The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-05-13
An Admirable Address.

To IL DIS Just sacH aH appeal as the times
need, and one that is quite as applicable to
Georgia as to Virginia. II is wholesome
reading for whites and blacks; graphic
picture of the great crime of the century; a
forecast of the future that may well cause
the hearts Of good and true to thrill with
high resolves and dauntless action.
The reader will easily substitute Geor-
giaaor Virginia in the text, the concluding
passages ofwhich we append:
"ltis a strange spectacle that large
portion of the American people, however,
embittered by the antagonism Of civil war,
should be willing to see members Of the
same family pass, even temporarily, under
such yoke. 1t is one of the noticeable
incidents of the age that, in what claims to
he the most enlightened country in Chris
tendon, frenzy like this crusade for ne
gro suffrage-so resembling the delirium OF
the French revoution-should take pos
session Of the public mind. TO US at the
South, the absolute indifference with which
the people of the North contemplate the
application now being made of this sys-
tenn at the South is matter Of astonish-
ment,
eThat the negroes OF the South can es-
tablish themselves in any permanent supre-
macy over The whites we do not, however
accept for n moment. If it shall be the
pleasure Of Congress, as it has the power
to do, to put upon us constitution which
they have invited us freely to pass upon
a constitution giving the negroes tentold
the power they have in Jamaica-we shall
interpret itas the degree ofGod for sharp
and decisive settlement of the controversy
between the white and black races on this
continent. 1t will fearfully emharrass, but
it will not destroy the white race of the
South. The white race of the South can
not be destroyed. When the negroes are
put over us, then, at least, we shall put
firth our strength. We shall offer such
inducements to white immigration that
these sparsely settled States must rapidly
Gil up. The negro will be overwhelmed
with numbers. and it will be too late to
make any terms. 1t is perfectly evident
that Providence designs the territory OF
the United States as the theatre of a great
white empire, whose power and whose civ
ilization shall exert a controlling influence
in the history Of the future. That the
three or four millions Of blacks here can III
terpose any barrier to the realization Of
this destiny is plainly chimercial. The
only question is, shall the changes which
impend in the South be gradual or violent?
With peace between the races, the whites
of the South might be saved from much
that await them under the Radical pro-
gramme; and the blacks, while RENTED to
their proper position in society, would be
saved from rapid extinction as arace. The
settled and Discriminate antagonism OF the
races (which will be inauonrated at once
by such Constitution as this) preclpitates
Immediately the beginning OF the end;
Virginia, racked to the utmost capacity OF
endurance, will be the first to throw to the
surface the disease which has SO long prey
ed unon her vtals, and though for some
years the pitiable victim OF disgusting
eruption, will ultimately be restored to
health, to vigor, and untainted blood.
in protesting against the establishment
of negro supremacy, we plead Tor both
races; for the whites, that they may be
spared, depressed as they now are, the ut.
ter prostration OF further violent changes
in their social system; for the blacks, that
in the name of humanity they shall be al
lowed fair opportunity to save, OF ut
least to delay, the doom of their race.
an conclusion, making DO hypocritical
professions, we affirm in sincerity and in
truth that the people of this State desire to
lhe restored to the Union, and cherish no
purpose ofdisloyalty to the Governments
| that they long for the re-establsbment oil
4 kindly relations between all the sections
of the country; and that they entertain nc
other feelings or purposes than those o.
kindness and benevolence towards the ne
groes.
"The negroes behaved we'll during the
war: and we can trace all of the disorder
and criminal misconduct into which they
have fallen since to the perncious teach
ings of those white adventurers who are
using this ignorant and credulous race fo
their own selfish and rapacious purpose
| It left alone to deal with the negro, thu
whites of Virginia would honestly endeav
or to afford the amplest protection to hi
rights of person and property, and to maxi
every provision for his intellectual and mo
raj culture Bat when it is proposed
for the palpably base purpose OF agggrandlz
ing party-to deliver over the property
| the social order. the liberties Of the whites
to the vindictive and licentious rule Of tn
negro, every instinct of duty. every sent
meat that can animate man to eaertion
call upon the white people of Virginia t.
! repudiate and resist such unparalleled op
preston.
I every Northern State which has vote
on the subject since the close OF the wa
i has rejected negro suffrage. Ohio, on d
rect issue, no later than last fall, did so b
majority exceeding fifty thousand. Kan
sas, Minnesota and Connecticut, had prt
viously done the same thing. The lat
!. Constitution Convention Of New York d.
liberately recoled from deciding the que'
ton. And Michigan, hitherto so ovel
whelmingly Republican, has just voted dow
her new constitution by majority OF thi
ty thousand, because it admitted the nj
GRO to the polls. The census shows tn.
there were only some $4,000 negroes
Ohio in 1860. There could have been o,
e Iy about 1000 negro votes in that Stat
had they been enfrancbised this in
r community where the white vote is near
$ 500 OOO)--an inappreciable influence.
n Michigan there are only about 500 ma
n negroes twenty-one years OF age. ~
h white voters number more than 1890
i And yet this State, where a Republics
Il Governor was elected in 1866 by a major
d lty of 29,03s, refuses by some $4,000 IN
Y iority to let 500 negroes vote.
a 1.-The proposition in Virginia is to
n 100000 votes, to make them all eligible
a Office, to give them majority OF twent
d one on joint ballot in the Legislature,
o give them the local control in the count
e and towns, to exclude a large number
n the whites from the polls, to render nj
r hundred aid ninety-nlne white men