New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-09-28

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ance with the colored people OF mus Stase
than the gentleman. But the only way W
determine the question Is to submit ~ lor
their votes. This will determine Wnether
they are in favor Of this change or MOI.
The colored people OF tins state recogolze
an important fact, and that is, sir, that as
a people they can not array themselves
diametrically against the white people of
this country. They have no such desire.
They propose simply to remain here, in the
land Of their birth and nativity; they wish
to pursue their vocatlons peaceably and
secure In the right OF life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness, and equality before
sdvisedly upon these points, because have
conversed freely with large number OF the
colored people of this State. Now, want
to stand very square upon this question. IL
is very important one, and tell senators
upon this floor who represent the hepuo
iican party, that we. the colored people, DO
not follow the Republican party because we
wish to perpetuate its reign, but because
we recognize it as the party OF liberty ana
justice. Itgs for that reason alone that we
| propose to indorse and support 1t. 1t Is not
merely because it is the Repub lean party
1t might have the name of Republican and
| yet not be the party devoted to these prin'
| ciples for which we contend. / might even
| now arraign the Republican party in this
State of dereiction of duty and disregard OF
most important principles. The people of
this State declared platform of principles,
which was that we should have exact ana
| equal representation in all of the Offices.
Sir, has the Republican party kept faith
with us? Has it made an equal distribution
Of It's honors, its offices aud emoluments
No, sir, not by great deal. We arc but
meagrely represented in the offices of trust
| and profit, and, sir, while know that my
speech may put me beyond the pale of my
party, still if they misrepresent me before
the people, l dare take up the cudgel. Sir,
] will not be bound by or ally myself to any
party that is false to me and those whom
represent. But, sir, know that this is not
the wish of my people. They wish to live
here in peace and harmony, They want the
confidence and the respect of the colored
people, and of the Northern people, and of
the Southern people. They do not want to
prescribe any body. They simply want to
be protected in their rights of property and
their rights as American freemen. That is
what we demand, sir. We do not want any
exclusive privileges. 1t makes little differ
ence to the mass of these people who hold
the offices. 1t is their rights as American
freemen that they want. Oficeholders here,
as everywhere else, are generally very
crooked set Of men. (Laughter.)
But while offices and office-holderr remain
necessary evil in the community, we de-
luduu du euud1 sldIG Vi tutIl' w uOt
want to impugn the motives of any set Of
men, but do not want Senators to get up
on the floor of this house and attemt to mis-
represent me. | want to stand, as | said
before, squarely upon this question, bellev-
ing as DO that ! represent the majority of
my constituents, and that il this question is
submitted to them my constituents will sus-
tain me in my action. We do not change
the Constitution. This question is submit
ted to the very people, nine'tenths of whom,
the gentleman say s. are opposed toit. Ifnine
tenths of them are opposed to 1t, do not
see why it is necessary for him to oppose it
here. Sir, believe in taking the sense of
the people upon any important question. 1t
is for this reason and none other that am
willing this article should go before the
people, and that they shall be allowed to
pronounce Judgment upon it. If they say
that it shall not stand upon our statute
book let it be eXpunged. | am willing to
submit it to them for their verdict.
Mr.. Poindexter: Mr.. President, l do not
want to make any speech upon this ques-
ton. l just want to give my views on the
question, because | was one of the members
of the Constitutional Convention, and as
cast my vote in favor of the ninety
article of the Constitution when it was
adopted in the early part of this year,
have listened to the gentlemen on both
sides of the question. l differ with them
all. l don't believe, sir, that we came here
TO discuss the merits of any officer at ALL
but believe that we are here to discuss the
merits of the bills that are presented to u.s.
From that fact | have failed to be convinced
by the argument of any gentleman that my
vote, as / recorded it upon the ninety.ninth
article of this Constitution, is wrong.
have heard every man here say, or nearly
every man here say, that that article dis
franchises no man whatever. II it does not
AiGf oh what 10 tho of bI1p
aud cry about the ninety-ninth article for
If it does you no harm and no good let it
stand until we get ready to alter that section
of the Constitution Gentlemen have said
they believe it is time for that section of the
Constitution to be altered, but believe that
it takes q two-thirds vote, in accordance
with the Constitution, TO alter any section
of it. Upon that ground, l will only state
what know of the different parishes, and
some of the most respectable parishes in the
State. On Saturday last we had a little Re-
publican turnout up there in the parish
where live, at which there were about 500
men. We were called together at the court
house, and because we had about four times
AS many as the other party had they
turned out into the road and they came out
with whips TO prevent us from passing in
the public highway. Now, sir, ] do believe
that men who will do such things ought to
be deprived Of their rights as American
citizens. Now, sir, one of the leaders of
these men said he believed and always had
believed that it is sin and crime that
coioTed man should have the right Of a
oclored citizen; and he said openly and
boldly and plainly that he was going to kill
the damned Radical sons of bitches. This
man was the cause of our trouble and it
has been only two and a half days ago since
these words were uttered from the mouths
of these gentlemen who are SO pious to-day.
Il al A1H.4-
abjuring their allegiance to the Government
of the United States3 Was it the black
man. deny 1t, sir. And If these gentle.
men are so Intelligent as gentlemen say,
why did they strive so hard against the
Constitution Of the United States as they
did? Why did they secede these rebel States
from the national Government when they
were united as sister States togethery Why
did they not let them stay so as they were
Not only so, but ever since 1864 we have
been attempting to frame Constitution
for this State that Congress would accept,
and by the opposition of these men we
always failed to do ituntil we formed this one.
Congress has passed bill that gives every
American citizen the right to cast his bal
lot that there might be Constitution framed
In the State OF Louisiana that Congress
would accept aud they have gone to work
and done IL; and ! am opposed to any reso.
luton or any amendment to any section Of
that Constitution at the present time. Sup
posing these fgentlemen had been willing
for us to have the rights OF American citi-
zens, have not they had time enough to
frame Constitution to give US that right
No man here will say they had not the time
and the opportunity. Can any Democratic
Senator here, or can any man of that party
say that they have tried to do so, and that
Congress prevented them from making a
Constitution In this State that would give
the colored people their rights Sir, can
any man deny that e Congress had not pre-