The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1873-11-08
The Mass Meeting last NHond1y.

were gratified to perceive, responded manfully
to the call published in our paper. BY their
attendance, close attention to the proceedings
OF the meeting, and expressions of hearty
sympathy with the sentiments expressed by
the speakers on the occasion, they gave strong
evidence of their approval of the object of
the meeting, and of the design and aim of
the call for Convention.
The meeting was organized by calling Dr.
Ihos. A. Cooke, of Washington, to the Chair.
Mr.. Cyprien Lalonde, of Gros Chevreuil, was
selected as Vice President, and Mr.. Albert
Lastrapes, of Opelousas, as Secretary The
President stated the object of the meeting,
and requested that the names of fit and proper
persons, to represent this parish as delegates
to the Convention, be put in nomination.
Previous to going into the nomination of dele
gates, however, Mr.. Jos. M. Moore addressed
the meeting, reminding gentlemen Of the
great Importance to the entire population of
this State, white and black, of the ends and
objects of the Convention to be held on the
gath, i'll New Orleans. He stated that he be
lieved that every man present, every honest
tered not what may heretofore have been his
political atfinlties, felt the necessity pressing
upon this people for overthrowing the infa
nous and detestable usurpation that had been
fastened upon us by fraud, force and the pat
ent violation of the laws and Constitution of
both the State and Federal Government and
that such men throughout the State were in
f,1ln J,,l
recommended the calling of the Convention
He stated that in the present impoverished
condition of our people, it would not be sur
prising if full delegation should not attend !;
but he hoped that as many Of those who might
be selected as delegates as could possibly do
so, would att end for" said be, "this may
be the last time that you may have an oppor-
tunity Of declaring and recording your oppo-
sition to and adherence of the usurpation
that hangs like q pail over us, paralyzing our
energies, crushing our hopes, and threatening
us with ruin, political bondage, and deep and
grinding degradation and it may lie the last
effort that you may be enabled to make to
throw off, b@means strictly lawful, strictly
peaceful. this accursed evil" He said that
the people Of New Orleans were moved i'll this
matter by IL spirit of deep and earnest patriot
ism; that, fully aware Of the poverty that
prevailed throughout the country, they had
made arrangements to entertain the delegates
from the country parishes free of charge, and
he hoped that our people. would show a proper
appreciation OF such patriotic conduct, and as
many of the delegates attend as could possibly
do So He was sanguine that good would re-
suit from the labors of the Convention, and
gave in an impressive manner forcible rea ons
for his belief Mr.. Moore was followed by Mr.
L. D. Estilette, who thought that it was Of
the utmost Importance that a respectable del
egation from this parish should attend the
Convention ''for," said he, ''whatever may
be the result, it behooVes us to make an earn
est effort to overthrow the vile usurpatlon
which is grinding white and black alike into
the dust" The Kellogg Government was a
fraud, and had been SO pronounced last winter
by Congress, and it would reflect upon the
manhood of our people if they allowed their
liberties to be wrested from them without q
struggle. L. 7. Lewis, Esq, followed Mr.
Esti1ette. He had not much hope of any
change for the better being accomplished by
the Convention. He thought that the oppor
tunity for resistance had gone by. Last will
ter was the time when resistance should have
been made, and it then should have been
made to tue death, if necessary He believed
in resisting such an usurpation, such unlawful
and tyrannieal power as that which has been
forced upon the people of this State, in every
way-by force, if neeessary-aye, even at the
cost of human life. But the opportunity was
gone; aud as long as the sphinx at the na
tional capital desecrated the seat once oecu-
pied by Washington, he had but little hope
for redress Of our gievances. A list of the
gentlemen put in nomination as delegates to
the Convention was then handed to the Secre-
tary by DR.. j. A. Tarlton, to be read out to
the meeting, and, on motion Of that gentle
man, those whose names were on the list were
unanimously selected as delegates by the
meeting Whilst the Doctor was up, he, in
words burning with the fire of patriotism,
urged the people never to give up the battle
for their rights and their liberties He drew
a sad but truthful picture of the condition of
our tax-ridden people; alluded to the long
lists of property advertised to be sold for
taxes, and predicted that If this Kellogg in
fanny were perpetuated, the liberties of white
and black would 60 down together in one com
mon grave. He was not opposed to the Kel-
logg Government because it was administered
by Republicans, but because it was fraud
born in infamy and supported by bayonets,
and because instead of protecting it plum
dered and oppressed the people.
The temper of the meeting was that of men
conscious of the great danger to their iber-
ties that surrounded and threatened them,
and ready to resort to any means that would
aNert it. Of this we had abundant proofs in
the applause with which they greeted the de-
nunciations of the speakers of the fraud and
usurpation that has been practiced upon the
people, and their appeals not to submit quietly
and tamely, but resist as long as resistance
was possible the perpetuation of spurious
and unlawful government, foisted upon them
through fraud and violence.
Communicated.
EDITOR COURIER will you be so kind as
to ascertain for the benefit of your readers, IL
there is lin ,operatiorg at present, pubiic
school (white) in Opelousas II so, who is
theteacher2 1t has been limited thatTwe have
such a.scheol. II SO, why is it not published