The Opelousas courier., 1886-09-25

To the Democrats Of St. Landry

As the action Of the late Congressional Con-
vention held at Baton Rouge on the 18th inst.
may be misunderstood or misinterpreted by
some of our fellow Democrats, We deem it
not inappropriate to lay before the public q
statement OF facts.
The Convention, as soon as temporary or
gauization was effected, proceeded to appoint
a committee on credentials, composed OF IL
members, one from each parish selected by
it's delegates, and two members at large chos'
en- by the chairman. This committee was o
fair and impartial body, and gave every proof
of desire to settle the differences in st. Ian
dry according to their merits. Before it,. the
two delegations from our parish produced all
the evidence which could in any way sway
the committee in favor of one or the other
delegation. The questions were then fully
argued by Mr. E. I. Lewis on one side and
Mr.. E. ID. Estilette on the other. After
close scrutiny of the evidence, weighing of
all the facts, and after mature deliberation,
| the majority of the committee made their re-
port recommending the seating of the Esti.
lette delegation. Unfortunately the case was
not to be decided by the convention on its
real merits. Trading on the part Of our ad-
versaries had been the order of the day, and
by pledging their votes to the friends of
Messrs Herman and Robertson, they succeeded
in securing the adoption of the minority re-
port and in excluding from participation in
| the deliberations of the convention the true
accredited delegates of st. Landry. Those
who heard the evidence and full discussion
gave their verdict in our favor, those who
had not the same opportunity to judge OF the
merits of our case and who were guided sole
| ly by desire to secure the nomination OF a
favorite candidate, decided otherwise.
Under such circumstances, and when it is
considered that not @ trade was made nor q
pledge given by our delegation, and that we
relied for our admission on the merits OF our
case, we have every reason to believe that
i 4,
any other conclusion than that the Estilette
delegation should have been admitted and
the other delegation rejected by the conyen'
tion.
With renewed confidence in the correctness
of our position, supported as it is by the re-
convention at Baton Rouge, we solemnly pro-
test against the action of that convention In
rejecting our delegation and we further de-
clare that we know 10 other parish Demo
cratic Executive Committee of the parish OF
st. Landry, than the one presided over by
Mr. Estilette, created as it was by the demo
Gratis of the parish in general convention as
sembled, according to the usages, customs
rules and precedents of the party.
We feel assured that the democrats of this
parish, when opportunity offers will place the
seal of their appreciation ON our conduct.
In conclusions, notwithstanding the njus
tice which has been done to this delegation
as true democrats we pledge our hearty sup
port to the Hon E. W. Robertson, nomine'
! of the convention.
Opelousas Sept. q, 1886.
C. c. DUSON,
M. D. KAVANAGH,
PLACIDE ROBIN,
} M ANDRUS,
ALBERT GUIDRY,
LAURENT DUPRE,
! ED. ESTILETTE,
G. w. HUDSPETH,
CHAS NJ EALER,
ii OTIS COLLINS,
JAS @. CHACHERE,
THEOGENE CHACHERE
], VIM NJ THOMPSON,
. s. CART,
n B. GUILBEAU,
CHARLES CLAY.