The Opelousas courier., 1872-10-19
(ComntunicatedJ
Have we u Candidate for Com.
gresS fOl. the Sd District?
Editor ODel0Nsus Courier.

Edtt0r OpetOnSuS Courier,
There seems to be universal dissatisfaction
amongst the conservative voters of the 3d
Congressional District at the action OF the
Liberal and Democratic State Central Com
1nittees in forcin. Major William Mouton, the
Fusion candidate for Congress to retire, and
substituting Mr.. Ebert CAN'T in his place. A
more unpopular selection could not have been
made and yet we are called upon to vote for
him. Whilst Mr.. CAN'T is extremely distaste-
full to the party whose votes he demands,
there are doubtless many who, despite their
dislike for him deem it their duty to vote for
him. as the regular nominee Of the party. 1t
would be well for such persons to consider tho
question, whether or not he is the regular
nominee.
When the conference took place between
the Democratic and Liberal committees, which
resulted i'll the formation of the Fusion ticket
it was well known by the Liberal committee
that Mr.. CAN'T, if presented as their nominee
to the Democratic committee would be reject
ed by them, therefore, notwithst landing Mr.
CAN'T was the candidate nominated by tho
Liberal Convention, they dropped his name
and selected Mr.. Mouton whose nomination
was ratified by the Democratic Conference
and Central Committees, i't tchch The 3d Dis
trici eras fully represented
The Fusion ticket had no sooner been pro-
muEgated than certain members of the Liberal
central committee beset Mr. Mouton to retire
in order that Mr. CAN'T should be put in his
Il,
and sent Mr.. GanttS name before the Demo-
cratic Central Committee for their ratification,
well knowing that he was not the choice of
the people Of the district upon whom they
were attempting to force him. letter from
Mr.. LaSere IS thereupon published stating
that Mr.. Gantts nomination had been submit
ted to the Democratic Central Committee and
ratified. We shall see by whom this uomina-
ton was ratifed
The Democratic State Central Committee is
composed Of twelve members from New Or
leans appointed by Judge Head President of
the June Convention, aud one from each eoun-
try Parish, to be chosen by the parishes. For
ordinary affairs pertaining to the campaign,
the city members, as "a matter of convenience,
are considered competent to act: but when
any important measure was to be brought be-
fore the committee the country members have
heretofore been notified and had a voice in the
proceedings of the committee Surely the
nomination OF a congressman is of some con-
siderable Importance and deserves serious de-
liberation. 1t should not be treated as ii mat
ter in which the people had no interest Had
the question been the nomination of a con-
gresSman for the lst or 2d district, there
might have been some propriety in the city
members of the Central committee acting up-
on it of themselves: but &; candidate for the
3D. District was to be selected and Mr.. !4aSere
should have notified, at least, the members of
the committee from the parishes composing
that district, to be present and assist iii the
consideration Of the subject. This he did not
do not a member of the committee from the
Sd district was notified and the city members
acted without consulting them. Had the
members of the Sd district feen present Mr..
CAN'T would undoubtedly have been rejected.
While l shall be the last man to disregard
a nomination fairly made by my party, l do
protest against this unwarranted exercise of
power by the central committee. l can not
submit t." twelve men of the city of New Or
leans, without authority nominating mem
Der of Congress for me to vote for.-Especially
when the man they attempt to force upon me
is O6ioHs TO me.
As matters now stand do not consider the
Fusion party as having any candidate for Con
gress for the 3d district and have decided to
cast my vote for James B. Price who has been
three months in the field as an independent
by the solicitation and endorsement
of nearly, or quite all of the delegates from
this district to the Democratic and Reform
Conventions of last June. ATTAkAPAs.