The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1872-12-21
THE COURIER AND THESUPERVISOR
OF REGISTRATION.

party in this parish, has been attempting
to make the impression on the public
mindthatthe Supervisor of Registration
for this parish, did not do his duty, but
was illegally guilty Of acts of commits
sion and omission, which was the direct
cause of the Bourbon disaster.
When it%appeared that Senator Ander-
son was reelected, the Courier charged
that he did not receive q majority of the
white votes in this parish, thus attempt
ing to revive the old, wornoutissue, that
it is a disgrace for a white man to be
elected by black votes. We analysed
the vote, and shOwedt the COurier'S state
ment was without foundation; since
which time we have, heard nothing more
on that point.
AS the Courier persists in misrepre-
senting the Supervisor, blaming him for
the defeat of it's party, We shall proceed
to show by the facts that it's defeat was
entirely owing to the voters, a majority
of whom voted against it.
First, neither of the Boards of Return
ing Offcers-the one appointed by Gov.
Warmoth and the old Board recognized
by Judge Durell's decisiOn-make any
changes in the results of the election in
this parish thus endorsing OF failing to
censure the action of the Supervisor.
The registration in this parish, was
not to register everybody, but simply to
revise the registry lists; and it was only
necessary for those to register, who had
lost their certificates, arrived at the le-
, gal age, or immigrated to the parish,
since the Registrars Office was open in
1870. To do this, the Supervisor kept
his office open from the first part OF Sep
{ TENDER until October Goth. It was open
until September 30th, in Opelousas. At
forwards, it was open, on different days,
, at Washington, Bayou Petit Prairie,
Bayou Chicot, Faquetaique, Queue Tor
8 tue, Grand CDteau, and againa at OpelOu-
f sas where it finally closed on October
26th-all of which was advertisedin both
S papers during the whole time. Thelaw
required the Office to be opened at only
= five places besides the Courthouse; and
e the Supervisor opened at more places
: than that number. Previous to this last
s registration, 5,512 original certificates of
: registration had been issued in this par
: ish, and many of them had been dupli-
= Gated at former revisiOns of the registry
: lists. At this last registration the num-
Der of original certificates issued was
: increased to 1859, showing an addition
y of 1,847 original certificates issued by the
Registrar, being a little more than one
n third of the entire number issued daring
e the previous four gears, besides a large
number of duplicates.
Everybody had an OppOrtunity-nu-
e merous 0pportunities-tO register; and
the figures show that large numberdid
Y register. Those who did not register
cannot blame the Supervisor. At Queue
Tortue, where the Courier complains he
il did not keep his office open but half
d day, a row was gotten up and he was
d forced to suspend. The nature of the
vote cast at that polling place, tells wht
1T got up that row.; and it is surmised by
y some, that afterthe BourbOns, who were
there in great force early in the morn
i ing, had been registered, they did no
ic care to have the opposition voters regis
> tered; and hence the row. So, who arr
d to blame? Under the law that box cOul(
er be thrown out. ~
AS to the election itself, we believe i
was quiet at all the polling places, o
d which there were Notwithstanding
lie number by far than any otherparish had
=. except Orleans; and it was probably tn
1t fairest election that has been heldin thi
N parish since the war-at any rate, sine
" reconstruction. Over 400 votes wer
al polled and counted. A great many, a
la usual, did not vote. At the election i
" 1870, only 2,44s2 votes were pOlled in thi
m parish. The Bourbons partially succeed
IN ed then because so few voted now, whe
ed such q large number voted, the Coarie
tries to make it appear that they faile
We because not enough were registered. ]
only ourbons registered; andonly Boul
bonssvoted, they would have succeede
of beyond a doubt. But there was a FIJI
in registration and a pretty full vote, an
L. these two things, with a fair election, al
W. death to the Bourbon party. Thatpart
nd was SO badly defeated here at the iat
ed election for these reasons, and for til
b. additional reason that a great many VIII
i'd supported them formerly failed to do {
k. on this occasion. In proof of this STATE
ess mente, we viii give a statement OF tt
ID. votes cast at onepollingplace, Gros CHI
lrs yreuil, at the election in 1870, and at Il
IA election in 1879, for State Senator, Rel
ed re~sentatives and parish officers, The cal
didates, regular nominees of the Dem,
'ge eraticparty, supported by the Courier
each election, and those supported by Il
opposition, viii be so headed to ayo
nd mistakes. mediterranean the vote ca
MT there in 1870 and in 1872, will show Il
ng change that has comeover this people
and the real cause of the Bourhondefea
GRos CHEyREVH II 1870.
The Gqurief'a Ticket Vote
'nlu State Senate-Daigle 2
Representatiyes-Durio ...---,., 2
DARBY .-.--.-.... -
Donovan ---.-.-.- z
- Kavanagh.-.. 2
en- Parish Judge-Garrigues ...-.-.. 2
2
salt Coroner-Hornsby 2
5# E4l -. 5-n -.