The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-09-16

S-GIou. anu can give expression u
.neir fixed purpose.
1t is right in our judgment for this
Convention to say what the white peO-
pie of this State mean to do-say it
frankly, now, SO that the Northern peo-
pie may hear it, while they are canvas
sing the claims of the Radical and
Democratic parties to their support.
They do not mean to recognise now
or hereafter the State Government
which at this time assumes to act in
the name of the State of Louisiana
The adventurer who styles himself its
Governor can do no act that will bind
the State, and the collection of Migrants
that now hold revel at Mechanics In
stitute, however they may usurp its
functions, cannot hereafter be recog-
nized as General Assembly, whose
acts are law. 1t has no quality of le-
gality. It's members were sent there
by the votes of persons who had no
claim to suffrage even under the Re-
construction Acts-negroes under TWEEN
ty-one years of age, and non-residents.
The list of voters was arbitrarily ar
ranged to perpetrate the predetermined
fraud. The men who assumed and ex-
ercised the power to admit or reject
names from that Roll acted under the
direction and orders of a Club, who
were so Indifferent about cOncealment
that they sent instructions il printed
circulars to their tools, specifying the
extent of prescription of whites (inclu-
ding even Sextons) and opening the
door to blacks. All the persons, now
exercising ostensibly the functions of
public officers in Louisiana are acting
under an election held in defiance of
law, and of all the forms and princi-
Piles heretofore known and recognised
us law.
Independent of all this, the General
Assembly so-called now in session, be-
sides being organized in violation of a
recognized principle of popular gov
ment, is VIGOROUSLY and confessedly
legislating in the interests of limited
class Of individuals. 1t does not con-
ceal it's purpose to give precedence to
partisan schemes over measures of gem
eral public concern, rather, it does not
concern itself with public measures,
but is exclusively engaged in the ESQ
called} enactment of measures that Sc
cure plumber to individuals without re-
gard to the public interests.
1t is not claimed by the persons en-
gagged in the consummation of these in
EQUITIES that their action is in accord
ance with the wishes of the people
More than one declaration has been
made by the members of this bogus
Legislature openly and on the floor,
that a majority of the people of the
State, if allowed to vote, would unseat
every Radical member. This declara-
ton was made by a free man of color
from this Parish, and was uncontra-
dicted, and as every ono knows, is
true.
1t follows therefore as q necessary
corrollary that the people of Louisiana
are not, and cannot be bound by any
Acts ola Body thus constituted, and
welding its assumed powers, by the
confession of its members, against the
wishes of the people themselves. And
let the matter be well understood at
once. An enactment is not law be-
cause it appears to have certain legal
forms, as the signature for instance of
a negro who pretends to be Lieutenant
Governor, or the approval of Gov
ernor who prima facie exercises the
powers of that office. A law may have
all the outward appearance and insig-
MIA of a legal enactment, as Lord Coke
says, but yet be vapid and of no effect
from want of authority in the persons.
1t is true then, and we call upon the
Democratic Convention to announce
that fact as principle of their action
that the State Government, as at pres
sent organised, has no claims to the re-
spect or obedience of any citizen of
Louisiana.
That the pretended laws of the pres
ent (so-calied) Legislature of Louisiana
are utterly null and void, and entitled
to no sort of respect or obedience by
the Taxpayers, or others having rights
affected by them.
1t is important and proper and ne
cessary that the people of Louisiana
shall place on record now their decla-
ration that all the acts of the body now
in session, styling itself the General
Assembly of Louisiana, are without
authority, and consequently that any
attempt by this body to pledge the
faith of this State to the raising OF
money in any form or for any purpose
is resisted, and that the State hereafter
will under no circumstances be hound
to redeem the promises or to pay or to
secure any Bonds made by the present
Government. The power, legal or