The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1877-07-19

tie YET ~, an our SuuHe. Ana We
call upon him to state publicly
whether Mr. Carter, this Govern
ment agent, has correctly de-
scribed the temper nnd habits of
our people. Perhaps his voice
will be respected, though our di-
rect remoustrancps pass unheeded.
Let us hear from Judge Hudspeth.
This Mr. Special Agent brands
us with the infamy of gross ignor.
a6ce, not even knowing our own
rights. or respecting that of the
United States. We cheerfully
and humbly admit our igaorxnce,
but we boldly and defantly chsl-
lenge the agent or the world to
show where we have failed to re-
sp.ct the rights of the United
States in any private property.
And we, in conscious innocence Of
wrong on our part, denouncs the
hurtful statements made by him
for publication AZ malignant Sian.
ders. Ignorant We admit our
selves to be, aud from its depths
we appeal to all better informed
persons to supply US With a few
bright sparss Of wisdom to light
up the path which leads us from
this gulch Of deso'atiDn wherein
the wantonnass of Government
has precipitated us.
Let any set Of honorable men
come here and examine our logs,
The land they have been taken
trom--say that this land is the
property of the United States
(and we have paid for nearly every
foot Of it,J see the number Of logs
that would come from an acre,
and thus compute the entire
amount of land claimed by this
agent 70 have been despoil-d, aud
Wa are willing 10 pay for the en-
tire amonnt of land q second time.
Now. it Mr.. Government Agent
>hou!1 / take the trouble to examine
The public record and find that
this land has been sold and paid
for fifty years up to now, including
rights under the late homestead
acts, I believe he would conclude
that maybe we do not want war;
ind we certainly do not. We do
not even ask for justice. We say
to him rob US if you will, but be
reasonable in your robbery and
va will bear il without a murmur,
il you will only lot us go along
with our business, feed our starv-
ing families and those of our poor,
and provide against the future.
This IL proven by the fact that
men who hold patents, or rnder
grants. through lifetime, have
express Willingness 10 pay over
again any amount they can stand.
In concluding this statement, I
say il the Government is not u
party to this oppression, or rob
berry, or whatever it might be
termed, it bad better send some
one of honor and humani y here
to discharge the functions Of
special land agent. Aud it can
yet this published | will have an
other say in the matter, for the
spirit il big With, me and per-
baps I will say more to the pur-
pose pex, time. Before concluding,
however, I want to tell you what
has been called resistance, snch as
sail. d soldiers into our midst.
First, one Marshal or keeper at
A. j. Perkius's store, ut West
Fo,k, called for some one to as
list him in taking brands nf logs.
He picked out . lad aud they
vent to work. Some logmen on
shore seeing what was g':ing on,
old the lad his mother had use
or him, and bad better 60 home.
Home lie went. I am positive
,ot rough word WAS spoken to
he keeper. Yet he Immediately
sported threats and resistance to
hs Government. / suppose, for
wo warrants were issued for
PARTIES in that crowd. No. Q was
keeper at Indian Bayou, and
old by Mr.. Hughes, that If
70 (the keeper was to hold bis
H,'e) logs he must also take
barge of the logs OF another party
amed, or abide the consequences"
r something similar, Mr.. Keeper