New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-10-17
The Acting Governors Letter to
Judge Dewing.
He Advises a Special Term of the
District Court.
A Confident Reliance Upon Law
Abiding Felicianians.
The store and Gin Burning
Stiu Going on.
THE PROPHETIC DEMOCRATIC EDITOR

The following is the reply of Acting Gov
ernor Antoine to the letter of Judge Dew
ing relative to the disturbance Of his court
by the shooting of the sheriff and violent
conduct of armed whites in Clinton, pub.
lished yesterday:
S-ArE OF LOUISIANA }
Executive Department ,
New Orleans, October 10, 1875. }
Hon. f. W. Dewing, Judge of the Fifth Judicial
District:
SIR-I have received your report of the
circumstances attending the opening and
violent interruption ard adjournment of
your court in East Felicians on the seventh
instant. l have also received information
from other sources that a condition of law
lessnese and turbulence most detrimental
to the welfare of the community has pre-
vailed unchecked for some time in that
parish and in the adjoining parishes.
The interests of the whole people require
that the courts should be respected and
protected in the enforcement OF the laws
and the administration of justice, and that
all armed violence should be suppressed. l
can not but think that the great majority
Of the citizens of East Feliciana are in
favor of the maintenance of public peace
aud order, and if called upon will sustain
the proper authorities against mob vio-
lence.
With a view, therefore, of sec uring a
proper observance of the laws, and in order
that parties aggrieved may not be deprived
of their legal remedy in the courts through
the violent acts of lawless persons, sug-
gest that you call special term of your
court, to meet in East Feliciana on as early
day as practicable, and l believe that the
law abiding citizens of the parish will CO.
operate with the State authorities in pre-
serving the peace and maintaining the dig
nifty OF the court.
Very respectfully,
Lieutenant Governor and Acting Governor.
The course of the Acting Governor is
generally commended here, and it is hoped
the reopening of the court the disfavor and
fruitlessness of the policy of violence, to-
gether with the cooling of momentary pas
sions, and a returning respect for law and
justice, will prevent the recurrence of the
scenes witnessed in the past fortnight. The
Acting Governor, it will be seen, conf
Feliciana to assist him in putting their
house in order. IG is to be seen whether
this reasonable policy shall prevail.
The Acting Governor was yesterday in
receipt of advices from West Feiiciana
parish, informing him that the war NJ on
seed cotton dealers and gin houses was shll
going on. This parish adjoins East Fell
cans, and it is, therefore, a spread of the
lawlessness inaugurated there. 1t serves
to show the existence of deep local feeling,
| if not organization, on the seed cotton
question. Planters allege that seed cotton
is stolen from their plantations and sold to
cross road stores; they have, therefore,
banded together and burned some twelve
| or fourteen stores, and made a fiery swath
through peaceful land. In retaliation
people interested in country stores have
united in the burning of cotton gins, and
four or five have fallen. 1t is Greek meet
Greek, with a vengeance.
Yesterday extracts were published in the
| REPUBLICAN from the Clinton Patriot Dem
ocrat of July last, in which the editor de
clare4 it would be "a glorious day" wher
Gair, Ray, Smith and other negro officials
should step down and out forever from pub
lie offices. 1t is said that the issue of the
Democrat containing this article was on the
streets of Clinton one day in advance Of
its regular publication day, and on this day
a body of armed whites appeared in Clin
ton and endeavored to capture John Gair
Robert Ray, member OF the Legislature
and Sheriff Smith. The editor who firs
announced his death had prophesied lii
| danger.