The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1874-11-07

COUoh0teos
Federal Tyranny--Address Of the
Prisoners to the People Of
the United States.
A gross violation of the rights |
Of personal liberty, by the arhitra-
~ exercise Of power and military !
force, is an offence SO grevious
and involves to. such an extent,
the safety and security of citizens
to the protection Of their
government and the enjoyment Of
those safeguards which the writ
ten constitution and the laws of
their country guarantees to them,
as to justify q statement, setting
forth the outrage to- which they
are subjected, and appeal to their
countrymen, in order that q full
understanding Of the facts may
arouse every freeman to q sense Of,
the danger which threatens the
overthrow of republican iDstitu-
tons, and the establishment Of
unlimited despotism.
The following are the facts
which the undersigned submit for
the consideration OF their country.
men:
More than six weeks ago, what
is known as the ssCOusilatta AFFAIR."
took place, which terminated in
the killing Of six white men and
two negroes, charged with, and
proven to be participants in a coli.
spiracy arrying the colored popu-
lation Of Red River parish against
the white people, with a view to the
massacre of the whites, quietly as
sembled in the town OF COnslIatta
while engaged in social festivities;
and this for the purpose Of Great.
ing such q serious disturbance as
would cause Federal troops to be
stationed in this section Of the
State, thereby influencing in the
interest of the dominant political
party and the Kellogg government
the approaching election.
It is not the object Of the under
signed in this address to enter
into q detailed history Of this
affair they are content with the
statement that none of them. were
even present when the alleged OF
fence Of the murder of the men
was committed, nor are they 10
any manner connected Herewith
as accessories but, on the contra
~, by their position in society
and personal influence, they sue
ceeded in REFRESHING actual VIC
lence, and exerted themselves
successfully in protecting from
death itself, the men whom an
enraged multitude deemed worthy
Of condign and summary punish
ment.
More than fifty days have elaps-
ed since these occurrences, and
the popular mind had become
qnieted; peace and order prevail
ed in the community, and all
classes had resumed their Ordina-
~ pursuits, and it was distinctly
understood and agreed between
gentlemen, representatives Of the
white people of Red River parish
and the prominent representative
Of the friends, personal and politi-
cal, of those who had fallen vic
tins IN the conspiracy before al
luded to, and acting las he declar
"a himself in the written agree
ment entered into between these
parties) as United States Commits
si0ner, that mono but actual par
ticipaters in the killing Of the in
dividuals referred to should be ar
rested. The plain intent and oh
|ject Of this agreement being to
prevent arbitrary arrests Of citi
zens upon mere vague suspicion
or on the ground Of remote or in-
direct connection with the affair.
Another stipulation and under
standing in this agreement, was
to the effect that, whenever those
charged with such actual partici.
patton we're arrested they should
be entitled to an immediate or
speedy trial in their own parish
before this United States Com
missioner. Trusting to the ohser-
vance Of good faith BY all these
parties, our people quietly await
ed the legal proceedings which
might be instituted; and their as
constituent can badly be appre.
ciated when on q calm Sabbath
morning q company of Federal
cavalry Unexpectedly made its
appearance in the town Of Cou-
shatta, picketed every approach,
prevented further ingress or
egress, and Deputy United