New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-04-16
THE THIBODACX DISASTER.
Meeting of Citizens Last Saturday.

Pursuant to previous call, an unusually
large and enthusiastic meeting of the citl
zens of Lafourche, irrespective of color
was held this day in the town of Thibodaux
for the purpose Of expressing their indigna
ton at the criminal inactivity of the Louis
lana Levee Company in its persistent re
fusal to give aid TO the sufferers by Moreau
crevasse, in this parish, or to make any at
tempts looking to its closing.
Captain Lewis GuiOH called the meeting
to order and explained it's object. after
which Hon. J. s. Bellin was elected presi
dent and Messrs. Enoch Dunn and P. E
LOrio requested to act as secretaries.
Able and eloquent addresses were then
delivered by j. S. GoOde, ESQ.,, Judge j. NJ
Howell, Captain Lewis Guion and j: d
Moore. Esq, denunciatOry of the conduct
of the Levee Company, and urging upon
their hearers to lend their aid and assistance
in any lawful means tending to the dissolu
ton of said company.
Mr.. j. S. Goode offered the following pre-
amble and resolutions, which were unani
mously adopted:
WHEREAS, We have now become con
WINGED that the Louisiana Levee Company,
in despite of the repeated demands for re-
lief made by our people, have resolved to
do nothing toward the closing of the Mo-
reau crevasse, now devastating one of the
richest sections of our parish. and render
ing homeless thousands of our already i'm
pOverished citizens; and
Whereas. The officers of that company
have treated with Indifference. if not con-
tempt. our earnest petitions. skulking be-
hind the miserable subterfuge that in their
judgment the said crevasse could not be
closed, thereby confessing that they are in
competent to perform the very work for
which the company was intended; there
fore be it
Resoloed, That we recognize the Louisiana
Levee Company as a base fraud upon the
rights of all the people of the State, without
regard to race or party; that its real object
is TO enrich its members at the expense of
the best interest of the people, and its name
a synonym for extOrtion and de ISOLATION, and
that the sooner the huge incubus is removed
by forfeiture of its charter the better will
it be for the best interest of our citizens. Be
it further
Resoloed, That the lnaction on the part of
the Levee Company in this the time of our
necessity is an actual abdicatiOn of its rights,
and a confession of its inability to accom-
plish the purposes for which it was char
tered. Be it further
Resolred, That the apathy and indiffer-
ance on the part of the company, in view of
the desolation and distress now existing
within our borders, show most clearly to
the people of our sister parishes the neces-
sity of united action in order to crush this
hideous monopoly and to loosen its misery
grasp upon the pockets of an impoverished
people.
ResOlred. That the Legislature which cre-
ated and the public opinion which counte-
nances this mOnstrOus freebooter deserves
the eternal execratiOn of every good citi-
zen of Louisiana. and that we do hereby
importune the legal authorities of the State
to take the appropriate action for the for
fixture of its charter.
Judge j. NJ Howell moved the appoint
ment OF a committee of five to collect sta
tistics showing the amount of injury done
by the M0reau crevasse, the amount of
taxes paid annually 5y the sufferers there
by, and particularly the amount paid for
levee purposes, as we'll as the total amount
Of taxes paid By the parish of Lafourche |
for protecting and repairing levees. This |
motion prevailing. the chair appointed ON |
the same Messrs. j. S. Goode. L. o. Moreau.
P. E. Lorio, j. D. Moore, j. C. Raglan. and,
IN further motion, the chair was added.
1t being moved and carried that relief |
committee be appointed, to be composed of |
.en, with Isaiah ID. Moore, ESQ. parish at |
,orney, as chairman, the following gentle |
nep were appointed on same: Messrs. l. D. |
Moore, chairman. H. n. COulon. DR.. w. w. |
Cross. S. Mayer, E. Roger, L. Dautin, Sci. |
lon Buzil. George Watson, Frank James,
lanes Wade.
1t is made the province of this committee
o secure means for the relief OF the sufferers
UGH as provisions and shelter, and lands in
Their sections of the parish for cultivation
" these people.
On motion, II was resolved that the New
orleans Picayo,ale, Times. Bee, REPUBLICAN
nd Bulletin be requested to publish these
receedings, as well as the Thibodaux SEN
,1el and Louisiana Sugar BO,rl,
The meeting then adjourned sine die.
j. S. BILLIU. President.
P. E. LORIo and Z. DUNN. Secretaries.