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The Terrebonne War.Kruui flic New Orleans Jnu. 17Ib_Onr renders will please take notice llmt there is no war in Terrebonne parish. At least there is not such a marshaling of hostile forces, or march of armed men under warlike banners as our sensation creating contemporaries have endeavored to make out. 'I here is an unfortunate conflict between capital anil labor, such as has appeared in other parts of the industrial world, llotli sides have some sort of organization to obtain concerted action for what they doubtless believe a common interest. Tlicplniilers wish to establish the late of wages per month at a point below what tbc laborers generally are unwilling to accept. The latter have, so far at least, conhned their action to preventing, either by means of nermmaion or threats, those who are disposed to work at I he reduction, from doing so. This is the customary practice in all cases of strikes. The laborers’ unions bare no other means of eanying out the regulations adopted by them. We have not heard that any force is to bccmploy-ed against the planters themselves. Individual cases of collision may liuppen liere and there, but they will arise from personal misunderstanding.The Governor has nothing to do with nnv question growing out of these unhappy differences, except to keep the pence. He has sent a force to the scene of the reported disturbances, not for the purpose of compelling the planters to accede to the domsuds of the laborers, nor to see that the latter go to work for such as may bo offered them. He is charged with the duty of keeping the peace, and has instructed the othcers in charge of the militia accordingly;. If a man wishes to work 011 a -dautatiou for 11 is board aud clothes, or or nothing at all. it will lie the dutv of the State authorities to protect him in carrying out his whim. Other parties should not be ■icrmittcd to employ force to turn him front his purpose. In like manner, ti lie does not choose to work at all, at any price, he being a freeman must be conceded the privilege of disposing oi his time in accordance with his own sense of hisinterests. The executive authority of the State has nothing whatever to do with the disputes between private parties. It can do nothing but keep the lienee, in which it is not hostile to any one disposed to be penroable. Doubtless there lias been more noise and terror than the case called for, but we have no reason to apprehend there will be any serious trouble, nor will there be any heavy fighting or much occasion for anything more than the moral force derived from good counsel.Ai.i. Quiet in Terrebonne.—A gentleman who arrived in town last evening direct from Houma, pronounces everything quiet in Terrebonne. The militia are in Houma or thereabouts, and are handsomely entertained by all classes—planters and laborers. Many of the phiuters express their surprise that troops had been sent there, there being, in their judgment. 110 need whatever for their services. A few phiuters up near the railroad seemed apprehensive, but the trouble was not general or widespread.On Thursday Senator Cage and Representative Keys addressed a mass meeting of the strikers at Houma. They instructed them that in maintaining their own rights they, must, refrain from molesting others in the enjoyment of their rights, and they conjured their listeners to interfere in no way with those who saw fit to work for the planters at the reduced rates- their remarks were well received, and their advice will doubtless be followed.To-day n meeting has been called at Houma, by the planters and laborers, with the view of arriving at a satisfactory adjustment of the troubles. A good feeling exists, as a general rule, bctweeu the two classes, and wise counsels and mutual for lieanuioe will doubtless remedy all existiug evils.The militia will remain n day 01; two loiigut to enjoy tbc proffered hospitalities of the people of Terrebonne, and will then be ordered Imck to the city.. „ Half a dozen arrests have occurred ot p parties who made a violent demonstra- 1 tion at tlie plantation of Mr. .Minor, ( n which latter affair was the worat the „ strikers were engaged in, although t: even here no force was resorted to, the strikers relying upon threats aud intimidation for tlio accomplishment of tbeir purpose..Mr. Marie, of the House committee U. investigate the troubles in the parish, accompanied by Mr. Franck, the clerk of the committee, arrived in town last evening. The other members of the committee are excepted to return on Sunday .-{S. O. Republican Jan. 17.
Newspaper Details
The Opelousas Journal
Opelousas, Louisiana, US
Fri, Jan 23, 1874
Page 3
Full Page
Clipped by
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USA 01 Mar 2025
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