The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1856-03-08

A party must be hard run that has to resort
to such means to support it, as this attempt to
injure the good name Of gentleman, whose
private and public character is above reproach.
We publish his card with pleasure, and ask
for it, the generous perusal Of the pnblc as an
act Of justice to him and the Democratic par
~, Of which he is distinguished member
The statement Of Mr. Hatch bears the impress
of truth upon its face, and will no doubt be so
regarded by every unprecedented mind.
1.-THE ST. HELENA CONTESTED
ELECTION"
. The article under this caption in the Ga
zette of yesterday calls for a personal OK.
PLANTATION.
Entertaining profound sense of the high
responsibilities of public journalist, | en-
gagged in its duties with determination
never to prostitute it for the promotion of
merely private ends, to pour out personal
malice, or to occupy any space in the col
umns of our journal for personal cxplana-
tions, which would be better filled with
matters relating to the public interest. A
reply, however, to the article alluded to,
we trust will justify solitary transgression
of the rule, for which we crave the indulg
encc of our readers, especially as the mat
ter is directly or indirectly Of some little
public concern.
The following is copy of the affidavit
of Wiley Bezoon, upon which our neigh
Dor has spread himself with such inflated
patriotism, which we also publish for the
benefit ofour readers. / take it for grant
ed this is correct copy, as | hive not had
time to examine the original: ,,...
"He was citizen of st. Helena Parish La.
/ was voter at the election held on the LIST
Nov. '55. am acquainted with r. II. Hatch
of this parish, who was Il candidate for the
Legislature Of this State at said election.
That not long before the last general election
Mr.. +. II. Hatch called at his residence in
this parish on an electioneeriug tour; during
the time he was there, ! remarked to him that
had pre-empted piece Of land in said parish
'adjoiaing Land,' upon which resided, but
that | did not know that 1 could save it,,
whereupon Mr.. Hatch remarked that he had
warrants which he could lay on said lands for
me. That i'll would vote an open Democratic
ticket, he would enter my land for me; that l
with my brother, Jesse j. Bezoon, for whom
he would do the same favor, on the same con-
ditions, might leave our notes in his favor, and
if |, or we, were ever able to pay it, we could
do SO, or If we could pay one half of the entry
We could do SO, if not, that he would never
ask it ofus- | objected to having land entered
in his own name as others had done, and Mr.
Hatch then said, that it should be entered in
our own names on the above condition.
tbs proper to state at this point, that this
evidence is purely erparte, that sufficient no.
tice not having been given in conformity to
the law of 1855 under which we acted, my
attorney mot being present MYSELF simply
protested against the proceedings, and left
the parties to act as they thought proper
not appearing contradictorily to qualify
the evidence by cross,questioning and ex-
aiming the witnesses, presuming that il
wonld he ruled out On the ground of irrel
eyancy and illegality. However, the com
mlttee thought proper to waive formalitics
and admitted all the testimony indiscrimi
nately, and it is with the affidavit we have
now to deal.
1t is not true that offered to enter the
land of Bezoon "if he wonld vote an opor
Democratic ticket" but it is simply and
strictly true that when this young man sta
ted to me that he was fearful of losing the
land, upon which his labor had been expend
cd, I told him I had warrants" with
which | was willing to save from entry by
Others, the lands of out friends: that | was
willing to do the same favor for his brother
that they " might leave their notes in my
favor" and ] would grant them such indul
gence in the payment as their necessities re
CURED. / did what honor prompted, being