Year: 1878

LEoNARD-REsPoNsIBIIITY FOR BREACHES OF
THE PEACE CHARGED ON REPUBLICAN, LEAD
ERs-APPEAL FOR A SUSPENSION OF PUBLIC
OPINION.


[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.1


SHREVEPORT. La., Nov. II, s7s.
At meeting held by the citizens Of Caddo parish.
La the following resolutions were adopted in
reply to the alleged slanderous reports made by
United States District Attorney Leonard to the Pres
dent and Cabinet with directions that the same he
telcgraphed to the New York HERALD


A recent statement reported to have been made by
United States District Attorney Leonard of Louisiana
demands some notice from the people OF this Caddol
parish of the official not the personal source
of the statement Mr. Leonard could say nothing
which would dignity by the slightest notice. AS
District Attorney however his ohciai statements
made to his superors have force and effect which
made it proper that should respond to them and
repel the ISLANDERS they contain.


STATEMENTS CHARGED.


We do not consider it appropriate that at this time
and in this manner the events which transpired
during the late and election in the parish of
Caddo should be referred to in detail, nor that we
should answer item by item the counts contained in
the District Attorneys indictment against our entire
population We will content ourselves now with the
assertion, made with all the solemnity which should
characterize the declarations of honorable men III
reference to serious subject that the District At
torney, correctly reported has made an absolutely
false statement in many particulars; that many tacts
to create abroad an impression precisely the
ofthat which correct statement OF those facts
would create and that he has mingled with occur
rences which have some foundation in fact his own
unscrupulous insinuatons and conclusions as to
justify us in denouncing his statement as whole rs


rsE ISprvIpuAL AND THE OFFICIAL


The conduct of the individual and the official we're
intimately connected in the conduct OF the canvass
this parish that find it impossible to sever the
two, and are. therefore,, not only justified
for all that done. His public
speeches recognized as coming from
and clothed with official authority and the appoint
ment of federal officers to attend at election precincts
seemed to be emanatiQp from the same authority
Thus not only the individual influence Of the man.
but also tho sanction OF the federal office were brought
to bear to his political friends and to overawe
and intimidate his political opponents.


RESPONSIBILITY FOR oUTRAGEs.


We charge and at the proper time will be prepared
to substantiate by sufficient and lawful proof that
this officer Of the law who now talks SO freely about
outages which have been committed and arrests and
prosecutions which to follow, is responsible Tor
every breach Of the public peace committed either
in every instance he and his party friends lthe
negroes) were the aggressors the latter under the
communists. In order to make this charge good we
invite the most rigid scrutiny in investigation by
commission before the courts.


AN Ex-wHITE Lacquer.


We will show that the spirit Influenced tho
conduct of the individual when. in 1874, MT
Leonard as q White League leader avowed the
doctrine that the leading republicans should be
killed before they should be allowed to hold the
fuenced the conduct OF the federal official in 1873
when he appealed to the passions and prejudices of
the negroes and melted them to acts OF violence
against the persons and property OF their white en-
ployers.


= APPEAL FOR JUSTICE.


We prepared to meet the issue indicated by the
District Attorney; and now, in the of that jus
tice for which the American people distinguished
we appeal to them to suspend their Judgment upon
this issue until all the testimony shall be adduced We
grstified to by the morning dispatches that
the Governor Of this State will PROBABLY visit
this and other portions of Louisiana with
the view Of personally investigating these
charges. We invite this investigation also. and con-
graduate ourselves that in this way, at least shall
have the opportunity to make our vindication
officially. r. II. LINDSAY, |
n GREGG,


DRURY LACY, c,x~;....


b. b. MARTIN, ooli'ni''ee'


r. w. FORD,


J. w. DUNCAN,