The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1859-10-21
Il CARD.
10 tke Votars q Bosr5er Perish

itGtahN nav ICi tOiOfe lcit, dBH SUI
feel, in addressing you or appearing
through the medium of the newspapers
still feel constrained from sense of
duty TO notice in this way, some char
ges | find circulating over the Parish
First, that / am not citizen of Bossier .
that any man of truth and honor,
would thus impeach my integrity or
question my sincerity, knowing the
facts Of the case, | am slow to believe.
] have been honored time and again by
the voters of Bossier, and can to-day
say Of truth and with clear consci
ence, | have never deceived you, nor
knowingly misrepresented your inter
ests. With an unfaltering purpose to
do right, and heart filled with graft
tude for the confidence reposed, | have
gone forward in the strict and faithful
discharge of my duty. Under all these
circumstances | have some cause to
feel mortified, and to complain, thus
publicity, at the ready zeal and indus
try with which these charges arc being
circulated that there may be no room
for doubt or cavil about my citizenship,
! make the following statement
Some thirteen years ago | moved to
this parish with w. c. Naples (who
married my only daughter. We
bought land, and worked our negroes
together, from that time up to this day.
About ten years ago, Mr.. Naples moved
over to Minden, for the temporary pur-
pose of educating his children (there
being no good schools in our neighbor-
hood recorded my residence in
this Parish, where my property was and
etili is, and have voted in no other par
isht for State or parish officers since l
have been in the State. have no fami.
ly. and it is natural should do as | have
done-spend much of my leisure time
with those so nearly and dearly con-
neoted to me. | am also charged with
being opposed to the improvements on
Bayou Dorchete. This charge is also
false, for / did vote for the bill ap-
propriating five thousand dollars out of
the swamp land funds, for the purpose
of draining and retaining swamp and
oveffowed lands on the Dorchete. It
elected, | will use my best efforts to get
an appropriation adequate to complete
the work out Of the same FUNDS, and as
the swamp land commissioner has re-
ported in favor of the work, think it
can be obtained. am further charged
with being in favor of retaining
swamp lands on Willow Chute to the
injury of other lands below, and for
measures that would injure the navig-
tioa of Lake Bisteneau. These charges
are also untrue. / feel conscious that /
would not injure any one to the benefi'
Of another-not even myself. This
subject is committed by law to board
Of public works, whose duty it is to go
upon the ground and make exanina-
tons, and, by surveys and estimates 20
decide what ought and what ought not
to be done. Buff the board of public
works should apply to the Legislature
for authority to do, what is not already
allowed, then | would act and vote for
what believed to be for the general
good of my constituents. Ihope the above
viii plainly define my position, and
that a generous public will not let me
suffer by false charges, and mis- repre-
sensations Of my true position. No
man can attack my political integrity,
and hope none viii impeach my hon
or: If / am to be beaten, let it be done
on account of the political principles
| profess, and not upon q supposition
that I am claiming the rights of a cit
| zen where / have no such right. / may
| be allowed under such unwarranted at
taeks upon me to say, were capable
Of such deceit upon you as these charges
imply; it would seem that had forgot
ten the earliest acts of my manhood
.ghen / stood up for your rights upon