Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1856-06-07
THE POLICE JURY.

The congregated wisdom of the Parish Of La
fourche convened at the Court House in this place
on Monday last; which event caused no unusual de
gree of excitement or curiosity on the part Of ou
citizens. Every thing pursued the even tenor o
its way as though nothing, in reality had happened
or was about to happen, to distinguish the occasion
from the monotony Of every day life in countr.
town Of over fifteen hundred inhabitants. The De
mocracy knew full well that from the combined tai
ents of their representatives and the outside pres
that would be broug to bear upon their actions
in framing wholesome enactments for the people
at large, that no danger was to be feared or ap
pretended.
Economy, retrenchment, and reform was thu
order of the day. The financial condition of the
Parish was on the brink of bankruptcy, which rem
dered even the thought of any improvement alto
gether out of the question. The idea of q new
Court House, Jail, and other necessary public build
ngs was, as it has been for years past, hooted at
Taking stock in the Thibodaux Bridge Company,
an enterprise which would enrich the parish, ano
thereby greatly aid in raising the necessary fund.-
for the erection of suitable public edi6ces, wa
viewed as another absurdity, and cast aside witt
Indifference, if not with disdain.
1t is well that the parochial solons thus early de
fined their Positions or else their subsequent acts
would i'll comport with their platform Of principles
for out Of their own mouths have they given fla
denial to their professed creed "retrenchment ane
REFORM" The first thing that comes up in regular
order of business after an organization has beer
effected is the election Of a parish printer. Two
journals were proposed, the Union and the Minerva
The former proposed to do the work, for one year
for three hundred dollars, and the latter proposed
to do it for FIVE DOLLARS. 1t was but natura
to infer that the contract would have been given
to the Minerva, on the score of economy, at least
But the tax payer should bear in mind that this
was not the case. Notwithstanding that there was
a discrepancy of $295 in the price asked by the
Union and the Minerva, the former was elected the
official organ by a majority Of three votes. Here
are the names of those reformers who voted for
the Union: ONEZEME BERNARD, LEOPOLD
PERTUIT, URsIN ago, and P. J. THEROT.
Mr.. Jourdan Savoie, voted for the Minerva.
We would now seriously ask of the tax paying
inhabitants Of the parish of Lafourche, who are
yearly assessed for the support of the State Gov.
ernment parish governmet and to maintain sys.
tenn Of public schools throughout the State if it is
right, if it is just if it is decent that they should
be taxed for the support Of party newspaper?
With all due Difference for those who do not
agree With US on this point, we say it is not, and
such course should be censured by every one
having the interest Of the people and the welfare
Of the parish at heart. It is ruinous principle,
and one that cannot be justified by any party. If
a public, orzparty newspaper, does not command
patronage in itself sufficient for its support and to
keep it from sinking, it is wrong that the people
should be compusorily taxed for its maintenance.
1t is similar in principle to the taxing Of the peo-
pie for the support Of any particular church, as is
the case in England and the European States,
where the church and government are united. We
trust in God, that this state of things may never
exist in this country.
With these few remarks, we leave the Police
Jury and their acts, to the voting and tax paying
citizens Of the parish Of Lafourche. If they can
justify their course by any system Of ethics, we
shall not fail to render them full and ample repara-
ton, by taking back every thing, either expressed
or implied condemnatory Of their actions contained
in this article.