Natchitoches spectator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1867-18??, 1867-12-12

The citizens of New Orleans appointed
a select committee of $50 gentlemen,
the names of whom we omit-to me-
morialize the President and Congress
relative to. the present condition OF the
State. which they did as follows:
The undersigned citizens of the State
of Louisiana, respectfully represent that
the political developments of the past
few months have demonstrated the fact
that the Reconstruction Acts of Con gress
will. if persisted in, produce a conflict
OF races, when must result liz the desc
iation of the country, and the serious, If
not irreparable. injury OF both races in
the Southern States.
That through the stringent interpre-
tation of the DISTINGUISHING clause of the
Reconstruction Acts. SO large number
OF the white citizens have been excluded
from registration that the white voters
are reduced to nearly one-half the num-
Der OF coiored, though the census eXhib-
its an excess of white Formulation.
That vast frauds and Irregularities
have been committed in the registration,
which are sufficiently indicated by the
registration of one voter for every three
OF the negro race-againSt one for every
ten OF the white population. That in
consequence of these frauds and iIregu-
larities in the administration of the Re
construction Acts, the white population
are powerless-subject to the domination
OF the negro race, which, through the
influence of indiscreet persons, has been
melted to bitter hostility and jealousy
towards the white citizens of the State,
whose interests require them to mann
tain relations of Kindness and good will
to all classes and conditions of persons
residing in their midst.
That sound policy, no less than hui
mainly, demands the exercise of the
kindest feelings and the most liberal
disposition of the white to the colored
people; and, that nothing is further from
the purpose or desire of our people than
the adoption OF laws or measures to OPP
press the freedmen, or to deprive them
of the benefit OF Just and equal laws for
the protection of their persons, their
property, and their liberty.
That so far from displaying any con
tumacy or factlous opposition to the
reconstruction acts of Congress, the
white citizens of this State have gener-
ally endeavored to register, but have
been refused, as your memOrialists be-
lieve, in much greater numbers than
was contemplated by Congress.
That the negroes in this State are or
ganized into secret bands termed Loyal
Leagues sworn and combined against
the white citizens of the State in order
to obtain control of the governments;
That this credulous race has been de
luded by designing men i.lto the belief
that the property of the white citizens
viii be divided amongst them;
That under these demoralizing inGu-
cnces, they are daily refusing to fulfill
their contracts or to labor lor the sup
port OF themselves and their families;
That in consequence of this demorali-
cation, planting in this State has result
ed iii the ruinous failure of large major
lty of our planters, and, of course, in
the necessity of it's abandonment;
That before the close of the present
year the negroes, with but few excep-
tons, Will have consumed or wasted all
their wages, or share of the crops, and
be destitute of the means OF subsistence;
that the white race will he compelled to
limit their planting mainly to their own
families, and the negroes will not have
the means, if they had the capacity, to
plant on their own account. Under
these circumstances, famine, with all its
attendant horrors, must soon come upon
this improvident race.
In view Of these impending calamitieS,
the undersigned would earnestly appeal
to the President and Congress to give
prompt attention to this vitally impor-
tant matter, and provide Immediately
such remedy as in their wisdom can be
devised to arrest the ruin which, unless
arrested, must speedily come upon us.
-----s S-----
Immigrants bring into this country an
average of two hundred dollars in gold
This gives us an annaul total of sixty
millions in gold from this source.
The sales of ii. y. Clatlin 81 Co., New
York, for the year 1866, reached the
enormous sum of seventy three millions
Of dollars, being the largest business OF
any strictly wholesale house in tbs
world. ..
There are patient spirits, suggests DR.
/ Holmes, that have waited from eternity
and never found parents fit to be born
of.
The Augusta, Georgia, Chronicle beg'
! the cotton planters of the State to give
at least one-fourth of their best land.
/ i- 70 xr-iaaf btt1