The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1879-05-03
MASS MEETING.

AT mass meeting of the citizens of
Calcasieu Parish, held at the Court
House, in the towp of Lake Charles. on
the LIST day of May, A D., 1879, Hon.
Geo. II. Wells, was unanimously elected
Chairman and J. i. -Kirkman Secretary.
On motion. Capt. J. w. Bryan, Allen
J. Perkins, Jeremiah O'Brien, David
II. Lyons and "A, ]. Burleson weye APP
pointer committee 90 draft fesoitl-
tiops expressive OF the sense of this
meeting. in regarl to the employment
of convict abor'bn the Louisiana West
ern Railroad, incur parish.
Onfnotion. the Chairman was added
to the committee, and male its chair
man eIsofficio.
Whereupon, tile following resolutions
were offered by the committee, and
unanimously adopted
Whereas it is rumored That Teriten-
tiary convicts may be employed in the
construction of the Louisiana Western
Railroad, as they are now employed in
the construction of another railroad in
this State, beft
Resolved, What we, the citizens of
Calcasieu Parish, in mass meeting as
sembled, hereby earnestly and indig-
nantly protest against the introduction
into our Parish of penitentiary coDvicts
as laborers ON the Louisiana Western
Railroad or as laborers on any other
work whatever.
Resolved, That the employment Of
penitentiary convict labor on railroads,
or anywhere outside of the State perfi-
Tertiary, is contrary to the letter and
spirit of the criminal laws of this State,
and contrary to public policy and good
morals. ast: because the law, and the
sentence and Judgment of the court
thereon, in all convictions for felony,
punishable by hard labor, provide for
confinement at fzard labor in the State
penitentiary, and notfelsewhere. 2dly:
becau Sc the Employment of convict
labor on railroads, etc., directly enco lr-
ages ard actually results in speculation
in the lives and strength of conyicts,
both by the penitentiary fessees and by
the employers of such labor; 3dly: be-
cause such employment of such labor
tends to break down and destroy the
object of the. punishment of crime in
the penitentiary, by substituting an en-
tirely different kind of confinement and
OF labor, and by holding ont to conyicts
increased hopes, and facilities of escape;
4thly: because such employment OF
such labor tends to degrade honest la
Dor. and to expose it to an iniquitous
and degrading competition.
Resolved. That orr parish and dis
trict delegates TO the State constitutional |
.onyentiof, now in session, be and they
are hereby requested to use their best |
efforts to Secure, IN the new constitu.
tion OF this State, n prohibition against |
the employment of penitehtiary con-
victs outside of the penitentsary.
On motion, it was unanimously re-
solved. thata copy OF the proceedings Of
this meeting be furnished to the Lake
Charles Echo and Caleasien Gazette,
with "a request for publication, also to |
our delegates IN the constitutional con-
gention, and TO Mr.. Adams, General
Manager of the Louisiana Western
Railroad Company.
On molten, the following preamble
and resolution were unanimously
adopted:
Whereas. the relations between the
people of Caleasien and the officers of
the Louisiana Western Railroad Com
pany have always been of u friendly ma
bure, and every effort has been made
by the people of this parish to facili-
tate the managers of the Railroad Com
pany in the reconstruction of their rail
road.
Resolved, That we earnestly hope
ma request that the Superintendent,
Mr.. Adams, will respect the wishes of
he people, as expressed in the resolu-
ions adopted by this meeting. and such
action on his part will be accepted
by the people as eyincing b disposition
% further cultivate and increase the
friendly relations which have existed
the people of the parish and
he officers OF the Railroad Company.
On motion, the meeting adjourned
line die
GEO. III. WELLS, Chairman.
j. B. kiRE MAN, Secretary.