The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1867-08-21
How Shall We Vote2

Under the Radical programme of reconstruction
supposing the races to vote unit, the whites will
be in minority Of probably 10000 Fotes m the State
Of Louisiana Aad If you add to the black majority
the large class of Northern Adventures. who are in
the State to be voted for and small class of our
people whose past loyalty entities them to pecu
liar consideration at present. in the distribution Of
Offices it would be safe to estimate the available Rad
ical minority at less than 10000 or So 600 votes
Under this state of facts as practical question: it is
altogether immaterial whether the old citizens of the
State not DISTINGUISHED shall vote for or against
convention The convention will be called and it is
safe to infer its action viii be at least confornable
the requirements Of the reconstruction bills As Rad
leallsm Is, however, extremely progressive, very
much fear the action of the convention will not be
confined to the reconstruction programme but that
agrarianis will strike deep its roots into the proceed
ings, and mature into very unwholesome fruit in
organic law. As we are powerless to prevent this,
and as, indeed there be no check to Radicalism
now, except in its excuses it need not be ex-
pected that people will display any interest in the
call for convention, make any effort to vote it
down. What remains-and it seems, to US, all that is
left to us since the July SESSIONS simply sort Of
Hobsons choice between aspirants of the polit-
ical school; or in cases, perhaps between the
respective representatives of "pain and colored 10y
altists-between the imported white trying to be
a negro, and simon-pure gentlemen of color e TO
the manor born" In the first case, supposing only
white candidates and old citizens are before the peo-
pie of the Radical stamp, then the ground Of choice
would be fitness for the position, and the election
would partake Of the characteristics of elections in
past times. There would be nothing unusual or ez-
citing about it. The would be conducted accord
ing to the rules Of the turf.
But if such men do not seek ofice-a very probable
supposon, by the way, Judging from present indica
tions-and the Office itself should obstinatey refuse to
seek them, and the contest should be between the
plain" and the "colored loyalist between the i'm
ported propaganda, seeking political honors, and the
native neophite about to ase for the first time, OF
the sweets Of political equality it is clear the sympa-
thes Of our people would be with the newly made
citizen.
We do not claim to be, in any sense, the organ of
the newly cnfranchised GLASS; to have any right to
dictate their policy: unfortunately for them and for
us, they have trusted their political education to
avowing preference for any scnstle and con-
scrvatlve negro, raised in the South over any mere
adventurer from the North who is here to secure the
negro vote for himself and party by appeals to preu
dices that only estr1nge races mutually dependent
upon each other
1t would be the most fusome hattery to call such
men demagogues-.hey are the mere tools and " whip
persn" of reckless and ambitious partisans who are
determined to rule or ruin the country Their pres
ence among us is, at once, an insult and menace
The shame of all shames would be such representatives
of the Southern people. The negro would be infn-
itey preferable.
In view Of the great Importance of the convention
it had been wise in Congress, in July last, to have
adopted the suggestion Of Gen. Sickles and declared
general amnesty that the people might have availed
themselves of the most capable men; but it was not
capacity that was wanted, only savish and submits
sive complacency to the will of party styling itself
and controlling, the Government by means of Con-
sTessona majority.