New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-10-22


thr6atensd starvation, compacts were en-
tered into in various parts of the State
solemnly pledeing merchants not to sup
ply, give credit to, or in any way aid
planters, who either vote the Republican
ticket or give employment to those who
do. This scheme was approved by the
Baton Rouge Advocate, and nearly all the
other White League journals. On the
thirtieth ultimo the Advocate said:
We understand that leading merchants
are seriously considering the propriety OF
entering into solemn compact to supply
no one next year who either votes against
| the interests of property holders in the
coming election or gives employment to
those who do. We would suggest also
that they adopt a method to do away
with both the renting and share aystems.
Both OF these eystems are ruinOns to both
planter and merchant. By concert of
action the merchants and planters can
and will put down the disastrous rule of
political thieves in this parish and State,
and the will to do it. They hold their
fate in their own hands, therefore let them
WELD their influence for the future good
of all.
The recent openly avowed determination
of the merchants of Shreveport shows this
infamous plan carried to still greater ex-
tent.
While the Dem ocratic side of various
conference and compromise committees
have been engaged in bargaining for Of
fees, the Democratic State Central Com
mittee, in issuing special pleadings for the
defense in the case Of right against wrong,
and while an advisory board contented it.
self with removing Republican clerks of
registration, finding fault and bewiidering
and protesting against an umpire whose
decisions they agreed to abide by, we
have from time to time endeavored to
show the law breakers what was in
tended by the law makers. We have re-
Gently published sections of the laws of
the United States describing ''crimes
against the elective franchise and civil
rights of citizens, and relating to the
punishments for offenses against such
laws.
Considering the attitude now assumed
by the enemies of Republicanism through
out the State, as illustrated by the latest
movement in Shreveport, it seems proper
and our duty to reproduce at this time
certain sections of the laws of the State of
Louisiana. particularly of act No. 50, ap-
proved November 20, 1872. They read:
SEC. 81. That any person who shall by
threats of discharge from employment, of
Withholding wages, or prescription IL. bust
ness, influence or attempt to influence any
voter in the casting of his vote at any
election, shall ba deemed guilty of a INSIDE
meanor, and upon conviction thereof shall
be punished by fine of not less than .fce
hundred dollars. which shall 60 to the
school fund Of the parish, and be lmpris
oned in the parish prison for not less than
three months.
SEC. IS. That any person who shall dis.
charge from his employment any Ia
borer, employee, tenant or mechanic, who
shall have been working for such per-
son under contract, written or oral, for
q specified time, before such time shall
have expired, or who shall withhold from
any labOrer, emplOye, tenant or me-
chanic, any part OF the wages due to such
l8UOEeE. cuployo, Icudnt VI WccudulC,
on account Of any cote. which such
laborer, employee, tenant or mechanic
has given or proposes to yire. shall be
deemed guilty OF a misdemeanor. and upon
conriction thereof shall be punished By q tine
Of not less than fire hundred dollars, one
half of which shall go to the school fund
Of the parish in which the otfense was com.
mitted, and by imprisonment in the parish
prison for not less than three months.
Enthusiastically as this law is written. it
has been, is now being, and will continue
to be, violated. Let all affected by this
statute be warned in good time. Those
prosecuted should file afidavits setting
forth their grievances, without fear or
favor, for justice can not remain blind,
and truth must prevail in land where
equal civil rights are guaranteed to ali
law-abiding citizens.