The New Orleans daily Democrat., 1878-10-25
THE TENSAS AND OONOORDIA
TR0U BLES.

Yesterday we published a dispatch from
Wade II. Young, Esq, Of Concorda parish in
forming lis Of o. most extraordinary proceeding
taken In that parish In connection with the
recent disturbances there and in Tensas. The
dispatch stated that Col. Young who. in his
official capacity of colonel of State troops
had taken steps to suppress and dis
perse the negro rioters who were
threatening the parishes of Concordia
and Tensas with rapne and slaughter,
and Mr.. Francis Shields, who was acting with
Col. Young, had been arrested and impris-
oned by the judicial officers Of Concordia
This proceeding, 1t was represented to Col
Young. had been taken under instructions
from Gov Nichols to the judicial officers Of
Conoordia. to investigate and bring to iustlce
the parties responsible for the disturbances 10
that locality.
It seems that Col. Young sent dispatch to
Gov. Nichols similar to that wo published
yesterday: to which tho Governor returned
the following answer:
New ORLEANS. October "a, 1878,
TO Wade r. Young. Esq. Vidalin. La.
The Governor has givon no order TO .inveE'i
gate any one. In answer TO q dispatch of the
District Attorney pro tenn, stating condition
Of lawlessness In the parish of ConcOrda and
asking what ehonId be done: he has simply IN
etructed tho judicial department Of the parish
to form Its full duty before applying to him
rs Executive for MD. He does not propose to
pass beyond his sphere and Jurisdiction or in
terfero with other departments but simply to
perform his duty upon tho concurrence Of
facts. which makes his duty plain, irrespective
OF persons.
SAINT. FLOWER. Private Secretary.
Col. Young's dispatch to the DEMOCRAT
also stated that the affidavit upon which the
warrants issued for his own arrest and that
of Mr.. Shields. had been suppressed, that
they had been unable to ascertain the ofense
with which they were charged and that they
had been refused the privilege Of bail. He
also sent us the following affidavit, which ex-
plains itself:
State OF Louisiana parish of ConcOrdia.
Before me, the undersigned authority. per
eonaily came and appeared ono joe Lambert,
Of said State and parish. who being duly sworn,
deposes and says: That on tho night of OctO
ber %. 1873. he was induced through ignorance
and error. by one John Young, sheriff, and Oren
Of Coneordia, to make IN affidavit before tho
Hon. Wade II. Hough. Judge Of the Thirteenth
Judicial District. chHrg ing Wnde Il Young and
Francis Shields. Of said parish, with the COM
mission OF certain otrenses. against the pence
and digni y Of the State Of Louisiana on or
about October 10 1878. ae exhibited by said com
nlaint aud q warrant for the arrest Of said pnr-
ties whom In truth and fact he we'll knew that
said parties were innocent of said offenso so
charged, Or ofany ofeuse against the laws Of
said State, said occasion, and were not
present, aiding nnt abetting in said offenses.
Sworn to and subscribed before me- this Octo-
"VE 'sjsueJS isi 'Si1' JOE y 4 LAMBERT.
WADE II. HOUGH
Judge Thirteenth District.
1t was not necessary for us to see Gov.
Nichols answer to Col. Young's dispatch to
know that the conduct Of the parish attorney
and sheriff of Concordia was most infamous
perversion Of the Governors Instructions
The conduct Of these parish officials in this
matter is of q character SO atrocious and dis
respectful to the Governor and the dignity
Of the State as to require, If there be any au-
thority for such an action on the part OF the
Executive, their immediate removal. They
have sought TO use and abuse the State au-
thority by applying it to the most Infamous
purposes.
Never have the arbitrary and irresponsible
powers, conferred upon the Federal authori-
ties by the enforcement and reconstruction
laws, been exercised more recklessly or to the
attainment of more shameful and despotic
purposes than the processes Of the law of
Louisiana have been applied to in the arrest
Of Col, Young and Mr. Shields. II the su-
premacy OF our local laws, for which our peo
pie fought SO long and under such adverse
circumstances, means anything, 1t certainly
means the end Of such proceedings rs this.
To have these arbitrary methods revived
now, and under the pretended Instructions of
Gov. Nichols himself, Is 50 gross a contu
macy that it cannot be allowed to pass unre-
buked.