New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1859-10-15
The Avoyelles Vigilance Committee.

[From the Marksve (Avoyeiles Pah) Organ sth inst1
We publish to-day the proceedings of the mass
meeting held at the Court House in this place on
Tuesday last. Those who have read our paper for
the last few weeks will readily understand why it is
that the citizens of parish have been compelled
to form an organization of the character in question
The same causes which have made it necessary Tor
concert Of action on the part Of peaceful and order
loving citizens of the Atakapas country have led to
the same results in Avoyelles. Since the banshment
Of lawless and desperate men, black and whte vaga-
bonds and thieves, from the lower parishes, we of
this parish have been infested with those renegades
Horse thieves and robbers have made their appear
ance in our midst. Free negroes are prowlng about
the plantations and destroying property, and daring
robberies have been perpetrated. Every day has
brought US news of some new act of violence some
bold robbery and contempt of the laws, yet no one
has been detected and brought justice. In view of
this state Of affairs, which was daily growing worse
some organization by which these outrages can be
arrested. The exigences of the times made neces.
sary that public meeting should be called. The
people in large numbers have assembled, and, after
due Geliberation, the proceedings which we publish
today resulted in the organization of Vigilance
Committee.
In accordance with the published call large meet
ing of the citizens OF the parish assembled at the
pointment of Col F. Cannon President and L. Ii.
Couvillion Secretary. Col Cannon stated the object
of the meeting in speech of marked ability, charac
terzed by moderation and conservative sentiments
which had obtained in our midst, and the necessity
existing for perfect understanding and prompt
action on the part of the people appealing not in
any way to the PASSIONS or endeavorng to excite the
minds of those present, recommending hasty and
unprecedented measures His speech was replete
with sound sense and excellent suggestions as to the
course to be pursued. He deprecated any unlawful
usurpation or unwarranted authority and abuse of
power, recommending vgilancein in detecting offenders
and assistance to the legal authorities in bringing
them to JUSTICE and yet be deemed it necessary that
all suspicious characters, refugees and vagabonds
rid the community OF their presence. His views met
the hearty approval of the assembly, and in accord.
ance with his suggestions the organization was ef
fected, as will be seen in the official report of the
proceedings.
1t is to be regretted that necessity for an organ
izaton of this character should ever exist in any
community, yet there are times when, unless imme.
diate steps be taken, the laws are trampled under
foot, and delays result in extreme danger A few
days more of naction and indecsion and our parish
would have become the Botany Bay for the Grim
inas and vagabonds of the surrounding parishes.
There would have been no security against lawless-
ness and outrage. The lives and property of our
citizens would have been at the mercy of despera-
does Peace and good order would have ceased to
exist, and the laws would have been powerless to
prevent and punish crime. The time had arrived
when forbearance ceased to be virtue, and prompt
to the call, the people have responded and the pro-
per and necessary action has been taken to prevent
the evils which we have portrayed
The organization is a formidable one Its char
acterizing features are efficiency discretion, prompt
ness and power. 1t will be dangerous to trfe with
the men who have calmly, yet determnedly, pledged
themselves to the success of the object in view. If
vince those who provoke the judgment of that body
of men, that it would have been wiser for them to
have departed whilst the opportunity was afforded
them to escape from the wrath Of outraged people
The first suspicious circumstance will be promptly
investigated, promptly adjudged, and justice prompt
ly executed. Maleiactors have reason to dread
the retrbution which is certain to follow their mis-
deeds. Those who know the character Of the gen.
tie an whose order will assemble at moments
warning an hundred armed, fearless and determined
men, who will follow him to the death, if need be,
will not provoke his indignation but once. Good
citizens the awabiding and respectable portion of
the community will be protected in their rights. But
those who have heretofore deed justice and scorned
the laws Of the land had better GO HENCE.