Feliciana sentinel. [volume] (St. Francisville, La.) 1877-1892, 1877-09-22

On.the otlier hand, the police authorities
declared most emphatically that they
would seize ill and any arnfs coming to
this city. Iu order to carry out this pur-
pose, a large force of police, armed with
Springfield rifles, with one cannon; was
placed on duty Saturday evening at the
wharf of the steamer, opposite jackson
Square, ready to seize the arms the mo-
ment they were landed.
The people, however, were just as de-
termined to insist on their rights, and, in
response to the strong popular feeling, q
call, written ON the inspiration of the
moment, appeared in the Sunday oapers,
| calling for q grand mass meeting ut Clay
Statue, September ii, to assert, demand
and enforce the constitutional rights of
the people of Louisiana ''to keep and
bear arms" and ''to meet in peaceable
assembly and petition"
Monday, September ID, proved a hot,
| sunny, Southern day. The streets around
Clay Statue were crowded from an early
hour, and groups gathered on every cor
ner discussing the situation. Some fore
saw war others believed there would
be no trouble, and not few wandered
off to the regatta fixed to take place at
Carrollton that day. Most of the stores
opened in the morning, but finding busi-
ness dull, no ladies out shopping, aud the
men too excited to think of anything but
their rights, closed at an early hour.
From 10 o'clock the crowd around Clay
Statue increased rapidly in numbers,
= fo,rs
or five thousand persons collected
there. The appearance of half
a dozen well-known gentlemen ON the
gallery of the Crescent Hall opposite,
with tables, glasses and papers, the para
phernalia of speakers, caused the crowd to
surge over to that corner where bare
headed and with up-turned faces, on
which the hot sun glared pitilessly down,
they waited for the watchword.
1t came, after a long list of grievances
read by Mr.. Mari, in formal demand for
the immediate abdication of William Pitt
Kellogg. At these words, the crowd
burst forth in the widest applause and
cheers, in shouts that bore evidence
that the movement was successful; that
the people accepted the demand for Kei-
logg's abtlication as the issue of the day
were determined on it; would insist on
it, and would fight for it. The die was
cast. The meeting had been called sim
ply to defend the right of our people to
bear arms but when the people net to-
setler their enthusiasm grew so strong,
their strength became so apparent, that
they lost sight of their original griev-
ance; and demanded that the tyranny
that had so sorely afflicted them should
end at once. From that hour the Kellogg
government was doomed.
The history of that memorable day
moved rapidly after this: A committee
was chosen to bear this demand and
challenge of the people of Louisiana to
Kellogg. In half an hour they had re-
turned and reported. Kellogg was gone;
Kellogg was missing Kellogg was not to
be seen; but in some secret hiding place
he had mustered courage enough to re-
fuse this demand.
'What must be done now 2 asked one of
the committee.
"We must fight |" "Give us arms" "Cal
out the troopsv we're the cries from q
thousand men.
DR.. Beard stepped forward, and in glow
ing words, called on them, in behalf Of
liberty and Louisiana, to defend their
rights. They must bring their arms,
pitch their tents upon the neutral ground,
determined never to leave there until the
last vestage of Kellogg's rule had been
uprooted from our soil. If they needed
food their wives and children would glad
ly bring it
"Go home, get your arms" said Mr..
Mari. "Come here again at half-past
o'clock, and you will find leaders to lead
you ON to victory
It seemed scarcely a second before
| armed men began to appear in every di-
| rection. Old armories and gun stores
had been ransacked to find something
military. One man had an ancient Ro-
man broadswora, taken from some thea
| tres green-room; another bore as his
| only weapon n keg of powder; old mus
kets, disabled shot guns appeared carried
on the shoulders Of old and bending men.
Those having arms rapidly coalesced
| into squads and these squads were Or
| ganized into companies by officers who
moved here and there among the crowd,
and then marched up the street.
| At the same moment that tie meeting
broke up tho papers appeared on the
street containing the proclamation OF
Lieut., Gov. Penn, Gov MeEmery being
absent from the State, declaring the
McEnery government organized and oall-
ing on citizens and militia to arm and
drive Kellogg from power. This proc
lamation also appointed Gen. Fred. N.