New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-12-23
UNLAWFUL AND MIsoHIEVOUs DICTA-

F. NJ. Yoist, H. ". Coyle and James Den
/, mis-, forbidding the leasing of lands to col
/. ored men, is a matter demanding the mos
: serious attention Of the people. This con
I spiracy in the name Of the citizens q
= Pointe Coupee, for the purpose of dictatin
who shall and who shall not rent lands Ii
that parish, is in fragrant violation of tn
Civil Rights bill, and the parties thus off
ciously meddling with the rights of other
should be made to suffer the severest penal
ties of the law. This is not matter thai
is confined to Pointe Coupee. The SAME
disposition is manifested in almost every
parish of the State by portion of the
people who feel disposed to govern Their
neighbors by code of laws of their own
making. 1t is nothing more nor less than
the same rebellious spirit that has per
vaded this State since 1860, only in milder
form. In the case of Mr.. Kohn it is gen.
tie request, with hint for him "to take due
notice and govern himself accordingly" 1t
is the same spirit that prompted the writing
OF the circular that was put forth by the
State Central Committee of the
Democratic party last fall. This
document made bitter war upon
all Republicans, but was most severe on
the white men of that party. 1t denounced
them as base, and advised Democrats to
withdraw from them all countenance, asso-
citation and patronage, and 10 thwart every
effort they made to maintain a business
and social foothold in the community. This
was the feeling inculcated by the Demo-
cratic party-a feeling to crush everybody
that was opposed to it and to control every
interest of capital and labor, regardless of
law and vested rights. In furtberance of
this plan to control the material interests
Of the State, meeting was held recently
at Alexandria, in Rapides parish, in the
name Of the planters and landholders, and
long preamble and resolutions were
passed. The preamble sets forth that for
the past three years q number of land
owners in that parish have thought
lessly. allowed freedmen to cultivate
their vacant lands; and believing the prac-
tice bad one, as it allows them to be-
come independent proprietors, said So
called planters and landholders' meeting
unanimously agreed that they would not do
so in the future unless it was to known Con-
seruative freedmen; said freedmen to be un-
der their own eye and direction, and they
to be responsible for their conduct. 1t
was also resolved that any planter or land
owner who is so unmindful of what is due
to himself and the society in which he lives
as to let out land in opposition to the will |
of large majority of the people, deserves
to be and will be branded as public enemy
and treated accordingly; and the so-called |
planters and landholders' meeting |
pledged themselves to hold in high esteem
the few freedmen who came out boldly in
the recent political excitement and ranged |
themselves on the side of the Democrats
and still further pledged themselves that
when they had iaEors to bestow,
such freedmen should not be forgotten.
This all goes to show the animus of the
men who propose to control both capital
and labor in this State. They do not mean
to be governed by the laws of the land if
they can help it. They mean to govern
not only themselves, but
defiance Of law. How necessary,
then, is it that the colored people, as well
as the white people who are law.abiding,
to stand together to resist the unlawful in
novators Of their rights. The new year
will soon be here, and with it the new
planting season opens. Let the lajorer
seek employment Nth The man aoho
oM respect his rights, and by course
Of industry make it his interest to keep him
employed. There are plenty OF good men
IN the State who are land-holders who will
be anxious to employ good hands for the
next year, and there will be work for all.
The present year has proved profitable
one to planters, and will encourage many
others to engage in planting the coming
pear. This is what is required to make us
\ prosperous people once more. With
good crops will come good wages and
plenty Of money. This is what we all like
and all want to see. When the plantations
are all brought into working order again,
and good crops are made, and labor is in
demand, men will cease to ask what
, mans politics are, or what is tie color
Of his skin, IL he makes IL their interest
10 employ him. This is the way it is in the
West, in the North, and 10 the East, and
there is no reason why 1t should not be SO
here. The labOrer is worthy of his hire
everywhere. But he must labor faithfully
and study the interest of his employer, for
in the success Of his employer is wrapped
bis own fate in great degree. The clique
of land owners and others who are striving
by most unjust and unwise course to pro-
scribe and drive away men on account of
their color or political opinions, win see
their folly when their lands have become
valueless from the want of labor to till
them. Thiswill bring them to their senses
and learn them to be more liberal and just
toward others--the true lords Of the soil.
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AGRICULTURAL SCHOOLS,
Agriculture and education are now SUBJ
jects of paramount Importance to the
people Of the Southern States. The late