New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1867-06-16

distinction of race or color.
2. We heartily indorse the acts Of the
thirty-ninth and fortieth congresses, and
pledge ourselves to do all in our power to
reconstruct Louisiana upon the congress-
ional basis. and to send to congress from
this State only true and loyal men.
3. In nominations for office we will sus-
tain only such men as can practically adopt
our platform and will enforce the doctrine
of perfect equality in the right to hold
office without distinction of race or color.
4. We as a party insist on perfect
equality, without distinction of race or
color, in the right to vote and enter the
jury-box without any educational or prop
erty qualification being required, also in
the right to practice all professions,
the right to buy and sell, the right to travel
and be entertained. and the right to enter
iuto any and all civil contracts.
). We desire the industrial security and
development of our State, and TO this end
we advocate. first, the immediate assistance
OF the general government in rebuilding the
vast chain of levees that are national in
their Importance and affect the vital in
terests of the country at large as well as
Louisiana : second. we advocate the en-
couragement of emigration from all
quarters to our State in order that labor
and capital may be increased third, we
advocate a division Of the lands of the
State as far as practicable into small farms
in order that the masses of our people,
without distinction of race or color, may
be enabled to become lanGholders and thus
rendered Independent. and our industrial
resources be thus developed to the fullest
extent.
&. While we do not doubt the earnest
desire of congress to legislate on the basis
of equal Justice to all sections of our
country. and have every confidence in their
especial desire to protect the loyal people
OF the south, we ask of congress recon
sderation Of the cotton tax and its repeal.
for the cOgent reason that, whereas, it was
intended By them to simply raise revenue
and thus benefit all, it is really and practi-
cally an example of class legislation, and
while it benefits the majority to some eX,
tent it falls heavily on the newly entran
chised citizens of our State who, from the
nature OF the contracts that they are
necessarily forced 10 enter into with the
landholders, have to bear an equal share
in the unjust burden of this taxation; We
therefore, earnestly urge the repeal of the
cotton-taX, or if congress will not repeal
the tax on cotton, we demand as a right
that class legislation be abolished and a
tax be laid on all productive wealth of the
Union Let all the products of agricul
ture. all products of the mines, as well a:
all products of manufacture. be equally
and fairly taxed.
I. We advocate thorough reform of our
system of education upon the broad basis
OF taxation and representation. To this
end we advocate and will enforce the
opening of all schools, from the highest tc
| the lowest, whether literary or professional
| throughout the State of Louisiana, to al
children.
s. While we believe that every mar
| should labor for an honest living, and Will,
labor IS essential to the prosperity of an,
nation or people. still we hold that the labor
ing masses are something more than mer
beasts of burden. and should have sutficen
| time allowed them to cultivate themselves
and enjoy the pleasures of social life
| Therefore, we earnestly advocate the eight
| hour system. except in cases of specia
| contract. as a Just and fair comproms,
| between the conflicting demands of capita
| and labor, and will do all in our power Il
| effect the passage Of such laws as will secur
to the laboring man his just rights in thi
matter.
9. The laws at present in force in thi
State in their nature and effect large
lv partaking of class legislation, anC
being totally inconsistent with the presen
improved state of affairs in our State, an,
her future prospects, we advocate
complete and thorough revis on of tn
laws now in force in this State
that the legislation of Louisiana may b
consistent with and conducive to the grea
ends of equal justice to all men, withou
distinction of race or color.
| 10. We pledge ourselves to aid the ma
tional government in paying to the last dol
lar the public debt of the United States
But we will never allow the State of Lou
isiana to aid or assist in paying any claim
of any nature whatsoever growing out c
the claims against or in behalf OF the SC
called confederate government.
IL. That We believe rebellion is di:
franchisement, and that those who hav
been disfranchised by congress should nc
be relieved from their present conditio
until their good conduct shall prove ther
worthy; and we. as a party, condemn tn
general amnesty proclamation by Presiden
johnson.
II. That until civil State governmer
be established in this State b
the adoption Of a constitution en-
bracing in its provisions the foregoin
fundamental principles, and until the Stat
shall be controlled by a government j
every respect loyal to the constitution {
the United States, under which the law
shall be faithfully executed, and justiC
impartially administered without let or hil
drance in favor of all persons whatsoeve
and life and property adequately protecte
in all portions of the State, we regard
as the highest duty of the general govern
ment to maintain an adequate militar
force in this State to see the laws enforced
and life and property protected.
IS. That the Radical Republican party
Louisiana will support no man Tor ottc
who will not openly and boldly pledg
himself to make an equal Distribute
among white and colored alike of all offic'
to which he may have power of appoin
ment.
IL. The Radical Republican party
Louisiana hereby guarantees that as Il
newly enfranchised citizens constitute
majority of the party, at least one-half
the nominations to elective offices, as we
as one half the appointed officers, shall
taken from that class, and no distinction
made whether said nominees and appoin
es were born free or not, provided q
nominees and appointees shall be loys
capable, and honest.
Is. The Radical Republican party
Louisiana will always disc countenance al
attempt on the part of any race or class
people TO assume political control in al
branch of government, to the exclusion
| apy other race or class.
The committee whose duty it was ma
| 20 tho uaonla