The Opelousas courier., 1867-12-07
MISCELLANEOUS. !
Memorial.

xxi
The following is a memorial circulated
for signatures in New Orleans, and as we
suppose throughout the State generally.
The originators of it must be much more
sang11ine than we are, if they imagine
any good will come of it, as far as Con-
gress is concerned:
To His Excellency the President, and to the
Honorable Senator's and Representatives in
the Congress of the United States:
The undersigned citizens Of the State
of Louisiana, respectfully represent that
thepolitical developments of the past few
months have demonstrated the fact that
the reconstruction acts of Congress will,
if persisted in, produce conflict of races,
which must result in the desolation of
the country, and the serious, if not ire
parable, injury of both races in the Sou
theTn States.
That through the stringent interpreta-
tion of the DISTINGUISHING clause of the
reconstruction acts, SO large q number of
the white citizens have been excluded
from registration that the white voters
are reduced to nearly one-haf the num-
her of col0red, though the census exhib-
it's an excess of white population.
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-ag gainst one for every
ten of the white population. That in con-
sequence of these frauds and irregulari-
ties in the administration of the recons-
nafy {a,1 ~, ,InA
powerless subject to, the domination of
the negro race, which, through the infiu-
enee of indisereet persons, has been in
cited to bitter hostility and jealousy to-
wards the white citizens of the State,
whose interests require them to maintain
relations of kindness and good will to
ali classes and conditions of persons re-
siding in their midst.
That sound policy, 10 less than hui
manity, demands the exercise of the kind
est feelings and the most liberal DISPOSE
tion of the white to the coIored people
and that nothing is further from the pur-
poses and desires of our people than the
adoption of laws or measures to oppress
the freedmen, or to deprive them of the
benefit of just and equal laws for the pro-
teetion of their persons, their property,
and their liberty.
That so far from displaying any centu-
macy or factious opposition to the recon-
struction acts of Congress, the white citi-
zens of this State have generally endea-
yored to register, bat have been refused,
as your menorialisfs believe. 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 government;
That this credulous race has been de-
luded by designing men into the belief
that the property of the white citizens
will be divided amongst them;
That under these demoralizing infllt-
ences, they are daily refusing to fulfill
their contracts, or to labor for the sup
port of themselves and their families. .
That in consequence of this demorali-
zation. planting in this State has resulted
in the ruinous failure of large majority
of our planters, and, of course, In the ne
cessity of its abandonment;
That before the close of the present
year. the negroes, with but few excep-
tions, viii have consumed or wasted all
their ages, or share of the crops, and be
destitute of the means Of subsistence;
that the white race will be compelled to
limit their planting mainly to their own
families, and tile negroes will not have
the means, if they had the capacity, to
plant ON their own account. Under these
circumstances, fanine, with all its atten-
tlant horrors, must soon come u1)On 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 vitaIiy i1npor-
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.
There is great truth in the remark
of the Louisville Journal, that IA little
nerve ii needed In advertising as we'll as
in using any other effective means of sue
cess. Your men who have no more nerve
than q wet rag, advertise little or not at
all, and they succeed little or not at all.
Yon may suppose that re are giving adj
vice that we think would benefit our-
selves. Yes, we do think it would bene-
fit us, but benefit you immensely more
Think q little, and you will agree with
us. And il ron agree with us, be wise
enough to not accordingly. =
Brick calls Forney "a rare dog
intelligent purp nice little Forney
stand MP "a your tail, and howl like d