The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-04-05
wants Information.


Roundabout I'M New Orleans Times.
Here is a remarkably-One maN say
unpleasantly mquisitive letter.
Nv. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES of poll
tics, some Of us We're haVingadiseussion
the other evening, at a certain club, in
the course OF which it was inquired
whether the great mass of business and
working men in this city had ever been
told theTealfacts in the late compromise
negotiations, and whether, as q com
paniOn question, it was not their right
to know them. [ remember that while
those negotiations were pending, we re-
ceived certain information of q m
what generaEnature, mostly tothe effect
that matters were progressing very
well, that there was a strong feeling in
Congress, that Kellogg never would be
recognized, etc.
Later it was said that our people were
perfectly willing to compromise, but
Kellogg wanted to be tricky and defraud
us into q surrender without c~onCeding
any real benefits in return. In common
with my friends and business ~acquaint-
ances, I thought this very unprinci-
pied in Kellogg; and stupid also, be-
cause he certainly cannot be cOmfOrta-
bic with all the white people of the
State opposed to him in everything.
Still we took it for granted, and in. the
intervals of II occupations, cursed
Kellogg appropriately.
But we begin to hear unpleasant ru-
mors occasionally. There is one which
says that the city and country members
were fighting each other all the time ;
that a proposition which seemed to IA
vor N branch would be opposed by the
other, and that the conflict of interest
between them was the real reason why
no arrangement looking to the common
good of the State at large could ever be
effected.
Ihave even heard it limited that, at
one time, a very reasonable adjustment
could have been but for three or four
men who were excluded underits terms,
and who, together with their adherents,
voted it down.
Now, we do not believe it has been as
bad as all this, but we are beginning to
think there must have been something
at work which was never made known
to the public. The recent meeting of
the colored people shows pretty clearly
that they are not satisfied with KEEL
lOgg's course, and yet our people con-
tinue to cry against him as fiercely as
before. We have never heard it urged
that Kellogg is q fool, but, Judging from
what appears on the surface, we are
bound to suppose he is. With all the
white people arrayed against him, he is
yet wantOnly offending the blacks, in
whom his only strength is said to- rest,
and in whose behalf our leaders tell us
he is acting. Zig
We can't quite swallow all of this.
We can'tbelieve that Kellogg is estrang-
ing the negroes, and simultaneously en-
deavoring to compass the degradation
of the white pe0ple-the proposition is
too paradoxical.
Now, I have read your articles since
the beginning of this controversy, and
feel convinced you know more about its
inside workings than you have ever lei
out. Can you tell us frankly how much
truth there is i'm theserumors, which are
every day becoming more general 2 We
have been attending to our business
and letting politicians take care of poll
tics, but believe I speak for the entire
industrial and commercial community
in saying that we don't propose this
| State shall be keptin suspense and dis
cord because three or four or even q
hundred men, fail to get offices. Let III
know the whole truth. MERCHANT.
Iii reply to this letter we prefer moi
saying very much at present. The ar,
ticle from the Natchitoches Times, pub.
lished in our issue of this morning, as,
serts that there was considerable want
of harmony between the city and coun:
try members, which statement agrees
with one of the rumors heard by "Mer,
chant.n The writer Of that article (wht
was a member of the L~egislature) fur
ther says that a plan of adjustment, al
one time nearly perfected, was frustrat
eddy the malice or stupidity of II ex,
cellent contemporary Of anti-cOmprO
mise PRINCIPLES.