The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1859-01-29
MASS MEETING ON NEW RIVER.

At Mass Meeting OF the citizens occupants Of the
Houmas lands. and which was held January 18th.
1858, Romanta Tillotson was unanimously called to
the Chair. The Hon. w. r. Boote and Simon p Eli.
Eau were chosen Secretaries.
The Meeting having been called to order by the
Chairman and the reading of letter addressed to
Coy. r. G. Wicklilfe by DR.. Frederick W. Hart was
called for-and after having the said letter read It
was unanimously Resolved that the said letter con.
tains full exposition of views endorsed by u.s.
and meets our cordial APPRECIATION The following
Preamble and Resolutions were then proposed and
unanimously adopted:
Whereas, at the last session of Congress a bill
was reported to the Senate of the United States
by the Hon. J. p. Benjamin. a Senator of the
United States from this State. (who is Chairman OF
the Senate's Committee on Private Land Claims J
under the title of bill to provide for the location Of
certain confirmed land claims in the State of Mis-
souri, and for other purposes and which bill subsc.
qnently became law. to the great injury. prejudice
and wrong, to us residents and occupants Of the lol-
mas Lands, and TO the great benefit of the Hon John
Slidel, associate Senator Of Mr.. BENJAMIN in the
United States Senate and who claims to own twenty
thousand acres of said Houms tract; and whereas the
said act of Congress contemplates the eviction OF
three hundred and seventytwo electors of the parish
OF Acenslon and one HUNDRED electors in the
parish of lberye, with their wives and children
from lands they have long occupied, cultivated
and improved and to which they contend they
have an incontrovertible title
ResoOcd That the introduction of this bill and its
passage through the Senate Of the United States by
the Hon.J p. Benjamin is mischevous in its tend
encies direct charge against his moral integrity
positive betrayal of the trusts conded to him, and
violation of his oath of ofce-nendcd to benefit his
cocage John Slidell and entail the ruin of at least
five hundred families in the parishes OF Ascension and
Iberville.
ResOlged, That our Senators and Representatives. in
the Legislature be requested and earnestly urged to
oppose the reelection OFF. p Benjamin to the Senate
of the United States, to fill the vacancy from this
State in that body on The 4th of March next-on ac
n arol nj tnpp it,Ia ,,l al
it was sought to aggrandize his colleague servant
the people sworn to guard and preserve their inter
ests against all assaants, by the ruin of five hundred
free white electors in the Parishes of Ascension and
Iberville.
Resoced, That petition be drafted to the Legisla
ture to take such action in this matter as it may prop
erty do to have justice secured to the resident occ
pants OF the Houmas lands, and that similar petit
lions 10 congress be prepared and sent to the Hon
Miles Taylor for presentation to the House of Repre-.
sentatyes asking for such legislation as may become
necessary to obtain the repeal of that Missouri bill
OF that part oil II referring to land claims in the Terri
subtlety by J. p. Benjamin.
"A motion was then made and seconded that the
Chairman of this meeting appoint a delegation Of
five to proceed to Baton Rouge in charge OF the Pet.
ton TO the Legislature OF the State and to confer
with the members in furthemnce of the objects CON
tempated in the above resolutions; whcreupon. the
Chair appointed Dr. Fred'k w. Hart, Hon. VIM R
Boote, Eugene Gautran, Simeon Arnold, --Ben
nett.
Resolved, That the thanks Of this meeting be giyer
to its Chairman and Secretaries for their attention
and polteness in conducting its business and tina
the proceedings be published in the Baton Rouge Ad
vocate, True Delta and Crescent of New Orleans
Coast Journal, Donaldsonvllle, Gazette d. Sentinel
paquemine; Washington Union and National Intel
lgencer.
ROMANTA TILLOTSON,
Chairman.
:. r ELIsAu, Seecre'af'es'