The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1867-09-18
The People Awakening.

j. condition of the country, and to devise ways
It to hurl back the Radical hurricane now sweepipa
the South There were more people present and ~.
enthusiasm manifested than we have seen in p,..
day.
s J. G. Moncure, Esq, appointed chairman :.
sisted by Thos Il. Morris, J. J. Hope, D. j. Elder "
Watson, R. D. Sale, G. W. Newman A. j. Stacey ana
/ R. Walsh A. Il. Leonard r. G. Lowe and uo.r
Boarman acted as secretaries. Able and ELOQUENT .,
dresses were made by Judge Creswell R. j. Looro,
! Esq, and Capt. W. A. Lacy, The address of NJ
, Looney in particular, able and logical carry;:
conviction to the minds of all present. IS
The following resolutions were read by W A. Lacv
in behalf of the committee, and unanimously adontJ
by the meeting embracing the principles upon which
they propose to enter the coming canvass, and from
the enthusiasm manifested we have no doubt but thu,
they will fight it out on that line, and give good 90
count of themselves:
Whereas the citizens of the parish of Caddo Ior
isana in common with the citizens of the entire Stat
having long since accepted the results Of the recent
conflict and abandoned the doctrine of an appeal to
arms as remedy for national Or sectional grievances
have long desired to resume their place in the Union
to devote themselves to the promotion of its national
prosperity and happiness, but have been prevented
from so doing not by any delay having in view their
punishment for the violation of any law of the COR
sttuton but by the continued supremacy of purely
eminent for purely party and partisan purposes and
in common with the citizens OF the entire State have
been outraged and deprived Of their constitutions
rights by the legislation Of that party in Congress ana
the usurpatons and tvrannies OF Major General Sher
dan who has falsely represented that the said legisa
ton has been accepted by people, and he him
self assisted and encouraged in his perverted admin
stration under the same; therefore, be it
Resolgsd That renew to the people of the entire
country our pledges of full and complete submission
to the results of the conflict OF arms, and de-
clare our earnest desire be restored to full par
cipation in rights and privileges as American cti
2ens under the Constitution, it now exists that
having an abiding faith in the virtue and intelligence
of the people, desire to be allowed to forget the
of the late struggle, and of our misorunes to
forget its painful memories, and again to devote our
and energies to the of the Union and
the Constitution to promote the general welfare and
! secure the national happiness.
! RESOLVED, That while recognising the right of the
people to legsate with view to assured and more
perfect Union in the future, appeal to their magma
nimy look with raernal and liberal charity
upon the past; and we denounce all purely party and
partisan legislation and usurpation of power for purely
partisan purposes designed and intended not pro-
mote the national welfare, but to secure continued SUI
premacy of purely sectional party sectional in its
origin and principles and only able to appear or claim
to be national by the self-assumed disguise of name
ResoEued That while large numbers of our people
expressed their willingness to accept and act under the
earliest reconstruction measures OF Congress- in GOOD
faith they did because they considered that egisl
ton involving promise and pledge of their early
participation in the national councils and government;
that they regarded that legislation not like statute
of Cagula hung up high that the people could NOS
read it, but intended to mean what by the ordinary
and accustomed rules of Interpretation its words i'm.
Piled and so plain and clear in its provisions as to
be accepted by the common and unlearned mind with
out requiring any construction whatever
HeSOkyea, That the arbitrary and unautborisnd pris
lation Of Major General Sheridan, who, by forced
and illegal Interpretation, contained secret oruu
published instructions to his Boards of Registry sub
sttued his authority for that of the Congress of
the United States and accomplished our almost COM
pee Acknowledgement. and the subsequent legasaton
of his illegal conduct in the passage by Congress of an
entirely law under color of interpreting an older
law, has never met with acceptance, acquiescence
or encouragement, and that, in the language of a dis
tinguished citizen of Georgia. may well and truly
say of the military bills thus enforced and inter
preted, that "no respectable white in the South
has approved of the military bills as constitution
AL right just Or desirable; that the uneandid accept
the candid reject, none approve-all despise."
Resotoed, That we appeal to the better judgments Of
the entire people against monstrous and niquous an
administration has resulted in surrenderng the des.
MES and welfare of the people of louisiana and gov
crnment of that State, to the negro by an over
wheming maj .ty, believing that such reconstruction
impers the welfare of the entire country, and is in
reality, damning measure of anarchy and dessruc-
ton
Resolyc4 That while declaring our purpose to do
entire justice to the black man, to protect him in all
his rights of person and property and to advance him
as rapidly as possible to such condition as will render
him fit exercise all the rights of citizenship we vet
refuse to recognise him equal either socially or
politically, and we claim the right to determine BY ap-
proprate State legislation what political rights he shall
Or shall exercise; that time education his own ca
pacles and Improvement, while determining his fitness
and qualifications also alone determine whether be
can or can not be safely entrusted with the ballot or
summoned to sit uries; that we are in favor of the
most liberal State legislation having in view his educa-
lion, and the extension of all and Of the most unre
stricted facilities for his progress improvement and
,he development of his capacities.
Resoteed, That VIC tender most sincere thanks to
he President of the United States for his noble and
lntirlng exercise of all the faculties and capacities of
pure and patriotic statesman in the administration Of
he Executive Department. of the national Government
md more especially for his generous and magnani-
nous defense Of all those constitutional principles
whose enforcement and general acceptance would long
lnce have witnessed restored Union and people
eInited in the bonds Of peace, and the pursuit of
happiness.
Resolreo, That we earnestly invoke our felow-cit
ems throughout the entire State to assemble in mass
meetings. IN their respective parishes and take such
ctlon as they may deem proper III the present alarm
ng condition Of the State and country, and that we
invite them to send without regard to numbers their
Visest ana best men to mass convention be held
5aton Rouge, Louisiana, at the same time which may
e hereafter announced, for the assembling Of the
lack convention, for the purpose of guarding our
olltlcaI welfare by repeng all SANDERS and setting
orth by address to the people of the United States
ur convictions our purposes our condition. and the
ul and overtowing measure CT our grievances under
Thch we suffer-
ResoIpsa That for the purpose of local organisation
M to express in formal and legal manner our en-
hattie dsapproval of the Congressional plan we pledge
urselVes individually, and earnestly urge upon the
eopIe OF the parish and of the State, to vote against
De call Tor convention; at the same time, hereby
uohcly protesting against this participation being
onsldered any sanction Endorsement of the same;
no. ID order further to prevent such an inference
Spressy decline to make any nominations or to put
'r"ard any candidates, and we respectfully recon-
lend this course to the people of every parish in the
tate: For the only choice left us is first either
2operate with it, and thus participate in our de-
rada'lon Or second to ignore it. and thus passiveIy
submit to negro supremacy; or, third, to attempt
defeat and this, powerless are, We are bound
honor and conscience to attempt
ReSoIvsd, That in order to show the complete trans
T OF the political power of the State into the hands OF
e olack Tor party purposes really, but under cover
disabilities on account of the rebellion, and the
Fry thorough" execution of the same by the late
t,fe.E,