New Orleans Republican., 1868-08-23
FROM ST. LANDRY PARISH.
Persecution of n Union Man.
Literal translation of a letter addressed bV Mr.
Cornelius Donate to Mr.. Gustave Donate
WASHINGTON, August Is, 1868.

OoEnellAs tomato TO MIR. Gustave Donate,
WASHINGTON, August Is, 1868.
My DEAR GUsTAvE; l avail myself of
the opportunity of Mr.. William MERGERS
departure, to give you some details of
what take place here at Washington. Ny
dear friend, if it continues so, do not
know if we shall not be all murdered some
of these days; in particular, am the
most hated; | would not, therefore, be at
last surprised to see some attempts made
to assassinate me from what see and hear,
DR.. Robertson is at the head Of this move
ment. | must relate to you what happened
to me.
Last Sunday week, Sam johnson made a
speech at Republican meeting which we
held, and he was rather severe on the
Democrats with reference to their con
duct and way of acting. The next morn.
ing they sought to have a pretext for ar.
resting him; to that end, they brought two
witnesses who accused him of shooting a
mare belonging to Mrs widow Wartene.
They then put him under bail of two hun.
dred and fifty dollars to appear in court.
lie came to me and asked me to go security
for him To oblige a Republican. a thing
NtANA L uLl oAn AGdh1 W uO, l. Nlu 81.
That took place before Mr.. Kavauagh, who
said that there were rumors to the effect
that l was not worth in real estate the
amount for which wanted to 90 security; L
a poor Innocent of the laws, answered him
that | thought | was worth that amount.
The snare was laid and was caught with
out knowing what was doing; be asked
me if | could take an oath that | was
worth n I i I
IN the act Of taking it, he propounded
questions to me which [ did not under
stand; | afterwards learned that be had
asked me if owned real estate to the
amount OF $3.50 free of all mortgage or
attachment 1t had understood his ques-
tlcn l should not have answered affirma-
lively at the peril of my life; l did not
want to swear an untruth. As soon as had
sworn, DR.. Robertson made an affidavit
against me for perjury; but it was a pre-
concerted plan, because they said that |
went three times to New Orleans to have
the elections contested. They came to my
house at nine O'Clock at night 10 arrest
me. The constable had with him
Daniel Kurgue and Evan Prescott, who
entered my house, all armed to the teeth.
there were several others in the street,
whom could not recognize. | then sent
for Mr.. Lalanne, who went with me to MIR.
Bayon's house, who sent me to the next
day at eight o'clock A. NJ. under bail of
S2OO. went to Opelousas to see law
yer, who wrote word to Judge Bsyon.
asking him to put me under bonds to appear
before the District Court. He put me
under bail of $1,000, Mr.. Lalanne going
security for me. Nothing is said Of the
case. The next day Robertson & Go. went
to Opelousas, probably to consult with
some lawyer, and they learned that Judge
Porter was to start for Abbeville to hold
the court there. They again got up another
plan against me to have me imprisoned,
because they alleged that the Parish Judge
had no power to bail me out, the District
Judge alone had that power. Hearing of
this | Immediately went to 0pelousas, and
gave $4,000 security, and asked special
hearing on the third Of September next.
Immediately after that the constable ap-
peared to arrest me again, but had already
been bailed out.
My dear friends, as you see, things have
come to such state that really one can not
know what to do or think. We are perse-
outed in every way. Great God when are
all these prosecutions to cease? am sure
that something will be done to me before
the election.
Please, then, let our influential friends
know OF all this before am sent to the
penitentiary. am innocent. Before the
name of Donate is so disgraced shall blow
my brains out 1t will hencetOrth be a
lesson to me,
l am still your friend.
(Signed) c. DONATE.