Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1889-02-23
hCSTON CONTENTIUN.

State, went in On the Sunday evening :
train, arriving there about p. m,
the delegates We're escorted to the
head quarters and assigned homes
among lie good and generous people
Of Ruston.
On every hand w.s seen in large
letters, Welcome Immigrants" Early
Monday morning all the business
men We're arranging their flags and
soon the entire town was in gala
dress.
The Baptists church had been Sc
cured for the holding Of the con
vention.
The convention was called to order
at IL clock precisely by Col. George
NORMAN, president of the State In
migration society of Louisiana. This
convention is the medium through
. W NiSu ioiilti CItiLcuS VI tlc uull,
I Atlantic and Middle States, now resi-
dents of Louisiana, are to put on
record their personal experiences
since their SCI ourn in Louisiana. Also
TO give data, statistic: and information
regarding the soil. products, resources.
health, climate and possibilities of
louisiana in order to induce immi-
grafton to this State.
/ Col. Norman remarks were very
interesting. The report and expert
ence of the delegates would be en-
bodied in a pamphlet with the pro-
ceedings, which would be distributed
in many States from which immigra-
! ton was desired. Colonel Norman
closed his remarks by calling Hon
Allen Barksdale, of Ruston, Lincoln's
favorite son, to preside, who was
escorted to the chair by a committee
Of three-T. ]. Mangham, Turner
and Rev. NJ. White.
Secretaries: S. D. Pearce, E C Drew
and G A Killgore.
Sergeant-at-arms S P Colvin and
W D Turrentine.
The temporary organization was
made permanent:
Rev. Thos. X. Faunt Leroy, of Rus
ton, formerly from the Shenandoah
Valley, Virginia, delivered an elo-
quent and fervant prayer.
Here followed a list of delegates
which We omit.
Lit Governor Jeffries was escorted
to the rostrum to formerly open the
convention. He thanked the audi
ence for the compliment-said the
duty was pleasant one and would
be brief
Hon. Allen Barksdale said, in re-
turning thanks for the compliment
rendered in making him president of
the convention, that he had been
treated beyond his desert, but was
glad to greet the delegates and visi-
tors to the convention. He welcomed
them one and all and remarked that
the welcome of the people of Ruston
was only bounded by the capacity of
the people, which was limitless. He
spoke glowingly of the future and
that Louisiana would be more glorious
and build a far better and greater
history in time to come than in the
past.
Hon. F. w. Price, of Ruston, read
the address of welcome, on the part of
religion and churches in Louisiana, BY
Rev. Dr. Thos R. Markham, of New
Orleans, unavoidably detained.
A poem, Welcome, from the pen of
Mary Ashley Townsend, "Xarifa,"
was read by Hon. D. NJ. Sholars, of
Monroe.
Address of welcome on the part of
the Judiciary Of the State was de-
livered by Judge j. c. Moncure.
Address of welcome on the educa-
tional interest of Louisiana was
delivered by Co.. John A. Breux,
State superintendent of education.
EVENING SESSION.
The convention resumed its session
at Z o'clock. The church was crowd
ed with ladies. There was barely
standing room for the gentlemen.
The whole country seems eIthused on
the immigration question.
The chairman announced the fol-
lowing committee on resolutsons: DR..
J c Egan, Caddo; George w Bolton.
Rapides; A B Cooper, Richland; N T
Blackshear, st. Landry; N NJ Smith,
Jackson.
Hon. B Holstead, of Ruston, read
. poem, Welcome, by Mrs. E J Mich
olson pearl River), the sweet singer
II Louisiana.