The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1889-12-28
bY.word and reproaeh to us all.

III SlO AOA1AAEAOA IA $500 NJ tGA4 y
remarks, Chas. d. Caffery and Car,
ter e. Brady were chosen ~secretar,
les. On motion the following
committee on resolutions was ap.
pointed: Judge John Clegg, w. 3.
Bailey, John G. Buchanan, d. "A.
Cochrane, DR.. j. D. Frahan, Ed.
mond Pellerin, DR.. T. S. Mudd. DR.,
T. B.,Hopkins and John S. Whit
tington.
A recess was then taken in order
to allow the committee time to draft
resolutions expressive of the object
Of the meeting. Returning, they
presented the following as express.
i've Of the sense of the citizens'assem
bled under the call made in the
Lafayette Advertiser, and repablish-
ed an the TimesiD Democrat:
Your committee submit the fellow
ing statement and resolutions below:
We view with apprehension Of
evil the want Of confidence and the
danger Of permanent division that
now exists among the white citizens
Of this parish, brought about by the
acts or the results Of acts Of an orga.
nization or combination of fndivi-
duals, commonly called Regulators.
We comet see how peace and order
can be upheld, and material and
moral progress continue as long as
this menace to every interest rs
joined in or tolerated byany consi.
derable proportion Of our citizens.
In disjointed times Or in new coun-
tries where laws exist bu: The ezecu-
tive power is weak, combinations of
individuals have sometimes been
temporarily tolerated for tho pur.
pose Of preserving human life and
property, and then only with reluct-
anee and debating for the shortest
possible period. Now in>tlfis State
and parish, under laws of oIir own
making, administered by white Off
of our own choosing, the history
Of the past year shows, TO our shame
the existence here Of an organization
or combination of individuals, the
consequences Of whose acts have
been series Of crimes that have cost
the parish large sums Of money and
have heaped upon it load Of shame.
The bare remembrance Of these
crimes, without their recital, thrills
with horror.
Werepudiate the pretence MAT our
white supremacy is in need Of such
support ,jr can be upheld by crimes
that disgrace humanity. Whenever
d race issue, socially or politically,
is presented, We can meet Ut firmly
and as becomes brave men, without
cruelty or oppression to either race
and without degrading and debasing
the white men. An organization
which participates ia The destruc-
ton Of the right ola community TO
choose its own officers; an organi-
cation which assumes to decide the
matters Of execute its judgments; an
organization which arrogates TO.
itself tho right to put into execution
a criminal code Of its own making
aud brutally beats citizens in execu
tion Of pretended sentence therein
der; an organization which pefpe.
trates fendfsh murders, or seeks by
every means to protect and defend
those charged with murder, can have
no rigiltf1l excuse for being In This
community and Is to be borne with
no longer than Is required by a Wig.
orious administration of tho criminal
laws Of the State to put an end TO it.
We recognize that some Of orr
friends and ncighbors, good citizens
with purest motives, have entered
these organizations. We are per.
shaded they sympathize not with
crime and lawlessness, and 70 now
invoke their influence and active
aid in loyalty, supporting the laws
of our State and preventing and
suppressing criuae. therefore II is
Resolve, that we demand Of eatlI
one Of the officers of public justice
In this parish a fearless aud vigo
rous performance OF their duties,
and an enforcement Of thc laws Of
our Land.
Resolved, That we expect hcreaf-
Ter speedy indictment and trial Of
the conspirators against public