The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-03-09
THE CASE OF THE NATCHITOCHE,
PRISONERS.

To the Editor of the Democrat
The verdict In favor OF these prosecuted
gentlemen Is most important, not only for
themselves, but because of the vindicatlon of
institutional liberty involved; and because,
as 1 asserted at the beginning, the law on
which the prosecution was based is usurpa-
tory as is the alleged jurisdiction Of the
court. II your space and my leisure had not
limited me | could have produced vast
quantity more than did OF evidence 10 prove
these assertions.
IL was the principal and best men of Match
itoches that acted in the grave and imminent
peril; they acted under discreet lead-undef
constituted authority. The mayor OF Match
itoches and his special chief OF police con-
troled and restrained the people in presence
Of mob stimulated by race prejudice and
rancor, as well as bad whisky-a mob mar
shaded and moved by vile and Infamous lead
ers, who aimed to reimpose, for robbing pur-
poses, their 8 per cent taxes, which the tax
payers were righteously determined to pre-
vent.
| know negroes to be amiable, docile and
unaggressive creatures unless they are slim
ulated as above; and he is q public enemy
who undertakes to segregate them and move
them to act as q mass against the white race
under any circumstances.
As model gentlemen and good citizens,
exercising their inherent and inalienabe
authority I'm spontaneous movement to meet
Il serious menace and peril of society, the
Natchitoches men acted, and their bearing
here, under their trial In court, as well as
their trials out Of court, well indicated Their
character.
In conclusion | must do Justice to Judge
Woods. After looking into the case OF tile
prisoners, and seeing that 1t was not one OF
unmixed wekednesS. but might have high
merits, he seemed to be willing to hold the
| scales of justice with firm and even hand. Al
oil events he gave what many, IL not all
conceded to be u fair charge.
And the jury-ali honor TO them per
formed just the function the fathers COntem-
plated in rescuing these prisoners from usur-
patory oppression. Listen to the great Mas
sachusetts Chief Justice Parsons, In the
| ratifying convention Of that State u Ell. Deb
Sal: "But there is another check, founded In
the nature of the Union, superior to all the
parchment checks that can be invented II
there should be usurpation, 1t will not be on
the farmer and merchant, employed and at
tentIve only to their several occupations; II
will be upon thirteen legislatures, completely
organized, possessed of the confidence OF the
people, and having the means as well as In
clination successfully to oppose. it. Under
attempt usurpation. We have the mad
men-they are Radicals But, sir, the peo-
pie themselves have it in their power effectu-
ally to resist usurpation without being driven
| To an appeal to arms. An act Of usurpdtio1
Is not obligatory; IL as not lar; and ANY MAN
MAY BE JUSTIFIED IN HIS RESISTANCE. Le
him be considered as q criminal by ne genera
government, pet only his Olrn feltOm-citisene
can conUict him. They are his jury, and il
tlbey pronounce him innocent, not all the polcer
of Congress- can hart him; and innocent then
certainly wM pronounce him, If The supposed
tdlc he resisted mas GDs act Of usupati0n."
All the laws under which these men were
brought from their homes 500 miles thosf
from Caddo are brought 700 to 800 miles, and
from their own courts, and from the iuries q
their peers and vicinage, to the great peril oI
their liberties, and the ruin OF material in
lerests of many of them, are usurpations, az
must also be all judicial action on the basis
of Them and, according to the above authori
ty the citizens hare tie right 10 resist them
The State Of Louisiana Is free to choose Oh
elect her Federal functionaries, and is abso
Lutte in her control of her own mind and will
as well as the means by which she speaks ant
effectuates the same Ii. j. s.