Year: 1870

THE ADDRESS AMI NIX IL


A report that Governor Warmoth de-
signed sending battalion of State militia to
Caddo parish to preserve order during the
next election was the occasion of a meeting
of the white citizens of that place being
held on the ninth instant. The object Of
assembling was declared to be for the pur-
pose of sending an address to the Governor,
protesting against any such action, if such,
indeed, were his intention, which was not
very positively asserted by any of the
speakers. We find in the Shreveport Ca
sette report of the proceedings and the
resolutions adopted on the occasion, as fol-
lows:


WHEREAS, A r,lmor has reached us that
Governor Warmoth designs sending bat
TALON or regiment of strangers to perform
militia duty in our parish


Be ii resOtred, We are unwilling to believe
that Governor WarmOth contemplates all
act SO directly hostile to us and ruinous to
our interests, and SO directly in violation of
the laws of the State.


Res0lred, We solemnly assert that in no
community does law and order more abso-
lutely prevail than with us, and never in
the history of this section of our State has
law been more uniformly and quietly en-
forced than now. Any statement to the
contrary we denounce as false and calum-
nious, and We call upon the officers Of the
law to confirm this assertion.


Resolred, That We are ready and will pro-
ceed at once to organize the militia under
existing laws, and will hold ourselves sub
ject to all orders from our superior officers.


Resolped, That the chair appoint COM
mittee OF five to communicate these resolu-
tiOns in person to the Governor and Adju-
tant General, and to lay before them any
facts or information pertinent to the subject
of these resolutions.


The chairman of the meeting, J. T. Land,
appointed the following gentlemen OH
committee to visit Governor Warmoth, in
compliance with the fifth resolution r. C.
Cummings, r. j. Looney, j. S. Ashton, S. L.
Taylor, j. w. Duncan, A. H. Leonard, C. b.
Clarke, +. P. Leavenworth, c. NJ. Pegues,
L. c. billiard. The meeting had designated
Mr.. Land as chairman of this committee.


On Saturday, the sixteenth instant this
delegation waited upon the Governor and
read to him the following address:


NEW ORLEANS, July. 1870.
To His Excellency, H. C. Warmoth Governor OF the


State OF Louisiana:


SIR-We have the honor to inform you
that we have been appointed a committee
to present to you the inclosed resolutions,
adopted at public meeting of the citizens
of Caddo, Bossier and De Soto parishes,
held on the ninth instant in the city of
Shreveport, and to call your attention to
the following statement OF facts in re lation
thereto.


We have learned that it is your intention
to send a regiment of militia to the parish
of Caddo at the coming election in NOvem-
Der, and believing our information to be
correct we are constrained to express to
you, in the most pointed manner, the uni
versal anxiety which has been thereby Gre
ated in the public mind.


The parish of CaddO was never in more
quiet condition than it is now. The laws
are universally obeyed and enforced, and
the rights of person and property are every,
where respected. The officers of the courts
concur in the statement that fewer infrac-
tions of the law take place now than at any
other period in the history Of the parish.
From no quarter have we learned of any at
tempt to infringe upon the rights and privi-
leges of any class in the community. Free
opinion and free speech are denied to no
man, whatever be his condition or color.
Between the two races there is entire ac-
cord. No Outrages are committed ON the
blacks, who are industriOusly and peace
fully pursuing their several occupations
without fear or hindrance from any one.
The armed desperadoes who once brought
reproach upon the character of our people
have left the country, and with them has
disappeared the last remnant of that law
less spirit which inflicted outrage indiscrimi-
nately on black and white. The feeling of
kindness and confidence is universal be-
tween the landlord and his laborers, and
will continue to be so, unless destroyed by
some influence brought to bear from with
out the parish.


That this is true statement of the condi-
ton of the parish Of Caddo, we pledge to you
our honor as gentlemen. That it is also a
true statement of the condition of the par
ishes of Bossier and De Soto, we unhesi-
tatingly affirm upon the evidence we have.
If you have been informed to the contrary,
either by verbal or written testimony. we
pledge ourselves to show You the falsity of
this testimony, by such proofs as no sane
man can dispute.


In view of these fact. we respectfully in
quire for what reason you design sending an
undisciplined soldiery into the midst Of a
quiet community. There are no outrages
to punish-no disturbances to quell-nO dis
orders to repress. Universal peace and har-
mony prevail throughout the whole of this
country


Where is the necessity, then, which iustifes
you in taking so very grave and important
a step as this The people desire to know
this necessity if it exist; to be informed of
the reasons which in your opinion. impera-
lively require the presence OF large body
of soldiers, in country when the power of
the civil laws is amply sufficient to protect
every one in the enjoyment of his rights.


The apprehensions of the people we rep
resent are so great that they are not content
to receive any less authoritative declara-
tons on this subject than that emanating
directly to you. Hence they have deputed
us to wait on you, with the request that you
will be good enough to give to us. in writ
ing, the reasons which you consider sufficient
to warrant you in sending militia force to
the parish OF Caddo at the ensuing election.


If your determination to do so is founded
upon any anticipated outbreak or attempt
to abridge the right of the cOlored citizen to
exercise the privilege of voting, then we
ask that the militia OF Caddo be organized
for the public security Surely, a law
abiding people can be safely entrusted with
the power of maintaining the supremacy of
the law and of protecting every man in the
exercise OF lawful rights.


The consequences of sending an undis-
ciplined rabble of armed men to repress
outrage where none exists, will be to create
the very evil they are sent to prevent. Our
people are now happy and contented. A
kind Providence has vouchsafed to them the
promise of a bOuntiful harvest wherewitH
to repair in some measure the rayages of
cruel war.


In the name of humanity, in the name of
that common country, whose interests are
Ico.. 70, <1,oxr 1o4 u -