W. J. Hutchison, Foreman, T. D. Elder,. E.E. Fort, P. Adley, T. V. Hughs, J. McDuffy, his , . John X Dixon, mark his Doss, mark - bis Alonzo H Willie, mark Attested : * ' JOHN MARION, J. P. acting Cormier.

But why quote these positive acknowledgements 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 ghUty of murder, and boosted of it, what testimony can 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 tbe kw, murdered the guardians of the city’s peace to the number of a score, and only retired when driven out by the power of the Federal army. Even while the committee were there in person, they witnessed an attempt to overturn the law of the State by Violence, and organized the Legislature by force; and yet they have the temerity to say that ail 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. — Inter- Ocean.