The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-11-20
TIE FIRST GU N!
AGRICULTURAL MEETING!
rhe Planters Of Rapides and AVoy-
elIeS in Convention.
From the Marksville Villager.
,,,ss MEETING 1T CHENETEILLE.


II pursuance to the call for a Conven-
.;on Of the Planters of Rapides and Avoy-
.Hs for the purpose of considering the
s tote of the Agricultural interests OF this
0 Saction. the most intelligent and enthusi-
o o assemblage Of the citizens OF the in
tor;or of Louisiana we have ever had the
,loasure of attending, was held, at Cheney
p p;l,p on the 4th instant. To say that the
'aeeting was a decided success in all its
features, is to convey but faint idea of
the real good to the community that was
;nauqurated on that day. Wearied and
dsr9sted with the present system of labor,
the thee planters have determined to not only
mrotest against it and resolve, but to act, as
Should men, knowing their rights, their iu-
,erest and their power. Nothing that has
been done since the surrender has so thrill
Cd US with pleasure, so inspired US with
br;ohtest hopes of the future prosperity of
our beloved South, as the manly senti
meuts uttered, the sensible views expressed
and the heightened, honest resolutions
oaopted at the Great meeting at Cheney
Vile. We regret that we have not the
snace in our present issue 10 give full re-
mort of the proceedings of the meeting, but
our duty to our patrons and our sense of
the Importance of the movement, alike re-
ouire US to give brief synopsis Of the
main features Of this great affair. From
early morning the planters began to arrive
from all quarters, singly and in groups, until
about noon when the meeting was called to
order in the Christian Church. General
Montfort Wells was chosen to preside ;
DR.. VIM. H. VIM was selected as vice
president and Hon. A. Lafargue ard w.
W. WhittiDgton appointed secretaries. AZ
ter some preliminary interchange of views
among the planters, the Hon. E. North
CulOm was called to the stand amid en-
thusiastic cheers, and gracefully acknowl-
edging the compliment proceeded to deliv-
; er one of the most splendid addresses we
have ever had the good fortune to hear,
He spoke for more than two hours, touch
inc upon all the vital interests of the coun-
try, appealing for the real welfare of all
classes of our fellow citizens and the sur
est, speedest reconstruction of our op'
messed and ruined land. He displayed a
profound and intimate acquaintance with
I'LL the practical details of the planting in.
;erest and from his free use of figures and
statistics, showed how deeply he ha(
itudied the questions discussed, and from
lis style of arguments and details; the
manner he handled his subject, and the
general range of his splendid speech, ap
proved him master of domestic policy
governmental science and political econo
my. He was frequently and enthusiast
cally interrupted by prolonged and appre
ciaIive cheers, and after his lengthy ora
ton was closed all felt regret that such
move had not been sooner inaugurated
and espoused by such men as Judge GU
lom who have in so great a degree tn
power of impressing their views upon tn
people at large. His speech created
sensation and left its mark deep upon Oh
minds of all his hearers he has sowed tn
seeds of domestic reform broadcast in on
midst, and we are much mistaken if the
do not take root and soon yield an abul
dant harvest of peace, prosperity and ne
BILE independence. We wish you TO
speed, judge, in your great enterprise.
The next step in the proceedings wei
the resolutions which were enthusiastical
received aid unanimously adopted. W
publish them below aud earnestly call tt
attention of our readers to them. L.
them be read and our word for it, eve
planter aud man of sense will ratify thel
and consent to act in accordance with II
line of action there mapped out.
The Convention was then adjourned
reasonable at Cheneyvilie on the 18th ins
Let no man who has the welfare of h
country at heart, or due appreciation
his own true interest fail to attend. o.
planters must be alive to the great que
tions of the day, and they should turn O.
en- masse, on that occasion. Our honor
bic fiiend Judge Cullom, who is wit
awake to every progressive movement al
who has keen sense of our real wan
will be present and may crafty us wi
another of bis master efforts in behalf
reform and practical agricultural reco
struction.