The Opelousas courier., 1886-08-21
10 the Democrats of st. Landry.
The long and elaborate article pul


The long aud elaborate article pub
lished in last Saturdays Opelousas DEM
ocrat makes it necessary for me to re
quest you to examine impartially and
without prejudice my side of the qnes-
tion. | will not follow my adversary III
his subtleties and splecial pleadlngs,
which smack too much of musty law
books and would do credit to the most
astute and sharp practitioner at the Op
elousas bar. It is the usual practice,
with those unable to depend Oh the real
merits of Il cause, to divert the mind
therefrom by an ingenious presentation
of matters of no Importance or lrreie-
want To the main issue. | shall not allow
myself to be misled, but will endeavor
to discuss the question plainly, fairly,
and without subterfuge.
1t is needless to call your attention to
the universally admitted doctrine that
strict discipline and adherence to rules,
usages and precedents is indispensable
to the existence of any political party.
Any departure therefrom must eventu-
ally bring about it's destruction. 1t has
more to fear from that than from its
enemies.
The committee over which have the
honor to preside was appointed at
Democratic Convention held in Opelon-
sas December 6, 1883, in strict conform
ity with the rules, usages and prece-
dents governing the party 1t was cho-
sen in obedience TO a call of the Execu-
tive Committee presided over by ii. l..
Garland. This Convention, composed
of as pure, intelligent and resps ctabie
Democrats as ever met in Opelousas, had
= for its mission the selection OF candidates
for all palochal offices 1t was held on
the eve Of n general election. Lit was
convnked-
l. To elect eighteen delegates TO the
. State Democratic Convention to be held
at Baton Rouge OH Dec. 18th, 1883.
2. To APPOINT A DEMOCRATIC PAR
IsH EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
3, 4, 5, 6 and Z. To nominate cands,
dates for senators, representatives, sher'
if, clerk of court, district judge, distric
attorney and coroner.
Note that this convention was calico
for the specific purpose OF appointing
Democratic Executive Committee. Al
this was strictly in accordance with TIT
rules. usages and preeedents OF the par
ty. Aud would here remark, when
Committee is thus selected, according II
the usages, rules and precedehts govern
ing tht. party that Committee CONTINUES
to exist until Convention is called jus
previous to a general election.
Turn to the Convention which tool
upon itself, Oh the Sd Sept, 1884, to ap
point ii new Committee, and let us Sc
what was the object for which it wa
called. Simply aud solely to elect 10 del
eqates to represent st. Landry in the Con
aressional Nominating Convention for til
} 9Th District held III the city Of Bdto
Rouae on the 10th Sept, 1884. See th
Opeiousas COURIER of Aug 2, 1884. TIL
proceedings Of the Executive Committe
: read thus:
To order ward elections for delegates to
parish convention, which parish conyenClo
was called for the election of IL delegate
to represent st. Landry parish in the Congre'
4 sonal nominating convention for the sixt
i district to be holden in the city OF Bafo
Rouge the 10th September,
:, In selecting delegates to the Paris
! Convention, it was the oniy question pre-
! sented TO the Democrats of the parish
! the primary elections.
The delegates to the Parish COnyer
ton were chosen for the purpose 81
forth and none other. They we've clotl
i ed with limited powers. Whatever the
4 did outside of their mandate, they did
! not as representatives or delegates {
the Democratic party, but as individual
e Their responsibility neither diminisbe
: nor enlarged their powers. Il had N
. thing to do with their right to appoi'
!, IL new committee. In doing that, the
transcribed their powers The ne
committee, their creature. has no mo-
power to speak for the Democratic parl
. than their creator, the delegates wi
J. composed the Convention, when thu
e went outside of their mandate. III
. Convention, composed of less than II
:. delegates personally present, were ae
: ing for no less than 5000 Democrats wi
Il had entrusted the former with limit
: powers. Anything done outside the g
pressed powers conferred is the act
delegates as individuals and of no bin
ing effect on the Democratic party OF !
Landry. Any number Of Democrats
sembled for any purpose might, vi
# equal propriety. appoint new Dem
cratic Executive Committee. Yet q
sure no one would admit their right
~ do SO.
AS the President of Committee d
u riving its authority from the Dem
i cratic party of ST. Landry and not fro
Is handful of men, | cannot surrend
4, nv official position except when it shi
be demanded by my party, according
p its rules, usages and precedents al
IL not before. To do SO would be viola
a ing my sense of duty to the party
il. which I have been an humble memt
q. since cast my first vote.
is IftlIere be split in the party, t
le blame must rest with those who stru
at the first blow who from motives b
le known to themselves thought proper
disregard the warning voice, the we
timed aud logical remarks of Henry
n Garland Z. D. EsTILETTE,
III President Democratic Executive Co
10 mitfee for Par. of ST. Landry
id -
,le Excitement in Texas.
pu Great excitement has been caused
- ;oi,itu af paris pa1 I1U fila