The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-04-22
FAITHFUL BLACKS AND RECREANI
WHITES.

In several of the country parishes where
the number of colored registered voters ex-
ceeded the number of white registered voters,
majorities are reported against the carpet-bag
Constitution. These results can only be
accounted for by supposing a considerable
portion of the colored registered voters to
have gone with the great conservative inter-
ests of the State, and in opposition to the
atrocious and pestilent schemes Of the out
landish and interloping pack of radical con-
spirators and plunderers This was done
directly, by voting; or it was done indirectly,
by resolutely staying away from the polls in
defiance of the trucuient whippers-in of car
pet-baggery. 1t is evident, in short, that
there were many respectable and conservative
colored people in the State who were proof
alike against radical seduction and intimida-
ton. Whether they voted or did not vote,
their conduct was terrible disappointment
to the white radicals who had calculated
on massing the colored voters in
servile herd and voting them solid
for that SUM of denominations, the
pro- Constitution armoth-C Conway ticket. In
the peculiar circumstances of the election,
this may be regarded as an exhibition of
Judgment, independence, holiness and man
illness, in remarkable contrast with the beha-
vior of that class of abstentionists from the
election whose reputation as men belonging
to the respectable and conservative white
people Of the State was such, and whose ma
terial interests involved in the general pros
perity of the State were such, as to cause it
be assumed that their votes would certainly
be forthcoming as exactly so many votes
against the infamous AID, ruinous programme
of the carpet-baggers The Democrats
counted on them for an infinitely better
reason than the radicals had for counting on
the class of coIored voters above referred to.
They were warned, and warned truly, that
abstention on their part would be practical
aid and comfort to the enemies of our peace,
of our social integrity and happiness, of our
material welfare and progress-to the COM
mon enemies of all needful institutions, of all
honest and useful avocations, enterprises and
interests in the State And yet they abstained.
Such dereliction is almost incredible. How
can they reconcile it with good citizenship,
Wltn eullBnt6ueu sell interest,", anu WIFI Lle
manly courage that scorns to give up to aggres-
sion, and submit to degradation, while there
is at hand an obvious means of self defense
The cause to which they were thus failing
in its bitterest need bushes for them. Let
us try to believe that some preternatural leth-
argy wrapt them about and made them dead
TO the imperious requirements of the emergen-
cy, dead to the solemn calls of duty, dead to
the tender pleadings of social ties and affections
threatened with most cruel liberation, dead
to the piteous appeals of country and home
beset with unexampled perils. While our
people may try to forget the inexplicable
course of such delinquents, since they can
only remember it with notification let them
not cease to cherish in grateful memory the
intelligent and considerate course of those
colored voters who, impregnable to the trucu-
lence as well as the cajolery of the carpet
baggers, deliberately struck a blow which has
staggered that rapacious combination, and
which, let us hope will prove fatal to its
schemes Of dominion and spoiation in this
State.