The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1868-06-24


out this principle of excluding the negro from
their limits though at the same time they were max
ing strenuous efforts increase their population The
laws prohibiting intermarriage and withholding the
elective franchise fixed the negros status OF social ana
political inferory. We repeat that this prejudice
not sectional.
The result of the late elections the North are not
calculated to atter the hopes of any one, that the
American people have changed their estimate OIL 'ne
claims and character of the negro The popular will
to-day as it has been since the formation OF the
Governmeut-the white race must govern the State.
When legislation has been so uniformly exclusive
and unbendng it finds its justification IN the strong
convictions of its necessity and yet 1t Is proposed that
we shall have for social equals and political suPerlors
race that carries its forehead the stigma of degra-
dston, stamped by the legislation of every Northern
State Our governors, our legislators our judges are
to be of that which, by your is ostracised
from the lowest grades of human society The meni'
ais of your households would to associate with
those who are to FIJI the honored offices of our State
The rights of property the safeguards OF personal no
erty the vital interests OF society are 10 De
by race which your States have declared unwor-
thy of the elective franchise even when its exercise
would have but unappreciable effect. Such gov
eminent may crafty the base passions OF revenge out
it promises the strife, sacrifices and anarchy which
suffering country i'll afford to invite Since MS
tory has first narrated the events OF the world where
has such spectacle been presented as that which we
present to day-free Americans pleading to the Amer
lean Congress for the government OF the bayonet to
escape more dshonoring fate? Your laws did not
even allow determine this pitiabe alternative
they or their Interpretation, which is practically the
sae-made the negro decide whether or not he should
rule the white race. In parish of 1900 white vo-
ters 45O were DISTINGUISHED The Indian was forced
to yield the occupation of this country and abandon
the tombs of his fathers because he could not avail
himself of the advantages OF civilization BY the test
of YOUR State legislation his voice is superior to the
Ia IL less than a fraud ClVllSatOn. at
ter having at enormous cost of life and treasure
chased the Indian from his dominion after having
couraged and invited the white to build up this
country now to surrender the monuments OF his civil
isation to a race inferior to the Indian.
IF we are asked what will do we can only an
swer that full and suggestive as are the teach
ings of history, cannot point to the past The
pertinent of subecting the white race to the rule of
the negro has originated in this country and in this
century An answer might be obtained if you ask
Yourselves what the constituencies you represent would
do if similarly situated Of population Of nearly
400, 900 whites, 53,0 600 Irish and German, men
whom no sacrifices deferred from escaping the tyranny
of the white despot. A large proportion are men
from the Northern States and their descendants They
are known to you. A very large number are from
the original Southern Sates-the descendants OF those
whose vaor patriotism and craftsmanship contributed
to secure the independence and liberty you enjoy
The remainder the descendants Of those whose
political privileges and civil rights sacredy guar
aDteeu DY treaty. w e nave euuehVOFeu 10 fepel De
cause it has been often reiterated, the untounded
charge that we give no encouragement to the North
ern man to settle in our midst. Who is to-day re-
sponsbe for the injustice and folly of prohibiting i'm
migration to our State we, who in every parish have
invited the Northern mechanic, farmer and merchant
to make his home in our State, or those who, by es-
tabshng negro government, will make this State un-
inh&bitable by the white man
We submit this protest to relieve ourselves of any
suspicion that we yield even seeming acquiescence
in the adoption of the constitution We did not op-
pose the execution of the reconstruction laws, though
convinced of their unconsttutonaty. If those laws
only contemplated that the negro should be protected
the convention transcribed its authority by perverting
them and making them the instruments by which me-
gro supremacy is successfully established The negro
has sympathy. For the protection of his person,
his Freedom and the enjoyment of his property, we
do not demonstrate against any just guarantees
may be required. That, for these purposes, before
the law, he should stand as the equal of the white
man, we prefer no complaint. We are willing to be
reasonably taxed for his education, and would not
look with dsavor upon the efforts by the State gov
eminent to test by favorable legislation, his capacity
for self-improvement But we give solemn warning
to the country that this effort to degrade the white
race by subordnating it, although in maj ority to
the political supremacy OF the black race as proposed
BY the constitution to be inaugurated under the
military acts, Will require more than human prudence
and forbearance if to avert these frighttul
suits which have been foretod by of all classes
but by none more positively than prominent Repub
lcan Senators. Undoubtedly it is the duty of every
good citizen aid in the improvement Of the negro
but the candid conviction of every intelligent mind
must necessarily be, that the colored safe
ly predicate his hopes upon the downfall of the white
Sustained and led by European civilisation
which rules throughout the Northern section and
eventually rule throughout the Southern section also
the negro may attain the highest advantages; but he
can attain those advantages whilst acting from
the stand point of antagonism to the white race-an
antagonism which is essentially the ground work ard
corner stone of the proposed new constitution.
We respectfully, but earnestly appeal to the Senate
to its wisdom and patriotism, to interpose its calm
counsel and prevent the establishment of govern
ment so certainly calculated destroy social and
material interests and which must vitality engender
the most fearful spirit of hatred between two
whose interests respectively, when rightly understood
and protected not antagonstic. Solemnly before
God and country, and in the interest of common
lineage and common civilization, protest against
any recognition ratification of the proposed cons
tuition by Congress- because that constitution is in vio
laton of the Constitution of the United States be-
it is not based upon the consent of the people
who are to be governed by it; because it was con-
ceived aid framed in the interest of the negro as
against the white man, establishing Unlimited and
restricted suffrage for The one, and sweeping ds!ran-
chisement of large classes Of the other and throwing
around the remainder such restrictions limitations aud
nterdictons virtually destroy their entire political
adopted in fraud of the reconstruction laws them
selves, not having been ratified an election in which
every qualified registered elector permitted to
vote without fear or the influence of fraud.
As we look over the whole field of this discussion,
unwilling to believe that the grave Senators
whom we now address, contemplated the framing
of such constitution is offered for their ap-
prova and sanction. Reconstruction in the interest
of the Union, not only understand but will, with
out dissenting voice, most zeaously advocate; but
reconstruction in the interest of African supremacy,
we neither understand nor approve.
,THos. L. MACON, Chairman.
WIN. sMALLwooD, Secretary.
NOVEL Use OF TEA-Photographers who extern
sivey engaged in taking views of sceneries doing
what they recognise " field work, we'll those
who make interior views, will doubt hail with pleas
ure the following suggestions from practical work
1t purports to provide substitute for the chem
cas, baths, Dishes and paraphernaa hitherto deemed
necessary in the preparation OF plates. The usual
cumbersome budget of the feldman may now be cast
aside, and his duty reduced to pleasure:
Take eight ounces of tea, of the ordinary table
strength, and dissolve in it about three drachms of
crystalsed or lump sugar {" No milk if you please y"
As soon as dissolved filter and let settle until clear
and cold Sensitse the plate in the ordinary manner