The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1868-05-02
The Con>tisntiosa EfaislHs Office.

The course of the carpet.baggers since
the election in this State affords an a1di-
tional proof that, all along, they have
not cared a rush for the Constitution III
itself, as an instrument for guaranteeing
the political equality, and for promoting
the material and social advancement OF
the colored people. They valued it solely
as one of the means Of securing to them
selves a monopoly of public offices and
emoluments. Another means necessary
to the same end, was the almost unan-
imous vote in their favor of the colored
suffragans. The ratification of the Con-
stitution needed to validate the election
of their official tickets, and both these
events were indispensable conditions to
their scheme of ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. and plum
der. They confidently calculated upon
both. But it happens that. while the
Constitution is ratified, their official
tickets are in large part defeated. The
grief and fury which they manifest at this
result are as extravagant as they are in
decent. The demonstration has a very
plain significance which the public would
do we'll to note. Colored voters, especial
ly should carefully consider what it
means. For when the carpet-baggers ex-
claim against the result Of the election.
they virtually denounce the ratification
of the Constitution as a fraud and an on
TRACE, for no other visible Or conceivable
reason than the fact that this ratification
was not attended by the uniform success
of the carpet-bag candidates for the vari-
GUS Offices. AMI denunciation in this
case necessarily comes home to the CO.
lored voters, all of whom the carpet-bag-
gers had expected to make use of in the
election as a pack of stupid and %servile
dupes, but many of whom, it appears.
possessed sufficient sense and indepen-
dence a vote against the carpet-bag can
didate while voting for the Constitution.
This n Just be clear beyond question when
it is d nsidered that the colored voters
had a majority in the State of about their
ty thd sand. and that it wasi their pow
er, tl ~refore, to elect carpet-baggers tx
clusi lily to the Offices, as we'll as to ra-
fifty e Constitution. Consequently, the
dete of carret-bag candidates ant the
ratia alton of the Constitution are both
the ork of the colored voters. And,
hen !, when the disappointed carpet-bag-
gerd denounce the result of election
as famous and insufferable. pcy in rea-
litvhccuse the colored vote of having
cor United an act Of infamy 1ich ought
nod TO be tolerated, and which will be ref
Du1 ed and annulled by centra authority,
if be appeals of carpet-bag cry l%bve
SUI essfuli in that quater.
to TN cutlery of defeate G 1edidates
ag nst theP emocrats, that sentially
ill ical. he Democrats Fixed and
Vi both aAinst the Col ution and
official tickets of |et- baggery.
received enough Al kom the col
voters to- feat son Pof the latter.
bd not cnonghy defeaa { former.
considerably and pectable mum,
bsl of the color pei believed pre-
cisaky as the D>kod 5 did-that the
carpet-baggers we survy and pesti.
lent set Of interlol a aaapna6Eh
]; = !" !: J: ] ! ! !: !; !; : : : ! ! |! ! !:
had no other ob~ elati
stitution than to e
voters, while n Beek'
ing carpet-baA e in
terests Of all kana "a alheci
tages as it secured, or acurD
to the colored populaion Of
come about that, thoug~ t5ofern
is carried, the esef a..
got all the offices. They
nounced by colored voters t Y
offered the Constitution as a E1be -
unfit to administer it after it was adopted.
Colored voters have preferred to confide
this administration to Democratic candi-
dates running against the carpet-bag
ticket, although the same candidates were
also opposedto the Constitution. For this
the carpet-baggers threaten to upset the
election, which, if vicious as to candi-
dates must also be vicious as to the Con