The Opelousas courier., 1868-11-28
CONDITION OF THE STATE

of the State, made to and adopt
ed by the late Democratic State
Convention, at New Orleans:
To the President and Members of
the State Democratic Conren-
ton of Louisiana
Your Committee ON Resolutions
and the Condition of the State
respectfully submit the following
report: ..E# = 1talt.eL
Since your adjournment, the
great political battle which deter
mines the character of the Ma
tional Government for the next
four years has been fought, and
resulted in the decided triumph
of our opponents. Deeply as we
deplore this result, injurious as
we believe it will prove to the
best interests of our country, it
is our duty at once to accept the
decision which has been made,
and carefully to refrain from max
ing any factious or merely parti-
san opposition to the incoming
administration. The condition Of
our own State demands our first
care, and it's restoration to pros
perity and good government are
objects which rise infinitely above
all mere party considerations. We
rejoice to know that the signal
triumph of the Democracy in Lou
isiana gives lis the assurance that
these objects are now within our
reach, and that sooner or later
the present corrupt and imbecile
State Government must cease to
exist. But though this is great
triumph; though much has been
done, much yet remains to be
done. Our success was an over
whelming declaration of the pop
ular will, an unmistakable show
OF strength. 1t yet remains to
clothe that will with the forms of
law, and to make that strength
effective for our relief from evils
100 great long to he borne by any
people who deserve to be free.
To this end it is most earnestly
recommended that throughout
the State we maintain our organ
izations, with only such modifica-
tions as will render them more
effective, and that we continue
with unabated zeal our efforts to
3. overthrow the miserable faction
that is daily expressing and plum
dering us. We do not propose
now to go into a, history of this
faction, or present any detailed
statement of the wrongs we have
suffered, and are now suffering, at
the hands of the present State
Government. .H* .s9 ,=,5s s',s...f
Unfortunately, no such state
ment is necessary, for their ex-
travagance and corruption have
been so. open, aud shameless that
they are known to all. But the
men who, by military power, have
been thrust into Office here, In op-
position to the wishes of ninety
nine hundredths Of the taxpayers
of the State, are not content with
mere merely plaaaering .,s for their
own advantage !; they seem TO be
inspired with a vindictive hatred
Of those whom they are robbing.
Possessing no property them
selves, and conscious of the oppO-
sition of those who do, they have
inaugurated a warfare against
property itself, which, If not sue
cessfnlly resisted, must result in
the speedy ruin OF every interest
in the State.
The Constitution of 1868 pro.
vides that I'M all sales of land
made under any order of Court
the land shall be sold in lots o1
from ten to fifty acres. This pro.
vision covers all sales made under
Writs of seizure and sale, and. fer
fdcsas, and all succession sales
Thus, no matter what may be the
opinion Of the parties most inter.
ested as to the best mode of sell
ing their property, i'm all sales ,1Il.
der execution these parties are lie.
prived of any voice in the matter
and the same arbitrary rule is es.
stabiished in all sales made by ex-
ecutors, administrators, and the
tutors Of minors. Such q provis-
ion would be ruinous anywhere
It's peculiarly so in Louisiana
IA large portion of the State is
engaged in the production OF sl1.
gar. These estates, with then
sagar-hoHse and machinery, cost.
ing frequently from twenty to
fifty Thousand dollars, their quar-.
tiers, dwellings and other build.
ings, and their due proportion Of
cleared and woodland, are Valua.
hletas D whole, and are slowly but
surely increasing in value; but
SaInnf,Sn that fhf.v arnE f1iyiSlad fraff