The Opelousas courier., 1872-10-19
(Conna ,tnicated.J

EultOr courier:
Dear Sir,-In these times of political contest
when candidates names are before the people
for their sufirages, it is right and proper that
the antecedents and political and social record
Of the various candidates should he distinctly
and thoroughly understood. Amongst the
names prominently before the people for their
votes, is that Of Hon. Ebert CAN'T as cand-
date for Congress for the third Congressional
District of this State; and i'll order that all
should know, white as well as black, some
thing of his past record, herewith enclose an
extract of the proceedings of a meeting of the
slave holders of this Parish held in this town
on the Goth of February 1859 and published IN
the ''Patriot' March 5th 1859 in which 1 find
the following resolutions which were unani-
mously adopted:
''The committee appointed by the Chair, to
draft resolutions expressive of the sentiments
of this assembly in reference to such legisla-
tion as should be adopted by the State govern
ment in regard to the free colored population
of the State, beg leave to report, as the result
of their deliberations: That they recommend
the adoption of the resolutions passed at a
meeting of our fellow-citizens, held at the
town OF Washington, on the 18th ult., which
read as follows:
LIST. Be it Rcsolued That whereas, the free
colored population of this State i'll general
and of this Parish in particular, is principally
composed of Individuals, too lazy to work and
being without the means of subsistence, and
whereas, numbers of them live by stealing and
other nlalpractices, and whereas, the punish
men5 now inflicted upon them by the laws of
imprisonment at hard labor or otherwise for
their crimes and msdemeanors, is no check
upon them, since they are aware that they are
1,,,@k g. Il IL. I III
than when in the enjoyment of their liberty,
then the criminal laws now ia force against
them, should be amended. 7,4,.
ID. That the punishment of imprisonment
at Hard labor, or otherwise, should be abel-
ishet8 - 49, A---=zZ-z
ID Resolped, That hereafter, any free per
son of color who should be only convicted of
any offence against the laws OF the State, by
Court of competent jurisdiction, should be
sold by the Sheriff of the Parish in which he
was tried, to the last and highest bidder, as
slave, either for life or for term of years in
accordance with the nature of the offence.
4th. Resolued, That whereas, most of the
crimes and the insubordination existing
among our slaves are caused by the facility
with which they procure Intoxicating liquors
from free persons of color
Be 1t therefore Resolped, That any free per-
otherwise dispose of any spirituous liquors to
any slave, shall, upon conviction thereof, be
considered as attempting indirectly, to create
insurrection among the negroes, and should be
sold for slave for life, and,
Belt further Iiesolsetz, That under no consid-
GRAFTON or pretense whatever, should afree
person of color be permitted to buy, keep, or
sell, any spirituous liquors to any person
whatsoever. ts
5th. Resolued, That all moneys resulting
from the sale of such persons, should inure to
the benefit of the State, and the informer, one
half beach.
Conspicuous amongst the names of the COM
mIttee appointed to draft the above resolu-
t'ons and as an underwater for them, appears
that OF Elbert CAN'T. Comment on the above
seems almost superfiuous Every colored man
against whom those resolutions were aimed.
as well as every colored citizen in sympathy
with his race must keenly feel that in solicit
ing their yotes.now, he approaches them as q
wolf in Sleeps clothing and that his regard for
them is merely to gain their votes and to fur.
ther his own ambitious designs. I cannot be-
lieve Mr. Editor, that the colored people OF
this Parish will favor the election Of Mr.. CAN'T
with such record. TRUTH.