The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-09-08
In BONDAGE FOR DEBT.
How North Louisiana Retains Its
Labor.
A DISGRACE TO MODERN CIVILI-
ZATION.

| and Menace to the Public Welfare.
| Raymond (NississippD Gazettel
| Editor of the Gazette:
On Monday the 5th of March. 1894,
! went to Monroe, La, as an attorney to
try writ of habeas corpus for Penney
| Sutton and three children, alleged to be
detained by one Herman M eyer, contrary
TO law. After having filed my petition
and Judge Richardson having the writ
issued returnable Wednesday, the 9TH OF
March, and having gotten decree for
| the book of account of said Herman
Meyer to be produced, that it might be
determined whether or no the detention
| of these negroes was in accordance with
| even the unwritten laws of Louisiana,
that laborer should work on the plan
tation of his Master, SO long as he owed
a dollar" on the return day of the writ,
| as walked into the courthouse, I was
| accosted by three, who professed to
| be the spokesman and representatives of
| the planters ofthe community, and invited
me into private room, where with
| closed doors. l was informed lit was
absolutely necessary that / should adjust
the matter with Meyer according to his
demands; that they knew I could win
my case before the court, but that they
| o% e. 10 hQ
established as would allow negro who
| owed planter to employ an attorney,
| come into court and obtain his release;
that they were knit together by hooks
of steel that bound them to override all
law, in furtherance OF their purpose; 30
that but single blast would bring
| fifty to their aid, 'etc.
Among other things | said to these,
the spokesman of whom passes as thelm-
migration Agent of the VS.. & P. Rail-
road Co.: "Sirs, there is honor among
thieves; you surely have some tri bunal
within your clan to be arbiters of any
disagreement that may be among you.
| Take me before that tribunal, and let
| them hear the cause OF my clients"
| They answered that 1T would not do
to have such tribunal, for disagree
ment would produce discord, and we
must take the statements of the planters
as true absolutely, and act upon them"
Then ] said, "Mr. w. Lee, jr., you
| are the spokesman of your clan to you
| I will submit the case and abide your
decision"
mo, could not undertake to do that
| for there are times when we must shut
our eyes to justice and carry out the
agreement between ourselves" was his
| reply.
informed them that l knew full well
H. hoo,
waited on" that the paltry sum of
| seventy five dollars. which was their de-
mand that / should pay Herman Meyer
for the liberty of my clients, would not
have me to try through the courts of
Louisiana to override public sentiment
which was higher than courts: but that
before paying the amount the bar of
Monroe must know the situation, and if
l could honorably, as an attorney step
back from their courts of Justice would
do so; but that l thought for me thus to
surrender was reflection upon the bar
Of Ouchita parish and an insult to her
courts, and that they must be apprised of
the situation and be my advisers.
They were SO advised. or rather some
of them, and counseled settlement,
and it was made. Not that Twas intimi-
dated from proceeding through the
courts, but some of these same fellows
told me frankly that the women and
children for whom I was battling should
never be found if / did proceed in the
courts and get an order for them, and
knew they were able to carry this threat
into execution. No attorney could be
found in Monroe who, for the fees l was
able to offer in b ehslf of the negroes
was willing to represent them in suit
for damages for this outrage perpetrated
on this family by Herman Meyer, who
in his immortality rides over law and
order because of his wealth, or who
were willing to aid me in the prosecution
of this writ.
| Now would not ask this publication
at your hands for the purpose of Offend
| ing the people of Louisiana; but that
| they may know the situation fully, and
If it is the will Of her people that this
should be the law, to insert it upons her
statute books SO that her neighbors may
| be able to know what is the law so that
| immigrants who come into the State may
understand fully what to expect. But
do not think that the manhood of
Louisiana desires such state of affairs,
| that even an humble negro cannot come
| into court and have his master to render
| him an account of his charges, and if
extortionate or unfounded to have his
| liberty restored IL he has lost it on ac-
count of this claim that he was in debt
| After purchasing the liberty OF my
| clients from this Herman Meyer for the
sum of sevventy-ive dollars, I found
after they had been surrendered to me.
| that they did not owe him by his own
claim but 81. 80: and yet under the un-
written law of Ouchita parish, he could
call to his assistance the planting COM
| munity to assist him in his nefarious
purpose of robbing and enslaving a
| woman and children, who for three years
| had been forced 30 remain on his planta-
ton and not allowed to join the father
and husband who had fed from the
| tyranny, and who during these years
had repeatedly offered to pay to him all
| that he claimed.
No! thousahd times no! to that cry
which says, every citizen knows it,
and endorses the position thus taken BY
the planting community for their self
protection" The manhood of Louisiana
does not know it, or they would rally as
they have done in the past to the stand
ard OF freedom, and see to it that pu b.
lie sentiment was created which would
stand by her laws whatever they may
be, and have them enforced in the
courts. and especially as they are the
a n q h.