[146] Case of Minden, House Deb., 29.
[147] Session Laws, 1868, No. 87.
[148] An excerpt from St. Mary’s Banner of Sept. 15 corroborates the statement which is often made of the planter’s indifference to politics. “Never did planters of this country show such devotion to business, such singleness of purpose to make money, and such utter want of interest in all things save crops, as at the present time.”
It is to be regretted that none of the regular parish papers were available, but we are fortunate enough to catch many reflections through the editorial bickering in the columns of the city papers, which give us fairly accurately the position and spirit and consequent influence in molding public thought of each. Members of Congress accommodatingly brought in many excerpts in the course of debate. We scarcely need the files of the Shreveport Times, thanks to the assiduity of Morton and the Radicals in quoting it.
[149] “Every Southern State, save only Louisiana, is receiving accessions to her population from the tide of European immigration that daily strikes our shores.... The Bureau gives no sign. Then let it be abolished or let us have a change of personnel ... that which individual enterprise has accomplished for other States, this State-maintained institution has lamentably failed to do for us.” Pic., Dec. 19, 1870.
[150] Commercial Bulletin, Feb. 8.
[151] Session Laws, 1869, No. 38.
[152] House Deb., 1869, 258-9.
[153] “Apparently this state of calm does not suit the Radical leaders. Their continual control over the State must depend on the jealousy of the black towards the white people. They feel that the colored race have more confidence in the old citizens of Louisiana than in any newcomers. Hence the effort to revive a strife which would readily quiet itself without such stimulus.” Comm. Bulletin, Feb. 19, 1869.
[154] Ibid., Feb. 22. As a form of revenge, it published the vote with the names.