The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1882-08-19
New Rivers Condition.

= s-
New Rivers Condition..
The Prevalence of Destitution and Suffer-
ing Among the People Reiterated-Re-
Spouse of Mr.. Gonzales to Messrs. Blouin,
Barmon and Brown.
- DoNALDsoNyuLE, La, August 16, 1882.
L. E. Bentley, Editor Donaldsonville CHIEF
| My Dear Sir-1n the issue Of your valuable
paper of the 5th August, 1882, appeared two
communications. one dated Eighth Ward.
signed by Mr.. C. q. Blouin. and the other, dated
New River, July q, 1882, - signed Solomon
harmon.
Your declaration, that /" in the interest Of
truth and fair play, and in order that the
actual state OF affairs existing In the seventh
and eighth Police Jury Wards Of Ascension may
in the request of the writer's, ETC., etc. You
further declare that: I'VE do not pretend to
question the sincerity Of any Of these gentlemen,
one hand, or Messrs harmon and Blouin on the
other, have materially misapprehended the true
situation of the New River people, etc. etc. ~
Now, Mr. Editor, knowing your disposition to
relying upon your declaration of the interest YOU
take IN truth and fair play, respectfully ask
you to publish the following and let the good
p0opAS
maternal mlsapprehensions Of the true situation
Of the people of New River as represented by
M Les harmon, Bloum and myself.
10 commence, let me here state that defy
any sensible man IN the least familiar with the
language IN which was written my commumca-
ton to the CHIEF Of the 18th July last, to find
single allusion to the eighth ward of this parish
Tg}presentatlve of that ward on the Police Jury.
Why then this waste of time, ink, paper. postage
stamps nnIs. ete to e1onerate himself when no
the publication of his letter Of the 2d Of hueust
10 correct" he says, erroneous ideas pre-
valllng n regard to the state of crops, destitu-
ton, etc. for the seventh ward he says, " the
only few planters being unable to plant.'' He
says further, =" any one can readily make 81 to
g 50 per day picking moss How can Mr..
knowingly of the seventh ward? How can he in
such a manner induce those of our outside
friends, who were willing to assist the great
representations that he had heard of no suffer
ing! II Is readily undo stood that he did not
BUT dld ne attempt to ascertain whether or not
Ihere was suffering IN the seventh ward? Has
ne taken the trouble to go over the ward when
It was 80 easy. to do SO, even with sail-boat?
Oh no! What does he know of the greatest
portion OF the seventh ward, except the names
the Point Store? How then can Mr. BIouin
speak of the youth or old age of the crops in
that ward! Had he up to the date of his letter
seen any young or old since? Let him state when
and where.
As to the other communication which ap-
Peared II your issue Of thu. 18th August, 1892
dated Eighth Ward, Ascension, August 3, 1882 y
and signed, =. W. Brown viii not stop to
answer further than to ask the gentleman if he
has ever found his way within the limits of the
seventh werd since the overflow, and how often
before and since the number of years he has
resided IN the eighth ward has he visited the
ward or any portion of it except to celebrate a
marriage or attend political OF church meet
ing? ,n,..,,
to answer the letter Of Mr. Solomon Barmon.
Painful It IS for the reason, that for number
| as one Of lower New Rivers staadiest land
marks: as good friend, a good neighbor and q
| good christian. To have at this late hour to
entertained of him. is really painful. But
have no alternative; I have not misrepresented
| the CONDITION OF my ward and can not be made
pass1vely to submit to the public lie given me
by Mr.. Barmon, when have such documents as
l will hereinafter submit.
While IN Dona'dsonville, on Or about the 18th
| July last was called upon by several friends to
| OF the people OF my ward l Gid SO. Members
| Of the Terpsichorean Club and of the Phoenix
FIRE Company asked me why I should not let
| the people know how matters stood out there.
The Terpsichorean Club stated that Rev. Father
Mesnil had IN the church depicted the condition
| OF the people on New River, and that I should
90 onS the ba his is and
| concert for the benefit of the New River suffer-
| ers from overflow. Members of Phoenix Fire
Company an advised me to do the same. as did
| many other friends. 1t was not Mr.. Editor, for
| the pleasure OF seeing my name In print or of
insulting gratuitously Mr.. harmon or any one
81 those ae 81 e a. Ws
official duties were to look into matters of this
What have said that directly concerns Mr.
Barmon as member az the Police jury and a
COMPUTES appointed b said BE- body to report the
That he has not only faisd to report. but had
not even put in an appearance. Is that not in
accordance With the truth2 Does not Mr.. Bar :,
last session of the Police Jury is that have
been in bad health since the 18th OF April last.
My only crime then must have consisted In what
l sad about the opposition to issuing rat1ons
| the Police Jury had not been influenced by that
| opposition and be blinded to the extent of
neglectlng or refusing to perform christian
duty. Could not Mr.. Barmon, even in bad
health, have gotten statement to the Police
! Jury on the day fixed? Did he do it? Echo
| please answer?
will now quote from Mr.. Barmon's letter:
= have heard of no person or persons that
are suffering for want of something to eat, only
| through the above mentioned article" From
that Mr.. Editor, it can only be inferred that the
| representations contained In my letter of the
| 18th July last. are tissue of falsehoods.
| What will MIR: Barmon say, when he reads the
| following certificate to which have been affixed
III names of the most respectable residents OF
that ward3 How many names from his ward
are missing? Did not the venerable Henry
Martin, Mrs. Barmon's own uncle. Allen w
Braud, his son-in-law and all nearest neighbors
and best friends sign that certificate? viii he
dare disproye it in the same manner that it was
established?
| We, the undersigned citizens residing in the
seventh ward of the parish of Ascension. having
seen and read Capt. Joseph Gonzales letter pub
lished in the Donaldsonyllle CHIEF of the 18th
of July, 1882 hereby certify that it contained q
correct and true statement Of the condition Of
| our ward.
| New River. August g. 1882.