The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-11-17
COMMUNICATION.
CHENEYvILLE, |
Nov. s, 1886. ]
,DIToR DEM0cR At

Nov. s, 1886.
EDITOR DEMOCRAT
DEAR SIR-In the Tom Ialk of
Nov. 9th is a strong and strange criti-
clsm upon on. very excellent Judge
w. f. Blackman, in regard to the
penalties he inficts upon persons con-
vlcted of carrying concealed weapons.
The writer starts out with the assertion
that ''it seems impossible for the Dis
trlct Attorney to get twelve men who
will find an influential white man gull
ty of killing person, or shooting at
him with intent to kill" Whether this
be because our juries are so depraved
in morals as to put aside the sanctity
of their oaths, or held in check through
spirit of funkeyism because can in
fiuential white man" is on trial, or be-
cause our District Attorney has not the
legal accumen necessary to convince
twelve men that the defendant is gull
ty as charged, he says not, but leaves
his readers to surmise what they may
please in solving the very grave
charge. Whether what is thus so con-
fidently asserted be true or false, we
cannot possibly conceive that 'it is
nothing but right for every good citi-
zen to carry weapon to defend his
life in case he is attacked by lawless
characters"
In regard to "good citizens carrying
concealed weapons" let me remark
that it calls to mind a short answer /
once heard made in reply to a question
whether it was wrong for christians to
dance. The learned minister who was
questioned calmly replied-"I do not
think it is wrong for christian to
dance, but if man is a good christian
he will not want to dance" And in
my humble opinion, as we'll as that of
many voters Of Rapides, no good citi-
zen wishes to violate plain and well
defined law found on our statute books
against carrying concealed weapons.
A comparison is also drawn between
the two District Judges, favoring
Judge Overton's method of dealing
with offenders against the law. In
this the writer is not wholly consistent
with himself. He blames or finds
fault with our jury of twelve men be-
cause they do not punish cor convict
influential men," and right upon the
heels of it denounces Judge Blackman
because he does punish sach citizens
aud sends them to Jail. In our opinion
Judge Blackman pursues the right
course-it is the influential law break
er who should suffer the heaviest pen
alties. lie perhaps has had better
moral training, and by his position in
society should set better example
than is to be expected Of the "hood.
ium." If he should be convicted Of
breaking the laws his penalty should
not be ightened because his purse is
heavy, but his punishment should be
sufficient to serve as warning to 9th
ers. Never put a two dollar saddle on
a thousand dollar house, nor a three
hundred dollar fine on very poor man
not worth perhaps the one-tenth or the
fine imposed.
Again, we do not think as the wri
ter does, that ''the concealed weapon
law ought to be annulled in Rapides
Parish" but on the contrary, we do
think that the law should be enforced
against the rich man and poor man,
the white man and his opposite in col
or, and Judge Blackman should be
sustained in his efforts to put down this
internal practice, which has been in
times past disgrace to our civiliza-
ton and the cause Of much sorrow 10
many homes throughout our Parish
and State. Judge Blaekman receives
thanks each time he executes the law,
and we are glad to find he shows no
favor to any one on account of their
being Influential citizens"
Yours, ETC.,
TOMMY TICKLE.