The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1890-10-04
RACELAND MEETING.
ADDRESSES OF Hon. L. A. BADEAUX,
JUDGE BEATTIE AND OTHERS ATTHE
RACELASD MEETING OF
SEPT. 20, 1890.

Ifeich- he salu Ciao he listened
attentively to the remarks of the Sena-
tor from Lafourche, who was present
in the legislative halls when the act
was passed and could speak under
s%tandingly upon the subject. 1t was
really news to him to have heard what
lie did, and il would prove such to the
gentlemen of the meeting. The speak
er then reviewed the financial condi-
ton of the people embraced in the
Atchafalaya district and Lafourche
parish in particular, and characterized
the new tax, which had been passed
by fraud and misrepresentation, as an
unwarranted and uncalled for assess
ment.
The speaker declared that the sec
ton of Lafourche from Thibodaux, to
the Gulf, was not subject to overflow
by a rise in the Atchafalaya, and urged
the people to unite their efforts and
strength in opposition to the tax.
Judge Taylor Beattie, being next
called upon, said that it had moi been
of late his good fortune to address his
fellow-citizens, such as were before
him. Whatever the causes and what
ever the reasons, it mattered not but
upon every public subject he had been
sincere TO the peOp.e with whom he
had lived and expected in their midst
to die. The sovereignty of the people
under the law is written. He had not
come to advise what should be done.
for the law had been passed, though he
believed in an unwarrantable manner
The judicial position he occupied pre-
cluded his counsel, but as il citizen he
had a right to take part in the debate.
He would not say that the Representa-
tiyes at the Legislature had opposed
the letter of the Constitution, but they
had certainly opposed its spirit. The
amendment passed in 1884 and adopt
ed in 1888 declared that the Legisla-
ture may impose a tax of ten mills on
the dollar, and may enact other laws
forcing the taxpayer to pay other tax
es. This was, however, only upon
one condition that the new tax should
be submitted to the people upon whose
property it was to be levied. If the
courts sustained the law there would
be no other alternative but to obey it.
1t would force upon the land q debt of
100000 0 in bonds. The speaker ad-
vised his hearers, in the vent of the
courts sustaining the law, to warn the
people who take these bonds that if
there is any can whatsoever i'm the
land that a be taken advantage of.
that the people of LafOurche would
not be slow in availing themselves of
it: that the people would not pay the
hands rlna fn.anI ~ L. TT -
was believed to be unjust, and the peo-
pie would not pay an unjust debt.
The new law was an insult to the
integrity and intelligence of the peo-
pie. The speaker reproached himself
for not having done his duty, AS he
should have done, and taken part in
the deliberations of the people which
concerned the interests of all. He had
sulked into his tent, but it would not
occur again. He would 60 among his
people and maze hin. self heard. He
would do his duty as u fallow-citizen.
DIR. John Gazzo concluded the
speech-making by a stirring appeal to
his colleagues to join hands in the
movement under consideration and BY
concerted action to force recognition
OF the peoples demands.
Unlike the passage of the bill, it was
bot the work of a day, but reverses
should not discourage them, but on tie
contrary give them additional perse-
verance to achieve what they have
undertaken.
A committee ON resolutions
ed of g. d. BarriOs, chairman Pierre
Bourgeois, Ursin Leblanc, Emile
TOups, Armand Claudet and +. p. Par
ia, was then selected, and the subioin-
Ell resolutions drafted. They were
read to the assemblage by NJ. Badeaux
and unanimously adopted
Whereas, the law known as the AtehafaI.
ava Basin District act, passed at the late SEES
sion of the General Assembly of the State. is
very onerous and oppressive and was passed
without the knowledge or consent Of the
taxpayers dire :tly interested; and,
Whereas, the enforcement of said law in
its entirety will operate to virtual confsca-
ton OF the property OF the people of the dis
Whereas, it is the sense of the people re-
siding in the parish of Lafoarche, on the
right bank of bayou Lafourche. below the
town OF Thibodaux, that in no event can
crevasses on the Mississippi river affect their
property and that hence the enforcement ~
the law in SO far as 1t concerns them would
work 4 great, unnecessary and cruel hard.
ship; therefore, be it
Resolved by the people in mass meeting as
sembled, That they do s%ole1nnly protest
against the enforcement of said law, particu.
larry as it affects the part of the parish Of IA.
fourche in which they reside that they res
pectfully petition and request the Board of
Levee Commissioners of the Atcbafalaya dis.
trict to resc;nd the resolution by Which tney
levied Il produce tax provided by said law.
Resolved further, That 10 the event that
said board should refuse to rescind their ac-
ton in levying said tax. that it is the sense
OF this meeting that every available legal
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