Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1854-06-10
THE POLICE JURY.

people at large of the parish-we believe they
take an oath to that effect upon the holy bible.
There were present. Messrs. Woods, McDan-
lels, Kills, Grass, Hagan and Simmons-the
three latter being new members. We cannot
undertake to give a detailed report of the en-
tire proceedings just rs they occurred. 1t
would be an amusing rs well as an astounding
episode in parochial history. One fact, how
ever, we cannot forbear adserting to, apart from
the regular proceedings--the fact that if there
had been q stranger present, he would have
been a wise man TO have said uho constituted
the Police Jury. Provisions were Recommend
ed, principles debated and measures urged te
the apparent eager and attentive ears of mem.
bers, by. those who had about as much RICH,
thus to give their opinions and suggestions as
Paddy Hagerty would. nave, or any other gen.
tleman not a member of the body nor a resi-.
dent ofithe parish. Do not writhe, Mr.. p:csi-
dent and gentlemen of the Police JURY; w
presume you were aware. when you accepted
office, uiat public bodies in this country are
subject to public criticism-a matter fortunate
" provided for by the constitution.
Mr.. Grass accepted the honor of sitting in
the Presidents chair, and the first business
that came up afterwards was the election of a
Clerk. Mr.. A. Petit, the present incumbent,
Us. Webb and s. NJ. R;ls, were candidates +;
the latter, however, we understood, withdrew
his name, and the contest was left between
the two former. The vote was taken, and the
President voting for Mr.. Petit, made it q tie
Here was a hubbnb! This was not coutempla-
ted by those who were deeply interested in
showing Mr.. Grass into the Presidents chair.
CONSERVATION was evident. The Parish At.
torney declared that the President, according
to law, had no right to vote except when there
was a tie vote Of the other members. Common
Sense, as well as the law as asserted BY other
lawyers, declared there was no legal provision
which DISTINGUISHED any Police Jury ward,
which would be the case if the President was
not allowed to vote whenever he pleased, and
upon all questions. The matter was finally
adjusted by postponing the election till next
September.
The next matter that came up was the ap-
pointment of Road and Levee Inspectors, and
as gentlemen will receive due notice Of the
honor conferred upon them, it is not worth
while to spread out their names here.
The examination of bills here followed, and
while the majority were approved, a perfect
wreck was made of the Sheriff's, Clerks and
accounts, in which every body
pretty much seemed to take a hand, while
looked on in wonder. The Parish
never so well represented rs on this oeca~
sion, and consequently very judicious mea-
sures were adopted, for the parish. Instead Of
continuing the old method of paying the above
officers according to the number of criminal
cases brought before them, a resolution was
passed which gave the Clerk an annual salary
Of $50, the Sheriff 800, and the Magistrates
we forget how much, which will undoubtedly
save the parish a considerable sum annually.-j
We were present, and We can positively assert,
with both our eyes, ears, and our senses,
we could not perceive that this resolution orr
ginated with any member of the Police jury.
We may say definitely and distinctly that it did
not! s
1t was now late and an adjournment was had
Tor dinner. At near 3 o'clock, the Jury again
convened, the accounts gotthrough with, when
he election of printer came up. Some little
iebate upon the subject sprung up between
Mr.. Woods and MI. Hagan. The latter con.
ended that the printing ought to be published
BY both papers if any arrangement could be
to that effect. But Mr.. Woods asserted
our contemporary would not consent TO
he pay being divided for that purpose-and
1rawing down his eyebrows and clinchine his
teeth together, as if he was about to commit
act which his heart did not sanction, he NOV.
I'd that the resolution offered BY Mr.. Slack at
q previous meeting (both papers to do the
and the pay to be divided, or else mt
up to the lowest bidder,i be laid upon the table.
We were perfectly thunderstruck .by this ac.
ion on the part Of. the gentleman. He knows
Why. The vote was taken upon the motion,
When Messrs. Woods, Rils and McDaniels 70.
ed in the affirmative, and Mr.. Hacan in the
egative-Messrs. Grass and Simmons remain.
'g mum! Here was another clap of thunder f,
Inch came pretty near laying US under the !
but we still maintained our seat. Jemi- ;
"a! Just to think Of having but one friend in ,
perfect life.strugsgIe, when we thought we [,
I'D three or four! :
A discussion again took place between Mr.. +
and Mr.. Hagan-the latter asserting I
at politics should not be brought into the
after; he recommended that the printing be
ven to 10th papers, and $500 be paid each, .
that the paper with the largest number Of !
get the printing, or that it be put b