New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-08-13
FREE NEGRO SUFFRAGE IN LOUISIANA,

We invite the attention of all ,chite men to the
article headed as above, which appears in another
column, taken from the Alexandra American OF the
sth instant. From il the fact appears clear that free
negro suffrage prevails to great extent in the parish
Of Rapides and Col Robert A. Hunter, candidate for
Auditor of Public Accounts, is charged with being
the champion, Of that detestable, abhorrent and
destructive species of "sufragem
We need not dilate upon the perniciors and dan
gerous tendency of such suffrage. Already the false
liberaty and misguided philanthropy of our people
| he's sadded upon the commonwealth altogetner zoo
many free persons of color, consistent with proper
discipline of the servile population. lndeeo' SO
clearly apparent was the fact that the last
passed an act utterly prohibiting emancipation IN
future! But, to allow them to yote-to permit them
to make Senator's Representatives, ETC., as is done in
Rapidesis SO intoerabe that it ought to be checked
without regard to extremity or hazard. BY permit
ting free negroes to vote the people up there sustain,
sanction and endorse the doctrine OF Greeley and
Seward almost to the farthest extent Free negroes
are now allowed to assist in electing white men to
office. If they competent to this assistance they
are competent to hold office. These conclusions are
as legitimate as they are irresistible There is no
escaping from, or overturning them, by any logical
process of augmentation Then, carry out the policy,
the main point of which hes been practically con
ceded-that of allowing free negroes the right of
suffrage and permit them to hold Office in louisiana
and Greeley, Giddings, Seward & Co., could ask no
more. They would make the whole Abolition world
yresound with rejoicngs; and would rest content
probably for year or two with this mighty conces-
sion to their fanatica views About that period, how
ever, we imagine they would begin to suggest to our
people that as we had sanctioned free negro suffrage,
1t would be wise just and philanthropic, to bestow
upon slave negroes the same inestmabe privilege
And who could say that the leading Abolitionist1
would be without warrant for thrusting such recon-
mendation in our faces? The terrible example set
by Rapdes could be readily cited in Justification for
any intermeddling no matter how impertinent.
We know nothing personally respecting COL Hun
ter's alleged championship Of free negro suffrage
We only know that he is publicly charged in the news
papers with having aided and abetted for several
years large numbers of free negroes in tae parish of
Rapdes in the exercise of the prerogative OF deposit
ing votes in the ballotbox We only know that cur
rent rumor points to him the principal agent in the
preparation of the worst Of outrages upon the cleo
tive franchise. We only know that gentlemen Of the
highest character and first responsibility, both in
moral and political sense, have vouched for the truth
of those reports-have stated that the unpublished
history, if made known, would develope state OF
things far more odious and abho1rent than the pub
lshed history developes-that the conduct OF Col.
Hunter in this free negro business was wholly and
absolutely indeensibe in any shape, manner or form
and that but for this free negro vote being cast in
phaanx of solid blackness for the Democratic party
there would be no doubt of the success of American
candidates by large majority
If such be the facts Of the case-and we appre
bend ncontestble proofs will be brought forward in
short time sustaining what has been published, and
more tootis as certain that the sun ever shone,
or will ever shine again, that Col Robert A. Hunter
Democratic candidate for State Treasurer is unworthy
to receive the vote of any white man in louisiana
not taking into the account political modes of think
ing. If he has voted free negroes in Rapdes as he
is charged with having done, no voter, having the
smallest respect for his natural status and dignity
as free.born white Citizen consistently accord
him either countenance or support; for, support
under such circumstances not only disarms US OF the
weapons Of truth and justice in arguments against
our Freesoil enemies but makes us practical Free
sellers ourselves
We will remark, in this connection, in order that
honest misunderstanding as to position may be i'm
possible that neither of the editors of this paper can
have any personal feeling against COL Hunter, for
they have never met him and do not know him. To
he is utter stranger, has never harmed us, or
sought to harm us, that we are aware Of We do not
wish to harm him and in whatever we have written,
or may write hereafter, has been and shall be dcta-
ted by high sense of public duty. Col. Hunter is
charged-and no authoritative denial has yet made
its appearance-with having done that which strikes
death-bow at the root Of Southern Institutions
which degrades the white mans dignity-which
makes the Heavencursed and marked and branded
descendants Of Africa our equals = which enforces
Abotionism inits most repusive features which,
if not serny rebuked and punished, is calculated to
bring immedcable evils upon our State and our sec
ton. Were any American on our State ticket obnox
ous to such charges these his name should not ap
pear for a single day at the head of our columns.