Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-06-15

usuuI caution, anu nave taken step WHICH
has brought them into direct contact with the
United States authorizes. Samuel Chapman
was duly commissioned by the Postmaster
General to exercise the functions of Postmas
ter at Clinton, in East Feliciana, and similar
commission was issued to John ). Dulo, at
ST. Francisyille, in West Feliciana. Chap
man commission was sent him in January
last, but in consequence Of the lawlesSness
existing in the parish he made no attempt to
take possession of his office until last month.
On MAY 10, when about TO enter upon his
duties, Chapman was confronted by Charles
McVery and j. B. Simms, the former
Democratic Judge and the latter Demo-
cratic member of the Legislature, who assur-
ed him that, because he gave testimony be-
fore the United States Senate committee, he
had made himself obnoxious to the good peo-
PIE of East Felciana. and warned him that
there was no law that would protect him
against a mob in case he attempted to eXer-
else the office of Postmaster. knowing the
meaning of such threats, Chapman folded up
the commission of the United States and re-
ported the facts to Washington.
In the case of Dulo, at ST. Francisyille, the
Postmaster whom he was appointed to sue
coed returned TO the Postoffce Department
Dulo's commission, marked "Not called for. y
A duplicate commission reached Dulo at
New Orleans ito which point he had direct
cd that it should be forwarded) on April %,
and he at once arranged to enter upon the
discharge of his duties How he was pre-
vented from doing so is told in his report to
the Postmaster General, under date of May
%. He says;
on Thursday morning. May L., made formal de-
mand upon the outgoing Postmaster for possession
Of the Office, books and papers. He replied that
acting under the advice of attorneys whom he had
consulted on this subject he would not turn over
TO me the oiice uuder 20 days, that space OF
time being required to straighten out the books
and papers Of the office. After making formal de
mand for possession, i proceeded to the Parish
Court House for the purpose OF holding an inter
view with the legal Officers, to ascertain from them
II could exercise the functions OF postmaster, as
we'll those OF Justice OF the Peace, TO winch had
been elected by large majority. The hrst officer
interviewed wa Sheriff John J. BARROW. l stated
to him that hs Il been commissioned Postmaster of
st. franc!Sville by the PostmaS ter General that
had been elected Justice OF the Peace Of the First
Ward of the parish. and had been commissioned by
Gov Nicholls and that came to him as the execu-
tive officer OF the parish to demand from him the
protection to which 1 was entitled under the laws.
His reply was that If l qualified as Justice OF
the Peace he would not execute any process cman-
ating from me; that the people were tired OF the
rule Of Republicans, and would no longer tolerate
them in Office, and SO far the Posmastership was
concerned he could not guarantee me any protec-
ton. l next saw the Parish Attorney, W. W. Lake,
whom asked II l would be safe in assuming the
functions OF Postmaster and Justice OF the Peace in
the Parish lie replied that had better notqual-
ify as Justice Of the Peace and as for the ONCE o.
Postmaster. he could give me no answer. then
saw {. NJ. Barrow. He asked me II / had returned
to the parish to reorganize the same old party.
''If So said he, you will receive load of buck
shot The white people are tired Of that old party
and don't intend to t. troubled with YOU Republi-
After cav M the Court House ! had an interview
with several OF my cOlOred friends. They advised
me to leave Immediately, saying they had good
reason for believing that il did not would be
murdered remained the balance of that day at
my house in ST. Francsville. During the night l
ma in tanned a close watch around my premises. i
could at different times men walking around as
i, watching for me. On the following morning
discovered at my gate wooden cofin, upon which
q heart was printed in black, and marked with
sealins-wa1 to represent that it had been pierced
with bullet. On the top OF the coffin was written
the words -. $. Dulo A-by June l." Within the
coffin on a piece Of paper was written the words
Positively if here by the LIST OF June. IA"
Winchester ball was placed inside the collin, and
one also tied upon the outside. That same
morning about ~ O'Clock, again interviewed The
parish Ulcers and exhibited to them the coffin
found at my gate. W. W. Leaks said that II he
had received such q thing he would leave the par
ish ut once; that was obnoxious to certain
class of VIII tie people, and 1t would be safe for
me to remain there. saw the clerk OF the court,
{. ". Barrow, and showed him the coffin, and he
said the white people would not tolerate me there
and urged me 10 leave the parish. That evening
was waited upon by crowd Of white men who at
tempted 10 force me to resign the office Of Postmas
Ter in favor OF young white man named Henry
Benning They promised il would resign the
POstoiIice they would give me sufficient money TO
leave the parish. | refused their Oner and remain
ed at home until IN O'Clock the next day, when the
news reached me Of the murder of Mr.. James Law,
in IN adjoining parish. The murder o! Law
alarmed me, and believing that the threats made
against my life would be carried out II remain ed.
] crossed the Mississippi River that night unob-
served, travelled on Tot seven miles and made my
way to New Orleans.
Here are two cases where individual rights
are not only denied, but the authority OF the
United States is openly defied. Certain citi-
zenS Of those historic parishes have represent
ed to the Department that Chapman and
Dulo are unfit for the Offices to which the
Postmaster-General appointed them, because
of illteracy Yet Dulo was elected last Fall
Justice of the Peace by large majority of
the voters of his ward, and was considered
to be sufficiently qualified to discharge the
functions of that office by Gov. Nichols,
whose commission he bears. 1t remains to be
seen whether President Hayes will permit
the lawless mob of Louisiana to dictate to
the executive authority of the United States,
and by physical force prevent officers regular
ly appointed, and bearing Federal commits
sions, from discharging duties to which they
may be appointed. The qualifications of
those appointed is a question for the Ezecu-
tive department of the United States Gov
eminent, and not for lawless mob. If
Southern mots are permitted to dictate who
shall be postmasters, they will soon dictate
who shall fill all other local Federal Offices,
and in time may come to say who shall and
who shall not command military forts and
garrisons south of the Potomac Special
agents of the Postofhce Department have
been sent to investigate the Feliciana cases,
and pending that investigation those hold
ing the Governments commissions should
direct the postoihces in those two parishes,
or the Offices should be closed. A line should
be drawn somewhere, even in the work of
d" reconciliation