The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-01-26
LOUISIANA.

PLAQuEMINE, PARISH OF

PLAQUEM1NE, PARISH OF
IBERvIILE, Ia, Jan. 12, 1875. /,
Editor Rutlond Giohe II feel it my duty |
to write few lines to my old Vermont |
friends in defense of the people Of Louisi-
ana, who have been sadly misrepresentcd
by General Sheridan in his recent dis
patches to Washington. have lived for
years among these people. At the Baton
Rouge state convention, held in Aug ist
last, had an opportunity of learning the
views and sentiments of the white citizens
in every portion of our state, and know
that they are actuatcd by honorable and
worthy motives.
Gen. Sheridan witnessed in New Or
leans, on the 4th inst, the Indignation Of a
people, who were almost in despair, when
they saw their last hope of dclivcrance
swept away by the strong arm of military
power. But only IN Imagination could he
have discovered among our people spirit
assassination. He ~ well say ''he is not
afraid" lie certainly has nothing to fear.
Our people feel that efforts are being made
to drive them into a conflict with United
States troops, aud they are united in the
determination to avoid that issue.
No civilized people have ever suffered
from the effects of war as have the white
people of Louisiana. The end of the
late conflict found them ruined in fortune,
and since that time they have endured a
| rule of tyrany and oppression, under which
| they could not have livel, were it not for
the hope of future relief.
Our burden of taxation is more than we
can bear. The man here whose only Dos
| session is the home that sh"lrs his wifc
and children, must pay fair rental
| to the tax gatherer, and he must pay on
the appointed day or the amount is IN
creasd from time to time, until all hope OF
his ability to pay is gone, and the results
| are a seizure, q sale, and family without
| a home. Our large land owners have, in
order to satisfy the harsh demands of our
| grasping usurpers, covered their estates
! with mortgages, until they are on the verge
| of distress, and some few of this class who
are reported to have said to their employees,
"if you continue TO njurc me by voting
for these thieves shall dispense with your
services, have been threatened with pun
ishment by federal authority.
| When my parish was in a prosperous
condition under, an honest govern
ment, the expense of gathering in our taxes
was about one thousand dollars per annum,
and now, since the fearful depreciation of
our property, since our portion has been
bankruptcy, flood and famine, our oppres-
sors have imposed upon us, for the same
service an annual expense ranging from
seventeen to twenty thousand dollars.
The money so wrung from us lodges
somewhere along the line of our corrupt
officials, and brings us no equivalent in the
way of benefits or protection. Many
thousands of white children are growing
up in ignorance around us for want OF
school privileges. We are not protected
against the disastrous foods that annually
sweep through our state. Nor have We
impartial courts where we can with any
certainty obtain protection for life and
property.
Here in my parish we have justices Of
the peace who are unable to write theil
names. We have had for two years past q
parish Judge whose decisions have been sc
partial to his colored consttuents-wh
outnumber the whites more than three tC
one-that it is generally thought best tC
submit to pilfering rather than go to thil
l court for redress. |, however, had what
considered clear case, and wishing tC
make an example, | went to this court fol
justice. had with the aid of a colore(
constable and search warrant discovered
, | missing property in possession of coloret
neighbor-proof and identity clear, only
! defense of prisoner, his own statement a
.. follows: 81 buyed dem tings from mar
Ibis name was jim amt seen hin
since" The prisoner was discharged. An
other case tried in my presence at the SAM
time was that of a colored man for stealing
corn from white mans field. The charg
was substantiatej, and the punishment wa
one-half hour in Jail. Is it strange tina
] | our good Bishop Wimar testified before tn
congressional committee that stealing wa
\ | common all over our state ?
If there is any intelligence or respecta
, bility in Louisiana it is strongly represent
. ed in the White League. The feeling
among them, and in fact of nearly all tn
white people of our state, is one OF right
eous indignation against our usurpin
rulers, and in favor of justice and proteC
: ton to our colored people in all their light
: of citizenship.
l do not know one single man of intel
: ligence outside the circle of radical off
cials or aspirants in Louisiana, who pre-
tends to believe that VIM. Pitt Kellogg
i our rigbtful governor. Our people hay
' submitted to his infamous rule only be
9 cause they were forced to do 50 by tn
g authority of the president. They have i
vain appealed for relief to our partiza
courts, to the president, and to congress
q They have recently gained their case q
the ballot box, only to be defeated agai
4 by the power of the bayonet, And now j
4 their utter dependency they make thei
- last appeal to their brethren of the north
4 May God help them if that source fails.
JNo. w. AUSTIN, Jr.