Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 May 1889 — Rare Outrages in the South. [ARTICLE]

Rare Outrages in the South.

Four hundred armed men under Gen. Alexander Declouette, of St. Martin’s parish, rode into Lafayette, La., Tuesday morning, took possession of the town, and demanded the resignations of the negro justice of the peace and negro constable. The latter had disappeared, but the iormer complied with their demands. The regulators, pretending to have heard that Mr. Vignaux, a prominent Republican, who had been suggested by Congressman Coleman as United States Marshal of the Western District, of Louisiana, had furnished arms to the negroes, called on that gentleman, who is now town marshal of Lafayette, and discussed with him the matter of his having attempted to vote negroes at the election last Monday. They informed him that their purpose was to prevent negroes from voting, and they intended to enforce their views on the subject, intimat ng that the best thing Mr. Vignaux could do was to desist from any further efforts on behalf of negro suf frage. Mr. Vignaux stated that he had no more anxiety than they had on the subject; that, he was at the poll Monhth morning, performing his sworn duae under the law. Thiß statement beiny satisfactory, the regulators concluded to allow Vignaux to live a while longer, and he now exists by probation, so to speak. The regulators and authorities finally agreed that an election should be held next Monday for municipal officers of Lafayette, at which only white men shall vote. As this election will not be legal, tbe names of those receiving ma jorities of votes cast will be sent to the Governor for appointment Attorney General Rogers left for Lafayette, Tuesday evening, by order of the Governor. “White Supremacy” is the slogan of the regulators, but as there are but few negroes in Lafayette parish their war cry would seem to have no application there. -