The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1874-10-09
Democratic Parish Convention.

In pursuance to a call of the Democratic and
White League Executive Committees Of the par
lsh OF st. Landry, bearing date September 5th,
1874, converting a convention of delegates at
OpelOusas on the 26th day Of September, 1874, for
the following purposes. viz:
lst. To nominate a parish ticket.
I'd. To send delegates to a District Convention
to be held in VermiiliOnville on the 1st day OF
october next, to nominate a candidate for the
State Senate, from the Tenth Senatorial District.
Sd. To elect a Democratic Executive Commit
tee to represent the Democratic party until the
campaign Of 1876, the delegates selected at the
meetings held in the various wards, emb
at the Court House, in the town OF OpeIOusas,
on the 26th day of September, 1874.
DR.. James Ray and L. 8. Hazard, Esq, were
proposed as candidates for President of the said
conventiOn-Dr. James Ray by the Democrats,
J.. S. Hazard by the White League.
1t was moved and carried that the President
be chosen by ballot.
Upon the counting of the ballot DR.. Jas. Ray
| was declared elected.
On motion, the chair appointed the following
named gentlemen Il committee on credentials,
viz: B. A. Martel, John Fahey, J. II. Oyerton,
B. CuShman, TheO. Chachere, W. c. Gordon, j.
D. Israel, c. B. Andrus.
After due examination of the credentials and
the following viz:
PROTEST FROM FIRST WARD.
OPELOUsAs, Sept. 21st 1874.
To the President and Members of the Con-
vcntiOn:
Gentlemen-We the undersigned voters of the
OpelOusaS ward respectfully represent: That
heartily and fully endorsing the platform of the
Baton Rouge convention and the joint action Of
+ the Democratic and White League committees
In the call for Il parish convention, and also be-
lteving that the call of the two committees was
dictated by the same spirit of generous conces-
sion and mutual good will as that which char
a~cteriZed the different elements composing the
Baton Rouge convention, we attended and par
ticipated in the ward meeting at Opelousas.
We represent that the leading idea in this
campaign, uncOmprOmising opposition to Radi-
calism, to the Kellogg usurpation and to its sur
pOrters, and that the joint call of our two par
ish committees was intended to harmOnize and
unity the Democratic and White League Organi-
cations which together represent the opposition
TO the Kellogg government. This spirit of unity
inspired the members of both parties in the
different ward elections throughout the parish
as far as our information extends. In this spirit
we came to the polls on the 10th inst, at Ope-
lOuSas fully determined to vote for good and
true men OF both parties nOtSuspecting that any
parties designed running a ticket exclusively
in the interest Of any one party organization.
To our surprise and MOI tifcatiOn we discovered
a combination had been formed previously, for
the specific purpose of defeating any representa-
ton Of the White League in the convention from
this ward. The said combination consisted Of
the following elements: First, officials holding
commissions from Kellogg whose tenure of Office
depends upon his good will Second, members
OF the Republican party OF the Parish Of St
Landry; Thirdly, persons claiming to be Demo
Gratis who are actively opposed to the Baton
Rouge platform and the joint action Of the two
parish committees in calling this convention.
That through the votes Of these your political
htIIII a ltGJol4t VI Ii NitiLCIIS VI LhlS NGlh
who are the real enemies of the Kellogg usur-
patton are denied representation in your body.
We further represent that the said cOmbina-
ton was successful through the instr1mentality
and cooperation Of persons not in sympathy
with the present attitude of the white people of
this State, and by a concentration of such votes
upon a ticket previously and secretly. prepared.
We respectfully represent that an inspection
Of the tally list kept and the ballots cast, will
bear us out in this statement.
We further represent that at least twenty-five
II NOT more OF the votes cast AT said ward meet
ing are of the Objectionable character herein
before mentioned, and that if said votes had
not been cast, the White League of this ward
would have had a representation in your body,
and the result different from what it has been.
Therefore VIZ respectfully protest against all
the delegation claiming to have been elected at
the ward meeting at Opelousas Oh the 18th inst,
nasmuch as we have good easOn to believe that
the said twenty-five votes were cast for these
delegates, and we further ask that the White
League and Democratic parties of this ward be
admitted q fair representation III your body, and
that before referring this memorial to your COM
mittee on credentials, we be heard in the premises
on the floor of the convention.