The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1871-01-28
The Projected New Parish.

We publish to-day the memoria
of a large number of citizens of thif
Parish, addressed to the Legislature
and respectfully protesting against
the proposed erection of a new Par
ish by cutting off a large piece O
st. Landry.
The scheme for this new Parisl
has been ON foot, privately, for some
time, and, we observe, has assumed
the tangible form Of a biIlintroduceC
recently into the Legislature by the
Hon.. Mfr. A. l.. Durio, one of the
Representatives recently elected.
This move Of Mr.. Durio has taken
many of his constituents, probably
the majority of those who voted fol
him, by surprise. We believe there
was no understanding here previous
to his election that the first use he
should make of his seat in the Legis'
lature, was to he All attempt to dis
integrate and mutilate the old Par.
ish of st. Landry. Had the honor.
able gentleman not kept this design
strictly secret during the late can,
vass, we opine that he would have
been unanimously chosen to stay at
home, instead Of being placed in a
position which he now uses so un-
scrupulously to misrepresent lis
constituents. r*'' 4.,a
We will state without the fear OF
contradiction, that this scheme to
divide and cut up st. Landry had
it's origin in a few individuals, office
seekers, who are actuated solely
therein, as the memorial states, by
"schemeS intended alone to fill their
Such a Parish as is sought to be
.#HgHt v-E -frW ~.rFE "EFsF.
made, we venture to say, is not
wanted, and has not been asked for
by any respectable number of people
living within its projected limits.
We. do not hesitate to denoucce it
as @ scheme to burden and harrass
taxpayers, and provide comfortable
places for a few hungry individuals,
who are seeking to lay burdens
on the people to build up Court
Houses, JaiIs, Clerks Offices, &c.,
in order that they may take posses
sion, and live al. public expense.
Out upon such useless, %extraya-
CANT and uncalled-for schemes of
legislation, at this ~juucture of our
peoples social and financial distress.
The numerous good reasons a.
gainst the proposed measure are
truthfully and forcibly'set forth in
the memorial. One result would in
evitably fall upon the town Of Opel
ou,sas, which has been the county
seatf of this Parish for near seventy
years. Property would depreciate,
business would stagnate, and more
or less damage would be caused and
felt by every one Of the twenty-five
hundred residents of the town. We
wish that time and opportunity
would permit Of a mass meeting of
our citizens, to express their repro
baton Of this step taken by their
Representative in the Legislature,
without their consent and against
their interest and wishes. g5 vi
The citizens of the Parish gene
rally, and, as far as we have heard
from them, the people who are to.
be throum into a new Parish, got
their first intimation of the design
from the bill introduced by the gen
tleman in question, and we respect
fully suggest to the Legislature that
before taking the proposed action,
they allow our citizens a chance to
express their wishes ON the subject.
As the matter is purely one Of To-
cal interest, andnot,i in any wise, of
a political nature, We feel assured
that the respectful appeal Of our
citizens viii not pass that honorable.
body unheeded. ya m !,
Let the Legislature understand
well THAT the people Immediately
concerned have not asked for a new
Parish, and that the majority of
them are ignorant of the scheme
that the pending bill is a private
speculation of a few individuals,
and finally that the increased tax
alton and depreciation Of property
in the wealthiest portion Of the Par
ish consequent thereon, would not
be compensated ~ the change, and
are demanded BY no existing con
siderations Of necessity or expedi-
eacy. We trust that our,other Be-
representatives. in tho Legislature viii
earnestly oppose this rtiinous plot
to disintegrate our Parish, and that