The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1873-11-05
Public Meeting.
ALEXAN D r I A, I
October %, 1873 !

AT meeGlng nelu OIL InIs VA y"
RYAN was called to the Chair and L.
Spence SMITH was chosen as Secre.
la'y Of the meeting.
On motion the Chair appointed
the following named gentlemen a
committee to draft resolutions ex-
pressive of the sentiments of tb e
meeting: W. F. Blackman, F. Selp,
james Il. White, r. j. Bowman and
DR.. E. B. Price. Committee report:
ed as follows:
WHEREAS, Reliable information h s
reached us of the preparation in Grant
Parish, of a detcsIable outrage OF rape
upon The persons OF two respectable la
dies, by members Of the New Orleans
Metropolitan Police, or by negroes who
are emboldcned 10 commit acts of viO-
leuce by the presence Of that Police.
and terror and alarm has been occa-
stoned IN The locality where the crime
was committed, as also in the surround
lug country:
RESOLVED, That we will first appeal
to the constituted authorities OF the
country, civil and military, for protec-
ton to our people, before concerning or
initiating amy extra legal measures, aud
to This end Il committee Of five shall be
appointed by the chairman to wait upon
the Commanding Officer of the United
States Troops stationed opposite this
Town an, solicit bis int. ryenlion aud
the ordering Of a portion of his com
mand TO tie disturbed neighborhood.
RESOLVED, That we appeal to our fell
lOw-ctzenS Of this and contiguous Par
isles 10 curb their Indignation, justly
themselves within the bounds of law
while the authorities to whom we APP
peal are indicating our rights TO pro-
lection, or shall have refused to do it.
Resolved. That we are iully sensible
of the violation of law by whoever dis
patched TIE Police Of New Orleans sew
eral hundred miles in the interio, OF
the State. osten<ibly to assist a Deputy
United STATES Marshal in the execution
of process, and we have not failed to
discern the real purpose of this State
Militia and naval expedition TO be the
hope aud expectation that some tu.nult
might be raised by our people, Of which
political capital might be made to our
disadvantage, hope we intend to dis
appoint.
RESOLVED, That the presence of this
Police force from New Orleans has pro-
duced and is now producing injurious
effects upon a portion of the population
OF Grant and adjacent Parishes. Bad
negroes commit crimes, assured in their
own belief of immunity from punish
ment by the presence of these uniform
ed men. But it is due 10 the negroes,
whom we have no desire to harm, to
know and due to ourselves to say that
we understand the government under
which we live is for the protection of
the white people as well as the black
that the white people have at least as
many rights as the black, and all have
the same duty of obedience to law TO
observe, and if those having or claim
ing authority do not dispense equal
justice to both races, we shall take care
of ourselves and OF those to whom we
owe protection. . .ft.
RESOLVED. That our attitude of COM
plete pasSiveuess under this invasion
by the Metropolitan Police force is not
to be construed by our felolw-citizens of
this State or of the United States, as an
acquiescence in or voluntary submls-
sion to the usurped State Government
now dominant here: we rather point to
this extraordinary and unusual pro-
ceeding as the best evidence that they
who are now or have lately been en-
deavoring to persuade the President
aud the Northern people shat we of
Louisiana are yielding IA cheerful ODE
bience to authorities. We do not re-
cognize as valid, do not believe their
own asserting, and think they can pro-
duce seeming submission by the fear
of military violence. We shall not ill.,
trrfere with this military demonstra-
ton, and we are not terrified by it.
The TO lowing resolution VAS then
offered by Captain James G. White,
and passed.:
RESOLVED, This we hereby tender
our thanks to the officers and soldiers
OF the United States Army now Station
ell here, for the courteous manner in
which they have discharged their Off
cial duties; and we do hereby appeal to
them and ask them to use their best eff
forts to prevent a REPETITION of the hor-
rible outrages just perpetrated in the
Parish of Grant.
". L. Sanford, Esq. then offered
the following resolution which was
RESOLVED. That committee of three
be appointed to ascertain whether the
metropolitan Police force, or negroes,
under the belief that they would be