The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1867-12-04
To the Press Of the State.

A MASS CONVENTION OF WHITE MEN-DEMoeRATs!
A mass convention of our ablest and best men was
suggested by various meetings in this parish than
month ago. It was proposed to hold it at the same
time with the mongrel convention which is 10 carry
out the mandates of the Radical party.
We thought the suggestion good one, at the time
it proposed, and We think yet. We therefore,
in the interests of the white Of the State appeal
to the press and particularly to the press of New Or
leans, to consider the suggestion.
We think the time has come for a more authorita-
tive expression of the public opinion of the State than
we have yet given In fact, almost the only express
ion heretofore given is that Of mere contempt-ot
silent contempt upon the vote for a convention. As
there no party action whatever to secure vote
against the convention, to treat the call as con-
emptibe farce, the people in different parts of the
State acted without concert-in some sections voting
against the CALL and in others refusing to vote at ALL
And hence the opposition to the military bills, thus
differently expressed, lacked the unity which ought to
have characterised it, and from this cause its full po
tency. This is one reason why mass convention,
composed of delegates from each parish, should meet
and consult for common good
Since the call was made by the Ca2do meetings the
fall elections in the North have taken place. and a
mockery of elections has been gone through i'll the
Southern States. The result in the latter anticl-
paed because pre;rranged while the elections North
were all uncertain. In the main they have been so
gratifying, that we think it our duty to join hands with
our old and new friends in national party, covering
every Of national territory and exchange pledges
of cordial union with them, until their enemies and
our enemes-he enemies Of the Constitution and the
enemies of the whole race-the paltry, pilfering Rad
icals, North and South, shall be driven from the high
places which they dshonor, and consigned to the in
fanny they justly deserve. In word, we ought tc
organise a Democratic party in Louisiana, both fol
State and national purposes. This it appears to US
is another good and sufficient for con
vention 1t is old and very true saying that the
gods help those who help themselves In the friends
who have come to our assistance, in their number, i'll
teigence and devotion to principle, are encour
aged to make every effort to exhaust every remedy in
our power, to defeat the Radical plan Of negro su-
premacy. Besides, this plan is attended with so many
difficulties with such increasing obstacles, that it needs
but strong cooperation of its opponents successfully
to defeat it. This cooperation is necessary to the
use of all the means, in the power of the opposition
that deem it essential nationalist party in the
State, to defeat the Congressional plan of reconstruct
ton. For these purposes convention we think, is
necessary.
Above all, think the expression in an authorize
tive manner, of healthy, national popular sentiment
III the South necessary to correct the manifold msrep
reservations Of the Radicals that the Southern people
are still factious, disoya and rebcous. This CHARGE
and it is false it is malicious and damaging to us
the harp of thousand strings upon which the orators
and the editors of the nlamm0ory school continually
play, in their appeals to Northern prcjudices.
The expression of such sentiment by each of the
excluded States would added to the recent changes in
the North, create "impedmeut' that even the fury
OF Stevens would not attempt to meet-the mpedi-
tncnt we mean, of determined public opinion,
against the revolutionary designs of the next Con-
gress We might add other reasons, but our purpose
is simply to invite the attention of The press and peo-
pie Of the State to the wisdom and policy of holding
State convention.