The Opelousas courier., 1873-01-04

the impression on the public mind that the
Supervisor of Registration for this parish, did
not do his duty, but was illegally guilty OF
acts of commission and omission, which was
the direct cause of the Bourbon disaster.
r.
As the Courier persists in misrepresenting
the Supervisor, blaming him for the defeat Of
its party, we shall proceed to show by the
facts that its defeat was entirely owing to the
voters.
First, neither of the Boards of Returning
0fficers-tho 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 or
failing to eensure the action of the Supervisor.
Opeloaisas Journal, Dec 2lSt.
This is one branch of the fight that the Jour-
aal charged us with keeping up "after the
battle"
The journal is responsible for this as well
as for the other branch. It was begun after
the election by that paper. We should never,
perhaps, have said word about the manner
in which registration was conducted in this
Parish, had not the Journal published it's
highly colored eulogy on the Supervisor, which
we, in common with many others cogDizant
of the facts of the case, thought out of place,
because uncalled for and undeseryed That
eulogy was an invitation to any so feeling dis
posed to criticise the conduct of its subject
apublic officer-and consequently the eulogist
itself. We accepted the invitation, and we
challenge the Journal or any one else to prove
the assertion made by that paper, that we
have "misrepresented the Supervisors con-
duct.s
We now propose to show more conclusively
Z t1a Of fboff fIa Or,
pervisor did not deserve the Journals praise.
To do this we must first examine the law
prescribing the duties of that officer. 1t is the
Act of 1879, providing for the revision and cor
rection of the lists of registered voters, &c. !;
the 18th section of this Act makes it the duty
of the Supervisors of Registration to cause to
be registered epcry qualified elector in their
several Parishes. Said Supervisors are author
lied in this section ITO 90 from place to place,
besides keeping the accessory offices, and to rem
der erery facility to the qualified electors and 10
take care that all ,cho are qualified 10 uote shall
be registered tSee Act of 1870, page l34.l
Did the Supervisor for this Parish comply
with these plain requirements of this Act If
he did, then he has performed his duties. and
deserves the Journals eulogy. If he did not,
then he has not performed his duties, and de-
serves our censure and that of every citizen
who desires to have the laws observed.
We have said that he had not done his duty
fully under the law; we are still of that opin-
ion, notwithstanding the Journals Defence
for there is nothing in it that can change such
an opinion, whether entertained by us or any
other reasonable and candid mind.
We will give again the facts upon which this
opinion is based: IA +
1st. In the distribution Of offices for register
ing the electors of st. Landry, his selections of
places was made in such a manner that the
qualified electors residing in the Southern,
Southwestern and part of the Western dis
trict of this Parish had not the facilities rem
dered" them as required by the 10Th section Of
the Act above referred to. A simple glance at
the map of the Parish will satisfy anyone,
however skeptical he may be, of this.
The law (sec. 2l) required the Supervisor to
keep his Office at the seat of justice-yiz. Opel
ousas this was to be kept open the whole
time we presume--it was the principal Office;
but it also authorizes him to establish such
other offices besides, not exceeding 5 in num-
ber, as might be necessary to enable electors
to register with as title Inconvenience as pos
sible." This section also requires that these
"offices of registration should be published
The Supervisor for this Parish complied with
this section in its letter if not Fin its spirit.
He opened his principal office at Opelousas !;
established other Offices at six other places be-
sides, viz: Washington, miles northeast Of
Opelousas; Nigger-foot, about Is miles east of
Washington; Bayou Chicot, about 27 miles
northwest of both Opelousas and Washington;
Faquataique, about Is or 20 miles northwest
OF 0pelousas; Grand Coteau, 10 miles south
Of opelousas and Queu Tortue, about 80 or 35
miles from Opelousas
Now It 90 happened tnat every one of the
places 20 selected BY the Supervisor, excepting
two,-Grand Coteau and Quen Tortne,-were
IN the northeastern and northwestern portion
OF the Parish and it SO happened too that at
every one Of them, excepting Queu Tortue, the
Journals party-the sWarmoth Lbs conf
IDENTIFY expected TO receive majorities, and did
receive majoritics at all Of them excepting
Grand Cotear.
This confident expectation of receiving ma.
jorities at the places named, was known to all
those who we're initiated into the mysteries
and secrets Of the .slyarmoth party and hey
are all known here.
By reference to the map of this Parish it will
be seen that Grand Coteau and Queu Tortne
we're the only places established south and
southwest Of Opelousaa for the registration Of
the qualified electors of all that district of
country known as the Queu Tortue, Mermen-
taw and Couleo Croche Grand Coteau ii dis
tant from this district from l6 to As miles;
2uen Tortue il distant from the Mermentau
and plaquenaine district from 26 to S. miles;
opelcusas IA distant from the same section of
country from 90 10 55 miles. The number of
electors In this section Of the Paish is about six
hundred. They are nearly alllpoor white men,
compelled 10 labor daily in their fields or other
Niss 70 gam subsistence for themselves and
families, and could not well afford to lose from
ssneir daily labor the time required to travel
Aaeh distances as those between their homes
nv the places established for registration BY
Aas saperEisor. Many Of them had not the