Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1867-12-28
ALMOST A RIOT.

labor IN bis pockets, a negro met bln on
the road and demanded the mouey. The
boy refused, when the negro forcibly took
it from him and made of with the plum
der. The boys statement TO a Justice OF
the Peace, caused the issaiag of a warrant
and the thief was arrested and lodged in q
little brick jail at Bruly Landing. Some
few hours after the arrest, q body Of in
furiated negroes, variously armed, headed
by a we'll known character in that yicin
ity named Luke BiIIups-but who de-
lights in the disniied title Of Bishop "
marched up to the jail and demanded
the release of the prisoner. The crowd
was prevented from committing any vio-
lerce by a few resolute white men, uotiI
Mr.. White, our Sheriff, could be sent for,
and who promptly made his appearance.
Upon ascertainHng the cause Of the trou.
Die be sent for the affidavit and warrant
which were used in causing the thiefs
arrest and finding them correct and &C
coTdibg to law, he asked the the Bishop "
what he wanted. 81 want dat man re-
leased.7 (When the &" Bishop went to
see the Sheriff, he was accompanied
by two sable eountrymen, both armed to
the teeth You cannot get him out Of
that Jail uatii he IL released by law
You say you want him! He is in that
little building-that building is the State
Of Louisiana, Now remove him if you
dare - This plain, but determ ned talk
Of the Sheriff, somewhat cooled the
Bishop" down, and be then desired to
know if bail could not be taken, as all he
wanted was justice. " He is in the hands
of justice, now said tue Sheriff, " and
will be dealt witt, according to law and
the evidence" Bail was, therefore, re-
fused until an examination could be had
In the meantime the crowd continuing to
increase in the vicinity Of the jail, and
their threats and menaces being anything
but Of a peaceful character, a comnuni
cation. stating the facts, was sent up to
Gen. Watkins, commanding at Baton
Rouge, who promptly sent "a company OF
solliefs 10 assist ia preserving the peace
at all hazards. 1t was late in the eve
ming before the soliiers reached tue soeue
Of action, but their appearance had an
immediate beneficial effect. They com
commenced arresting those who had been
must prominent in the disturbance, even
intending the valiant Bishop" Capt.
Osbourn, agent OF the Freedmeu's Bureau,
for the district, who was also sen! for,
arrived, aud lent his assistance in restor.
lug order. lie suggested that the rioters
should be turned over to the military.
To decide this point at once whether the
civil or military power should take cog
~nizanee of the affair, Gen. Watkins was
sent for-who arrived some time during
the night, and who declared the civil au
thorities to be the proper %custodians Of
the prisoners. The number being large,
and the fact that they had been ignorant
ly led astray, caused them to be simply
put under bonds for good behavior for a
specified time. The mischeyious thief
was released on bail to appear tn55sat 3 q
the next term Of Court in this parish
THIS done, the soldiers returned home. the
negroes dispersed aud a feeling of quiet
security pervades that portion Of the par
ish. The outlines of this demonstration
we have given as briefly as possible. al
though the full particulars might have
been extended to several columns.
The negroes of this parish, as a general
rule, have behaved themselves, and show
a fair disposition to obey the laws. We
say this without a desire to aatter them.
1t is only when excited by Radical poll
t~icians, or such clerical fanatics as this
negro Bishop who lives in af1uence
upon their credulity--that they forget
themselves, and then ciamor loudly for
" their rights" when they have not the
Y.