The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1868-03-28

ing such a Constitution as | can %consci-
entiously sign as a whole, without any
protest or explanation. This has result
ed from two or three main causes. In
the first pl; &c, frnm impractical and un-
worthy elements in the Convention
and in the second place, from reckless
and reasonable influences outside of the
Convention. There are in the Conven-
ton three elements which are damnable
all of themselves separate, but all OPP
Grating and cooperating together, by
means of a kind OF mu ual antagonism,
so as to defeat every purpose OF good for
the future. | will exrmplify: There
is a free negro element proprr-by which
| mean a kind of hybrid set of creatures
who were always free and who are
somewhat educated-who have no sym
patty in kind with the freedmen of the
country proper, tut whose main purpose
it sren,s is TO appear smart aud grand
and who, it they cannot head, will " tie
on " to any white man who is a dema-
gogue. and morally and politically base
enough to toady with thrm. And there
are such white men in the Convention,
and they form the ext class Of element
to which | wish to ~a'lule. Tncy have
no prlnciple 5 Il matter OF course. and no
love nor friendship nor good Intention
to OF tor %anyboiy or set OF men outside
of self. They would themselves com
t,I,,, with A.. l,r,i "a. :. Il rir., ynn tn Oh
to he'll, ii tiry could See the way to
personal promotion or personal aggran-
dizrucn:. Of course, their entlle lntiu-
ence in the I convention has tended to
evil. And then there is another class
or element who have acted very wrong,
aud We're not disposed to believe they
have to Il great measure done so unwlt-
tingly,l should say they We're more
criminal than any, because more intel
ligent. They form the mass of the
truly educated white element of the
Convention. Thi, class of gentlemen
seem in the main to have taken wong
start aud right well have they he'd
t-.eiruwn i'll this respect throughout
They evidently expected to control the
Convention-per force of drcrncy, per-
haps but unfortunately tor themselves.
ifnot for the country, it at Ct became
too apparent thai they desired to do so
mainly for their own special and individ-
ual interest aud srlt-gIoriicali Il. Had
this element acted prudent, -had it ac-
ted right and combined with the elr-
ment with which | combined, we could
have accomplished everything FIR good.
Though | speak it myself, yet nevertl'e-
less | will say it fearlesSly, because it is
true, that [ have worked throughout the
labors Of this Convention with :be only
practical, if not the only sincere element
in little freedmen proper and such OF
the white members as evidently have
solely at heart the good OF their country.
Had this q ,ss of colored delegates and
poor white men had been met in proper
spirit, and treated right by every educa-
ted white man in the Convention, we
might have had a Constitution without
any prescription, without any mixed
schools, and without any o ftie toolery
about public travel and public places Of
entertainment, and without the folly Of
swearing to make no distinctions on ac-
count OF "race, color or previous condi-
ton :" 1t makes me SO mad to think
over those things, | become almost blind!
Aud then to think that | am to BE- blamed
and cursed tor that which the folIy-iu-
excusabIe tolIy-cfothrrs brought about !