The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1873-04-26
SENATOR BOOTH TO USURPER KEL.
LOGG.
PARISH Prison, NEW ORLEANS,
April Is, 1878.

| which I expressed some doubts as to
your being Il Governor at all, did not
think that through your agents you
would have given me SO speedy an
| answer in Il mode and manner SO per-
suasive. And yet, when l remember
that line which spoke of our bringing,
| by discussion OF your right to be called
Governor, unquestioned right in pres
| ence of undoubted force, 1 cannot be
surprised that you have taken me at
| my word, and under the thin pretenses
! of the mere agent of your tax collectors,
| that owed your government-whi
1 say is no gOvernment-the sum of one
hundred dollars, you have brought into
requisition the machinery of force, to
prove to me, at all events, that sitting
on bayonets you are determined to rule
by terror.
l say nothing here of your reprehen-
sible and utterly unconstitutional at
tempt to collect debt by imprison-
ment.
I say nothing here Of the nameless
and shameless one who, having just
changed masters, cheerfully eats yours,
| as he did his former owners toads, and
having engorged himself with the ven
omous dish, struts his petty hour ut the
bar, as he has upon the bench, earning,
serviceable zeal.
I say nothing here of the touching
| and noble sympathy of an outraged
people which found uttcrance in the
courtroom, and accompanied me to
| this Parish Prison. But 1 will say here,
| that if this is the style of your Govern
| ment; if, as now charge you letter
| about you on the 18th is to be followed
by an Injunction from your agents on
! the 18th, a motion to fine and impris-
| on for contempt on the 10th, and the
Parish Prison itself on the 18th, we can
| see in it the assimilation of that on
coming period when life itself shall
be enjoyed only as you shall permit.
Two of the three principal objects of
existence you have already stricken
down. Property, Liberty; gone under
your pretended government. What
remains now but life to our poor people
Of Louisiana?
Stands Scotland where she did,
ALAS poor country, almost afraid to know
herseIf'
And yet, sir, can you expect to sit
and reign in peace while you destroy
the people:
"Had Zimri peace who slew his mas
ter?" Can you arrest, and fine, and i'm
PRISON dissentients, simply at your own
sweet will, and escape that mental tor
ture which fastens upon a aself-conscious
usurper, and bids him, like the skulk-
ing criminal, see in every bush an
officer?
I am well aware, sir, of the nature of
the garbage that will be served upon
| the table of the HNew Orleans Cormo-
| rant" in defense Of this or any other
act of its present idol. Skilled in the
x-i1rr Of froGrafin r.rIyr
and we'll supplied with public plumber,
it will mutually see wisdom and dignity
in every act of your infamous oppres-
sions. 1t will applaud what it will
call your tirmness; it will urge you to
greater ottrages; and yet, L will add, it
is ready to sell you, when occasion
serves, as it has already sold a former
master, Judas like, for thirty pieces of
silver.
Do you think that Il dose of Parish
Prison is Il good prescription for Il case
where the "Pardce'' compromise has
failed to cure? Are you practising on
the 1fahncman doctrine that "cVifs
cured evils" and that were Louisiana
is as sick of you as she evidently is, you
will restore her political health by put
ting her Senators in Jail for terms pro-
portionate to the virulence of the dis
y
that your present course is bound to
end in failure. The people of the State
are not ready for your heroic style of
treatment for political disease. Your
panderers, personal orjournaiastic, may
cover you with the slime Of 4 fulsomc
service, but the people, co'npulsorily
dosed with you, vomit you up as they
would q nauseous emetic, and no guam
tity of political disscntcrs or opponents,
converted by your Bayonet Govern
mcnt into parish prisoners, can ever
make you sit as other than a siekcning
mass of corruption upon the public
stomach. If this language is strong, it
is not stronger than the walls Of this
prison. If it should involve me in
| what the "Cormorant" regrets / have
not already incurred, an action for
! libel, can only say that being the
| captive your bow and spear you must
excuse my tongue until you can get a
gag law passed through your Bayonct
| Legislature. But, sir, prison or no
| prison, freedom, like truth, will live
when you have gone. Louisiana will
survive you. I suspect your deep laid
plot to ruin us, and with other citizens