The Louisiana election of 1872 Colfax massacre

in louisiana, republican governor henry clay warmoth defected liberal republicans (a group opposed president grant s reconstruction) policies in 1872. warmoth supported constitutional amendment allowed former confederates, had been denied right vote, re-enfrancised. fusionist coalition of liberal republicans , democrats nominated ex-confederate battalion commander john mcenery succeed him governor. (thus opening claim in first section above white democrats attacked blacks @ colfax needs corrected read alleged attackers white liberal republicans , democrats.) in return, democrats , liberal republicans send warmoth washington u.s. senator. opposing mcenery stalwart republican william pitt kellogg, 1 of louisiana s u.s. senators. voting on november 4, 1872, resulted in dual governments, fusionist (liberal republicans , democrat)-dominated returning board declared mcenery winner while faction of board proclaimed kellogg winner. both administrations held inaugural ceremonies , certified lists of local candidates.

after failing win case in state court, kellogg forces appealed federal judge edward durell in new orleans dubiously interfere in state election ordering kellogg , stalwart republican-majority legislature seated, , grant authorize u.s. army troops protect kellogg s government. action criticized across nation democrats , both wings of republican party because considered violation of rights of states manage own (non-federal-office) elections. thus, investigating committees of both chambers of federal congress in washington critical of kellogg choice. house majority ruled durell s action illegal , senate majority concluded kellogg regime not better successful conspiracy. in 1874 house investigating committee in washington recommended judge durell impeached corruption , illegally interfering in louisiana 1872 state elections, judge resigned in order avoid impeachment.

mcenery s faction tried seize state arsenal @ jackson square, kellogg had state militia seize dozens of leaders of mcenery s faction , control new orleans. unrest marked mcenery organized own paramilitary group. in september 1873 forces, on 8,000 strong, defeated city/state militia of 3500 in new orleans , took control of state house, armory , police stations, state government located, in known battle of jackson square. forces held buildings 3 days before retreating before arrival of federal troops. warmoth subsequently impeached state legislature in bribery scandal stemming actions in 1872 election.

warmoth appointed democrats parish registrars ensured voter rolls included many whites , few freedmen possible. number of registrars changed registration site without notifying blacks. required blacks prove on 21, while knowing former slaves did not have birth certificates. in grant parish, 1 plantation owner threatened expel black republican voters homes rented on land. fusionists tampered ballot boxes on election day. 1 found hole in it, apparently used stuffing ballot box. result, grant parish fusionists claimed landslide victory, though blacks outnumbered whites 776 630.

warmoth issued commissions fusionist democrats alphonse cazabat , christopher columbus nash, elected parish judge , sheriff, respectively. many white men in south, nash confederate veteran (as officer, had been held year , half prisoner of war @ johnson s island in ohio). cazabat , nash took oaths of office in colfax courthouse on january 2, 1873. dispatched documents governor mcenery in new orleans.

william pitt kellogg issued commissions republican slate grant parish on january 17 , 18. nash , cazabat controlled small, primitive courthouse. republican robert c. register insisted he, not alphonse cazabat, parish judge , republican daniel wesley shaw, not nash, sheriff. on night of march 25, republicans seized empty courthouse , took oaths of office. sent oaths kellogg administration in new orleans.

grant parish 1 of number of new parishes created republican government in effort build local support in state. both land , people tied calhoun family, plantation had covered more borders of new parish. freedmen had been slaves on plantation. parish took in less-developed hill country. total population had narrow majority of 2400 freedmen, voted republican, , 2200 whites, democrats. statewide political tensions reflected in rumors going around each community, fears of attacks or outrage, added local tensions.