The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1874-10-03
ADDRESS OF THE
People Of the Parish of Natohi'
tOches, to their Fellow-Citi-
ZenS Of the State and
Union.

In common with their Fellow .citi-
zens throughout the State, the peo-
pie of the Parish of Natchitoches have
borne the evils of bad governments
and usurpation of authority, until
their rights Of ptrson and property,
aud all their franchises have been
trampled upon, their substantial in
terests become the prey Of official
plunderers sustained and protected
by yenal, corrupt and ignorant judges,
who have prostitutcd courts Of jus.
tice in order to perpetuate partisan
rule and private schemes at the sac
rihce of legal and equitable rights,
their Parochial affairs contided to the
control of unlettered tools of unscru-
pulous persons, until taxation has be-
come insupportable and poverty is
at their doors. False statements
have been made and incendiary ap-
pcals to passion and prejudice in
dulged in, by these bad men, for the
purpose of arraying, in hostility, one
class of our population against An
other, in order to sustain these out
RACES, at the expense Of peace and
prosperity.
Preferring to bear these evils pa
tiently, rather than resort to violence
and forcible resistance to those who
bore even the semblance of legal an-
thority, while, in truth, they were
but usurpers and the creatures of
usupation, they submitted to their
wrongs, until continued forbearauce
would have resulted in a virtual
abandonment of every right of free
men and submission to base and ty-
rapnous oppression.
| With the courts practically closed
to legal redress, on account Of judi
Icial positions being filled by corrupt
men, the ballot futile, by reason Of
the acts of corrupt and irresponsible
Supervisors and Returning Boards,
whose powers are absolute and the
measure of whose fitness is 10y
atty to party and faction, yield
ing to the natural instincts OF
self preservation and animated
by a sense of duty to themselves
and their families, the people Of
Natchitoches, regardless of past
political ties and associations, COM
prising the representatives Of pro.
perty, intelligence and honesty, op-
posed to fraud and corruption, and
acting in tho interest Of outraged
public opinion and violated rights
assembled in Mass Meeting, peacea-
bly,, and demanded the resignation
of the offices held by these bad mer
whose acts disgracel their oficia
positions. This demand was, in most
instances, complied with without de-
Law or hesitation and where not COM
piled with, the incumbents stealthill
left the parish and still remain alb
sent, their cowardly consciences caus
lug them to fee from imaginary dan
ger, while at q distance they vilel!
misrepresent the people whom the!
have plundered and abused, basel!
drawing salaries which they do no
earn, and riobusly living upon tn
wages Of their own iniquity.
Not only believing, but knowing
that, the parish officers Of Natchito
ches, voted for on the Fusion ticket
were legally elected in 1872, m,
these officers being, then, as now, tn
. choice of a large majority of the peo
pie, they have been installed int
their respective positions by the &C
\ and at the hands of the people, an
, that people hold. that, it is the solem
duty of the officers 80 installed to re
tain their positions and exercise thei
official functions; and should tn
usurp,ng State dynasty, called til
r. Kellogg government attempt to Gus
them BY force, they owe it to thos
who have elected them and to til
purity and sauctity Of tho ballot boz
to resist the mini0ns Of the usurpe
to the bitter end.
Among the many instances of tot
~ disregard of law and of q fixed deter
N mination to persist in his aggression
upon the rights Of this people, the
cite the following acts Of the usurp.
Kellogg, which directly tend to Il
subversion of good government an
to the perpetua alton Of his arbitral
usurpation. By the act of his ow
Legislature, which receives his al
prevail and signature, the 18th j
\ dicial District lin which this pa
% ish is situated) was establishe
and by his own appointment
corrupt and prostitute Judge Al
y an Incompetent District Attornt
"a were placed in Office in that District
these men have left their posts, ii
able to- face the scorn and indignatit
of an injured people, and although Il
very law, creating this district, requi
ed, that, an election for these Office
should be ordered by the Govern
! land should be held at the approach
/. ing general election in Novembe
1874, he has Ignored this plain pr
vision of the law, withheld the ord
NJ which he is re quired to issue, tn
clearly evincing his determination
force, upon the District the miserab
~ creatures of his appointment.
Again The law requires that Il