The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1868-09-05
ST. LANDRY PARISH.
Persecution of a Union Man.

CHIxOEA Oh "a OflEOsH NRstAss
Under the above heading we take the
following letter from the New Orleans
Republican of the 23d inst.
Mr.. Donate, who, though a Presiden-
tial %elec,or, did not know the difference
between real estate and personal proper
ty, was not even lodged in jail-he
was simply arrested and permitted to
give bail, though under the law the
magistrate should have committed him
without allowing him to bail. We see
nosgreat persecution in this, for he evil
IDENTIFY swore falsely, whether ignorautly
or innocently, the court will determine.
As to his killing himself-tkat's bun
combe; and he will not go to the peni-
Tertiary if he is innocent. The people
Of ST. Landry do not expect to have the
pleasure Of mourning for either of these
even's.
White men have been arrested and
taken to New Orleans on the most false
and frivolous charges. but when Mr..
Donate, willingly or inprudeptly, sub
jects himself to legal prosecution, he
cries persecution, though not taken out
of his own town. Probably if he had
had the misfortune to have been a white
man, and had tried the sweat-box, Ship
Island, or Dry Tortugas for a while, his
idea of a prosecuted man would be
somewhat changed. We do not know
of a single instance of killing in this
parish on account of difference in politi-
cal opinion but WI do know that ne
groes, or those who are not as good, have
made afidavits that certain white gen.
here voted at the late election,
who never registered, or even went to
the polls on that OCCASION. Mr.. Do
nato may have not committed willfu!
perjury, but whoever made these aft
davits did.
Literal translation of letter addressed by
Mr. Cornelius Donate to Mr.. Gustave Do
nato.
WASHINGTON, August Is, 1863.
My DEAR GusTAvE: I avail myself
Of the opportunity Of Mr.. William Mer-
GERS departure, to give you some details
If what take place here at Washington.
Ny dear friend, if it continues so, [ do
know if we shall not be all murdered
,ome of these days; I in particular, I am
he most hated l would not, therefore,
be at least surprised to see some attempts
made to assassinate me from what | see
and hear. DR.. Robertson is at the head
If this movement. [ must relate to you
what happened to mt.
Last Sunday week, Sam Johnson made
/ speech at a Republican meeting which
We held, aud he was rather saverr Oh The
Democrats with reference to tLe;r con
luct and way of acting. The next morn
-e.hey sought to have a pretext fer ar
,esflno him : to, that end ther-A <
ng a mare belonging to Mrs. widow
Wartelle. They her put him under
'ail o ftwo hundred and fifty dollars to
ppear in court. He came to me and
sked me to 60 security for him. To
blige q Republican, a thing which I am
ways resdy to do, I did so. That took
lace before Mr.. Kavanagh, who said
here were rumors to the effect that [ was
OF worth in real estate the amount for
'hich wanted to go security; L, a poor
ofthe laws, answered him that
thought [ was worth that amount. The
mare vas laid, and [ was caught with
ut knowing whafH was doing he asked
le if | could take an oath that [ was
orth that amount I answered yes, and
the act of taking it he propounded
a~estions to me which l did not under
and; | afterwards learned that he had
'ked me if | owned real estate to the
'iue OF $3.50 free of all mortgage or at
ehment. If I had understood his /
lestion | should not have answered af.
'matively at the peril of my life | did
It want to swear an untruth. As soon
| had sworn, DR.. Robertson made an
idavit against me for perjury; but it
rs a preconcerted plan, because they f.,
d that | went three times to New Or
10 have the election contested.
ley came to my house at nine o'clock |
night to arrest me. The constable
d with him Daniel Kurgue and Evan /
escott, who entered my house, all arm.
to the teeth. There were several 9TH h
q the street, whom I could not rec i
Fe. | then sent ofMr. Lalanne, who =
with me to MI. Bayon's house, who >
he to the next day at eight o'clock t
under bail of$2OO. / went to h
|sas a lawyer, who wrote a v
Bayou, asking him to put v
bonds TO appear before the 9
Court put me under bail i
!, Nh Time going security for :
bt~s said Of the case. The n
. 8 son & Go. WI Opc- Ii
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