The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1873-11-08
The Grant Parish Outrage.
THE REPORT CONFIRMED.
Indignation Of tie People iu Mass
Meeting 4ssemblea
IN. D. Herald, Nov. ..

When the flag ship of kellogg's navy
started on her cruise offensive, against
the people of Grant parish, in command
L. 5. Marshal, aud ambassador of Mar
shal Packard, and Munster Plenipoten-
tiary Of the Kellogg satrapy, we felt
sure that there was trouble brewing,
and that so soon as the soldiery got
loose in the country, there would be
instances Of oppression and outrage
committed or instigated by them. We
had not expected, however, to hear Of
so diabolical an act as was committed q
few days ago, in the ravishing Of two
refined and delicate ladies at their home
in Grant parish. One account states
positively that the outrage upon these
ladies was perpetrated by the Metro
poitans under DeKlyne, while another
states that it was either the Metropoli
tans or negroes in the vicinity, embol-
dened by the presence of the military
posse.
One thing is certain, the act has been
committed, and the Kellogg govern
ment is responsible therefore. For
months since the Colfax affair there has
been no trouble in the parish, and the
people had every reason to believe that
they would be undisturbed by any fur
ther invasion of their parish, by either
State or Federal troops-when in the
midst of profound pence appears kel-
logg gunboat filled with armed soldiers,
who not only proceed to make arrests
for acts alleged to have been committed
several months ago, but embolden the
resident negroes to acts of barbarous
atrocity.
We publish below series of resolu-
tfpns passed at a mass meeting held in
the parish of Rapides which prove con-
-c1usively that the people, while appre-
ciating the insult and wrong heaped
upon them, do not intend to he driven
to commit violence The tone of the
resolutions is eminentIy mild, but there
is an under-cuIrent of quiet determina
ton which bodies no good to kellogg's
army, if the passions Of the people are
aroused by the invasion Of their homes
and the violation of their women.
The people should defend the sancti
ty of their homes against all comers
and treat as assassins and beasts, the
villains who attempt the perpetration
of such crimes as the one the report OF
which has shocked the community and
will shock the people of the country.
This raid was entirely unnecessary.
DeKlyne, with a corporal's guard, could
have arrested every man in Grant par
ish if he had been supplied with war
rants enough. and the marching of an
1,o ~. u s1yy q
attempt to overawe the people and
show them what a powerful monarch
the usurper was, and how he was sus-
tained by the United States in any act
of violence or oppression he might
commit.
1t is true that Kellogg was not here
when the Ozark left, but the program
me was all arranged before he left, aud
Antoine has simply executed the orders
issued by his chief.
RESOLUTIONS.
At meeting, held at Alexandria, La, on
Tuesday 2Sth inst, NJ Ryan was called to the
chair, and I. Spence Smith was chosen as See
retary.
OnFmoton, the Chair appointed q commit
tee of five expressing the sentiments OF the
meeting-W. +. Backman. J. &. White, +.
ported as follows, viz:
Whereas reliable information has reached
rs of the preparation in Grant parish of a de-
testable outrage Of rape upon the person Of
two respectable ladies, by members Of the
New Orleans Metropolitan Police, or by me-
groes who are ,emboldened to commit acts of
violence by the presence of that police, and
terror and alarm have been occasioned IN the
locality where the crime was committed, as
also in the surrounding country
Resolved, That we will first appeal to the
constituted authorities of the country, civil
and military, for protection to our people be-
fore consulting or initiating any extra legal
measures, and to this end a committee of five
shall be appointed by the chairman to wait
upon the commanding officer of the United
States troops stationed opposite this town,
and solicit his intervention, and the ordering
of a portion of his command to the disturbed
neighborhood.
Resolved, That we appeal to our fellow-citi-
zens of this and contagious parishes to curb
their indignation, Justly aroused by this out
rage. and to restrain themselves within the
honnds of law while the authorities to whom
we appeal are vindicating our right to protec-
ton, or shall have refused to do it.