New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1867-06-16
THE REPUBLICAN STATE CONVENTION.
Fifth Days Proceedings.
THE PLATFORM OF THE PARTY


abolition OF the cotton tax, embraced in the
sixth plank of the proposed platform. Moth
ing new was elected in the debate, but ma
jority of speakers and voters favored the
plank requesting the abolition of the tax,
aud it was adopted by vote of fifty.one
yeas to fourteen nays.
An extended debate also occurred upon
the seventh plank, in relation to the school
system. 1t was argued that there is no sys
TEN of schools at present in Louisiana that
colored children have had the legal right,
since 1861, to enter such schools as there
are, but have been debarred by mob law, or
the fear of it, from enjoying their rights
that the school directories, like the street
car directories, had monopolized the settle
ment of the matter against the right of the
colored children. The plank, as amended
by the proposition of Judge Z. Hiestand,
was adopted.
\ debate occurred also upon the subject
of the eight hour system in the proposed
eighth plank. 1t was argued against the
system, that as Louisiana is an agricultural
State, it would operate both against the
planter and the laborer; that it would drive
capital, so much needed, from the State,
and prevent other capital from coming here;
that it should at least be so amended that by
special contract laborcr could work a
greater number of hours than eight. The
weight of argument favored such an amend
ment. aud it was consequently inserted.
The ninth and tenth planks, after being
shoru o.. some oftheir yerbiage, were adopted.
For the eleventh plank, les. wordy substi
tute wa- adopted.
Upon the thirteenth plank, in reference
to guarantees OF an equal distribution of
Offices. an animated debate took place.
Messrs Piuchback, Ingraham, and other
colored delegates, argued that the only
safety of their cOlored brethren is in sup
porting no man for office who will not pledge
himself to make an equal distribution Of the
offices within hi, appointment, among both
white and colored citizens. There was a
division of sentiment among the white
speakers on this question, but none among
the colored. Not that there was any OBJ
lection on the part OF the whites to an equal
distribution of the offices OF the State, but
only to the unnecessary insertion of the
principle in the platform, which they be-
lieyed impolitic, as tending to cause a loss
of support to the Repu blican party north.
. Others, however, while admitting such an
effect, argued that the effect of its insertion
. would, on the contrary, gain for the party
the great mass OF the colored men of the
south, which they deemed of more import
: ance, and as fully counterbalancing any
northern loss The ayes and noes being
Lyo,, On = bn nf a plQnk IA
ton, resulted in siXty-eight yeas and three
nays.
The last plank, the fourteenth, then
. passed. as a consequence, with little debate.
Another plank was added. Offered by Mr..
D:bble), with scarcely a dissenting voice
declaring the party opposed to any race OF
5 color attempting TO control the politics Of
@ the State.
The platform was then unanimously
adopted, the yeas and nays being taken
!! thereon. At this result, there was immense
| cheering, which could be heard at the dis
tauce Of two or three squares. Below We
il give the platform rs adopted with the pre-
i amble and resolutions preceding it
The Platform.
WHEREAS, In the course OF human events
n the great and just principles embraced IL
g the declaration OF independence, that " al
+ men are by nature created equal
and endowed with certain unaliena
c pursuits of happiness" have at last beer
practically recognized by the national gov
ernment of the United States and
= = WHEREAS, The great national Repub
lican party of the United States has been
i the chosen instrument in the hand OF
l. Almighty God in eifecting this great result
by its persistent and self-sacrifcing course
It in enabling the general government sue
:, cessfully to carry the nation IN safety
e through the late terrible struggle will
q treason and securing the passage
of those great measures of govern
ernment for the reconstruction of the re
}, bellious States involved in those acts known
:. as the civil rights and military and supple
i, mental bills and
e WHEREAS, 1t is to this great nationa
party alone that we, the loyal people o
:. Louisiana who love the Union and deslr
e the reconstruction of our beloved State il
a. conformity with the congressional plan
e must look for future help in accomplishing
ot this great work of our political salvation
- and
WHEREAS. We deem it necessary ant
y proper that we, the loyal people of Louisi
- ana, now in convention assembled, shoult
4. at this critical period Of our politica
IS history lay before the whole people o
a Louisiana and of the United State
those great cardinal principles that shall
IS constitute the platform or basis OF ou
W future policy, and thus show to the worlC
l. our wishes and our designs; therefore,
X Resotred, That our heartfelt thanks ar
y due and rendered to the loyal people Q
= the Union for their noble efforts in OH
. behalf.
- Resolved, That especially are we in
II debted to the brave and seltsacriticing he
!. roes of the armies and nayies of the nite'
/, States, white and colored, who stoo
|. nobly shoulder TO shoulder, saved on
). glorious Union, and bore that proud ban
le ner of freedom, the stars and stripes, tri
= umphantly through the struggle.
y Resolved, That while we laud and admir-
4 the living heroes of the late mighty strug
ii gle, in our hearts are embalmed the memo
s; ries of those noble men who died in tn
: struggle. and while time lasts thei
memories shall be hallowed in America
u history.
u y Resolved That while we are in pertee
IN accord with the great national Republiea
r. party in regard to national principles an
sr policy, still there are local question
o. over which we have no control that caus
ie US as a party in Louisiana to adopt
re special prefix to the general term Reput
~ ~ -lican, and therefore
II Resolved, That the party in this Stat
es will be known only by the name and It'll
n. of " The Radical Republican party
OF Louisiana
II Resolued, That in order to secure unit