New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-01-20
FROM TERREBONNE PARISH.
Origin of the Tr0ubIes-Both Parties at
Fault-Planters' League and the La.
bOrers' OrganiZati0n-The Old Leaven,
and the Cat in the Meal Baa-AD ln,.
pOrtant Statements

Agreeably 20 Instructions. ycur c..'e-
spondent proceeded 20 this scene Of ;ncipi,
eIt war, and as there was nothir. Of the
exci:emen: or ravagiug as reported il your
city contemporaries. ne has been diligently
engaged in teIyeting GU: the Cr:gin c: the
pvesen. excitement, together with plain
statement of the events as they occurred.
The first event OF any Importance locking
forward TO the present troubles was g meet
ing Of the planters or a majority Ct the
planters Of lerrebonne parish. who ;asssd
resolutions 10: 10 pay any .abo1e- Inore
than thirteen dollars per month Of twenty.
six working days. or at the rate OF fifty
cent? per day. This occurred abou: five Or
six weeks ago. Upon the receip: of this
news by The !abo';ng classes they called a
mass meeting for the purpose CT protecting
their interests, and also tor the purpose OF
establishing iaborers' benevoien. assoeia
ton. which had for Its oi!jec: 1.-The mutual
protection of is members N the pu.su.: q:
their agricultural avocat.on.''
Upto tina: period. January ). there had
been no disturbance Oh either eide. AID i
was only at the second meeting CT the "a
borers' association tina. any Ill !ee!ip: was
known 20 exist. At tina: lnee!ingjt was re.
porte. tia: On. Of tn. planters made me
observation that Hon. ". II. Keys was q
''nigger who was going to ruin the parish.
At the same time the Third Ward Repub.
lican Club adopted resolution TO the erect
). -, In, ..u-,psf v-aysy fnp sit-v
cents per day and no back wages. 5u: would
work for so per month. and every dime
down a: the expiration Of :he MONTH /:
may be proper 10 remark that these labor
ers' meetings were addressed by the most
temperate and most intelligent Of she Re.
publican party. and cha: the bes: OF good
feeling existed among the laborers.
The constitution tor the iaborers' asso.
citation was drawn up by Thomas j. Sher.
burne. Esq. and when read he observed
:ha. it was incomplete. ou: could be re-
modelled and changed a: any future time
SO far the laborers had good cause anc
had gone 10 work in the right way. AT this
meeting it was reported tina: the planters
were determined to drive the labo!ers from
their cabins. This was. CT course. N the
power vi the planters. bus. unfortunately.
the planters had no, paid the .aboIers ;heii
wages for the year 1873. and the .abo?er
could no. move 70 q new home until - had
received his back wages. Many y: :le
planters decided no: 20 Sc: ;heic hands a:
work ard stopped ti.e issuing OF :a;ion'.
! thus forcing the !aoo,ers 20 take up .he!S
| back wages a. exovb!tan. rates. say fifty 20
seyenty-:ire cents per peck ioS corn si!ea.
and fifteen 20 twenty cents per ro2nd Tor
meat. These exactions naturally Carse'.
hard feelings. and many q: :be .aboTeEs
! commenced % ask :or their wages row
overdue. GA che plantations above
Uouma many o. lie iaoorers tried % zen:
places fog themselves. bI: were c2a Ole
because their back wac, had no: been
PAID. In this stage OF proceedings q !unor
was started :ha. car load ct white men
from IhnodaUx and Laicn.c.le were coming
down 20 clean out negro iabo:e.s. IEi>
was or Tuesday last. and upon the seceip:
o1 this rIIor many II The ccloced !atcie:-.
file. viii. .he am 80 CONSERVATION. armed
themselves with shotsu and Of! n.us.e.s,
and commenced 70 parade 'le s''ee:s.
These demonstrations were TO: the only
ones. 4 posse ot white men actually came
down !rolD Latcurche on No:san's Lou
:s.ara and Texas road. ak armed with 1e
vclye.s and Winchester rifles. wi.i .he
avowe! intention Ok "ciean:ns CT: re
negro ;ab,re:s." IN this stage OF .he .X-
citemer: NJ. Minor came % the Judge. y.
O'Hare. 10 ge. him 20 arrcs. the -:ng'eadsrs.
The Judge. usually the leader OF these people.
found the excitement SO great that he could
70. have his official orders obeyed by the
sheriff. and ie sen: a re9uisition 20 the Gov
ernc. 70. troops. Their arrival here ard
their actions have Sesn published IN your
Se repeated.
In order to give ycur readers :he o:in-
ions o. :, sit!ents OF this parish. your cor
responder. interviewed ;he parish judge,
Hon. Patrick O'HaIe, who. by the way.
is most highly respected by both politica!
parties. and bears III unblemisheL reputa.
ton. The judges opinion Of the trouble
may be relied upon as correct. They are
bes: expressed in his own language. RS
given 70 your correspondent: a: q very
pleasant interview last Saturday evening:
Reporter-Weli. judge. what. ir your
opinion. IS Che ovisi. o. The presen: troubles
IL youe parish!
Judge--I .hinf, sir. ehe foundation was
laid when the planters held :he.: :aset.n:
TO reduce the prices Of labor.
Repor:ev.-Du yon no, think the planters
had per:ec. right TO hold such Hles:Sn:
and pass such resolutions:
Judge-uudoub.edlr. Bu. :heys was a
method o: gaining the desired objec: with.
out making any organization the objec. OF
which appeared 10 be depression Of Che
laborins classes. nav say further tina.
am oppose! 20 AZ! organizations. o: Labor
against capital. or o.! capita! agains: TABOR.
And continued the Judge deliberately I
may say tina: The planters meeting in s..
Mary parish. over which Co.eDe; Daniel
Dennet: presided. was She germ :vo:H which
sprung our present disagreene.;s.
Repoyter-Gow SO. Judge:
JuGgc-Their action in the reduction Ct
wages was published by the pr.ss Of the
State. iueiudin. thy own paper. the Tsr.e.
IoNne EaWa.r. Hence. being scattered
over the parish. the planters. thinking j. a
preceden. TO be followed. wen: into the or.
gan;za:.ou wi;hcu: :h!nkin: OF the :esu..s
certain 20 follow.
Eepovter-But. judge. Il the planters are
no. able TO pay TIE p.e-en: gate os wages.
what are they 20 do
Jui.e-Every planter oush: 20 be the