The Opelousas courier., 1870-04-16

hls friends. or from Inability the time ~ raise
the requisite force. and We understand that I'M
ttr certain clrcninstanc"s he Prop"~cS repeating
hls performance. Iii the mran time timid pco-
pie don't like to discuss the matter. Men who
IN secret relrobate Hayes conduct do not think
1t perfectly safe t" do SO pnhrIy. The Parish
il under cow. 1t is high time we should free
ourselves from this system of terror and dis
cnss Capt. Hayes conduct freely Nhhn his
armed men took possession OF the Cnurt House,
the citizens OF our town refused to Join him.
neither would they assist the Constable. to or
GaIliZ" force for the purpose of preventing
violence. "lt is an affair Of the politicians: let
them fight it out" seemed to h+ the most gene
raj feeling.
1t rns an affair of politicians mp TO th, time
ono side made use Of force and arms. and tlrn
1t became in our opinion affair of the utmost
Importance TO the whole Parrish
We are over twenty thousand people white
and black all deeply interested in .;ui,'. lr:re
and good ORDER, aud in our good ntme and rep
ntatlOn 1t can make but little difference to
most of us whicl, one of the contestants obtains
the Sherittalty. Both gentlemen hay" heretofore
enjoyed our esteem and respect We know that
Hayes was elected, hut We also know that
Th"mps"us course meets with the approval Of
many of our most intelligent citzrns Totally M
connected with political cliTurs and rings, and
who would not for any consideration infringe
upon the rights of Capt. Hayes.
1t is idle TO speak OF either DR.. Brooks or Col
Thompson and their friends scala Ways to he
of the best citizens of nIr Parish; the najnri y
of those who were on the general Parish ticket
at the last election. all tho M mhrrs of the Pn-
lice jury. all our Democratic dtl,yation to the
Legislature. and we think Il III, nri'y oi the bar.
1t is high time that there should he fearless
expression of public opinion, otherwise we sub
iert o'ir elves +" repcttinI OF the offence. a
c"rntrr organization for p,rloscs of self protec-
tnn .n the maintena of the law becomes an
.n'!i ' of nr,cssity. and in the end L. = Gar
i-nr.
Can't. Hayes has introduced the element of
farce a''l Violence into our politics. and we ITO
ROT liz" It, We fear. if continued it will lead
tu murders nnd demonstrations ON both sides of
""r ,ns.>t c,,in"nt citizens. and we wish the
thing stopped. This purpose cannot be effect Ell
hN n>llug the matter up for fear of lniuring
III. Parish. as was done on the first attempt to
take N" j,il. The hushing mp process has prov
eel Il total failure We think ventilation will do
a ;,""at deal better. The gentlemen who have
enlisted under the hauner Of Capt Hayes in his
career of conquest over legal authority should
I've n,a,lc to understand that the good sense OF
the Parisl, is orp"srd to their proceedings. The
life of any ritz-n is matter OF more impor-
tance than this contest for the Sh"rifalty. Let
, us have no more of these military drm"nstra-
! tious--von have done enough for glorv. Return
/ to the hoson.s Of soar families Convert y"'lr
! shot guns aud revOlvcrs into pI"u"hslnr's. "t
! rather level them hereafter at the ducks and
grrsr of the Prairies. and not at ynnr fellow
titi7.,iS. otherwise you may kill some one
terrible ting to>acc"hnt for, either in this world
| or in the next. tlIlLF.N.