The Opelousas courier., 1874-08-22
Mass Meeting.

In pursuance of the published call, O large
Mass Meeting, composed Of most of the best
white citizens Of tue parish, assembled at the
Court House in the town of Opelousas, on the
10Th inst, for the purpose of adopting such
measures as they might think best to secure q
fair registration of the voters in this parish.
The meeting was called to order by +. T.
Lewis, ESQ.
Hon. John I. Gardiner being called upon to
preside over the meeting, and Messrs. \. L.
Williams and j. o. TrainOr to act us Secreta-
ries, they respectively responded to the call.
The President, after briefly and clearly cx-
planning the objects of the meeting, announced
! that motions were in order
L. T.Lewis then moved that the President
appoint committee Of thirteen to draft rcso-
lutlons expressive OF the sense Of the meeting,
which motion, being seconded. was uIani-
mously adopted. N.icrcEpon the President
appointed the following named gentlemen y
DR.. John A Taylor. L. L. Lewis, DR.. 7. A.
Cooke, NJ. L. MeanGon, Felix Dtjean, Z. Lom
bard, A. l.. Duri0, L. =. Dorumrs, FRANCOIS
Wilson, d. Z. Saizan.
d. p. Saizan, not being present, did not
serve.
On motion of Dr. T. A. Cooke the p&me Of
John ]. Gardiner, President Of this meeting
was added to the committee, with authority
to appoint temporary chairman during his
absence from the room.
The President then appointed Col. s. ID.
Ashe as temporary chairman.
During the absence of the committee from
the room, Messrs Laurent Dupr6 and Thomas
II. Lewis, having been called upon, addressed
the assembly in short but stirring addresses.
Thos. H. Lewis, at the close Of his address,
offered the following resolutions, which were
unanimously adopted:
WHEREAS, This meeting earnestly desires a
union of all the Conservative voters OF the
parish of St. Landry IN the approaching cleo
ton and
WHEREAS, We fully believe that such a
union is demanded and expected by the Con-
servatiye citizens throughout this parish; ;
therefore be it
Rcsolred, That all abstract questions and
minor differences OF opinion should be put
aside, and q spirit Of harmony cultivated be-
tween individuals and bodies representing
the same patriotic purposes, to the end that
st. Landry, in the approaching campaign, may
present a bold and united front to the public
enemy of the country.
The committee having returned to the room
offered thro ugh their chairman, DR.. j. A. Tay
lor, the following resolutions:
WHEREAS, The history Of the Radical Re
publican party of Louisiana demonstrates
their entire faithlessness in all matters per-
tanning to a fair registration Of the white
voters of the State, and that all the registra-
tion and election laws enacted by them have
been framed. and executed with the intent to
defraud US ont OF Cur right to the elective
franchise: and
WHEEEis, The last registration law, re-
Gently signed by w. L. kellogg Governor,
is intended to concentrate IN his hands abso-
lutte control Of tho elective franchise in the
State, and denies to lis any appeal to tie
courts or practicable legal redress and
WHEREAS, further, We arg convinced that
this law will be used to derraud the white
people of the State oAt of the elective ffan-
chise; therefore be it
Resolred, Ist, That it becomes necessary for
the people to act independently in this mat
ter for themselves, aud that unless they do so
the Radical Republican party will perpetnate
its rule through the instrumcntality of this
infamous law
Reso.reI, I'd, That in order to insure fair
registration Of all t.lh voters Of this parish, it
is NECESSARY that the registration books be
opened for the registration OF voters at the
ousas, Wellington, Big Cane. Atchafnlaya,
Bayou Chieot. Vile PlaLe, Chataiguer, Pointe
aux Lonps, Pruuh0mma City, Flalucniine
BrulGe, Bernard's Store, Mcrmcutau CoulGe
Croche, Grand Coteau, and Gros Chevrcuil:
and We demand that the books shall be opened
at these points;
I2esofrea, 81, That committee of thirteen
citizens be appointed and authorized to COM
municato these resolutions to the Supervisor
of Registration for this parish without delay;
and that, in the event of his refusal to grant
what We herein justly demand, this committee
DS 1uEiitH uutiioi!1cN " tdLl tiIc PGVpiS Vi tuo
parish together in Mass Meeting, for tho pur-
pose of devising and adopting such measures
as they may deem necessary III the premises.
On motion Of Laurent Dupre, the resolutions
were unanimously adopted whole.
On motion of I. IL. Lewis, the President
was authorized to appoint the committee.
On motion of DR.. j. A. Taylor, the Presi-
dent was requested to select the said COM
mittee in time to publish their names III the
next issue of the Opelousas COURIER.
On motion OF L. d. Prescott, the meeting
adjourned. JOHN l. GARDINER,
President.
4 4 F F. MILhIAns' Tni1eaa Secretaries.