The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1871-11-25

| L MdS u1Stltl hCo 14O 1LNAN VAhetS
| could not recognize my assallant.
Several of my neighbors who heard
the shot in the night came by in the
morning to ask its meaning, when L
told what had occurred. just before
night, one of my neighbors called on
me and requested me to accompany
him to the Masonic Hall that night, as
the citizens had agreed to come to-
gether to hear my statement, and, II
possible, remedy the evil. | went,
and after an Introductory speech from
the president, l was asked to relate
the circumstances as they occurred,
which did.
| was followed by others; one add
vised me to have any one arrested
whom | suspicioned; one allowed
that I was probably mistaken in re-
gard to hearing a gun snap, and STATE
ing that he had rode all over the par
ish in perfect safety. But, although
the only one who tried to cast any
doubt on my statement, he was the
party who presented the resolutions
adopted at this meeting. Besides my
self but three persons said word rel
ative to the matter in hand, although
all who signed the resolutions were
there. Mr.. Raglan, one OF the justices
of the peace who went to the hills the
day the people met as related above,
WAS there, but upon being called on
replied that he had nothing to say.
The parties who did speak were
honest in their convictions, but were
not situated so as to have heard or
seen as much as their neighbors. They,
after passing the resolutions, asked
me what | should do. Ireplied that l
did not know, but thought | had bet
ter leave, as those resolutions guaran-
teed me safety in the town $50 far as
in the power of the community" but
it was my business to travel all about
in the parish making surveys, and
that after what had occurred did not
feel safe to do so; that, moreover, but
three gentlemen in the assembly had
spoken, aud they, according to their
own statements, knew nothing relative
to the matter at issue, but that among
them were men, not one, two nor
three, but more, who had said moth
ing, who knew that was in danger,
but dared not tell it; that they were
right, that it was too late then to do
me any good, and would only bring
persecution upon them that the meet
ing itself could do me no good, but
might be the means of making mine
the last case of the kind.
cited them to a case that occurred
less than a year ago, when another cit
, izen had been ordered away how
then proclaimed in the street that il
was an outrage, and that the people
were doing themselves a great injns-
tice to allow any outside clique, mob
or vigilance committee to dictate to a
citizen of their town. offered to be
one of half dozen to go to the house
of the party ordered away and protect
him in having Il trial, which he begged
of his fellow-citizens in vain. | was
advised by friend not to have toe
much to say, as | might excite the
anger OF the committee, etc.
The excuse of the citizens in that
case was, that the party twas rather
trifiag character" However, he had
lived eighteen years in the commune
ty. | told them also that they all
knew what my public acts had been
and that reliable gentlemen in that
assembly could vouch for :ly private
actions and words, as some of them
had been my constant companions fol
years; that [ hoped they would asso.
ciate themselves together so that my
case might be the last, for that wher
Twas driven from Grant at the in
stance of mob, or committe of any
sort, it was time for any of them t,
look out.
| had taken the precaution to have
everything necessary removed within
doors before dark the night of thu
first, yet after my return on the nigh
of the second, parties were heart
about the house; also ON the night o
the third, Ga one of these occasions
: | heard them pass out, latehing tn,
Il gate. On another occasion, the dog
S ran them out. On the fourth instan
e | fully determined to leave, not be
S lieving | could stay i'll the countr1
: quietly, fearing, on account of a help
less family, that would meet the fat,
+ Of Captain White, or that | woult
q wake some night with blazing roo
4 above my head. After publicly pro
i claimed my intention of leaving l wa
: not aware of any one visiting my prem
4 Uses, although the precautions adopte,
a on the second were kept up till m,
: departure.
I | have but little more to state. Tha
those resolutions are not the spirit q
f the people of Montgomery, even, be
q came evident to me before leaving.
n tried to negotiate the sale of sundr
n claims. One for surveyors expense
v in the case of a succession, the sal
: advertised for the thirtieth of Novem
. Der, to come off at Montgomery.
+ could not get a bid, and only succeed
: ed in getting thirty-six and two-third
a per cent. by applying to q know
# money sharper five miles distant.
d Again, l have heard, since | cam
" to this city, that a Northern man wa
\ as well received in Grant parish as