The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-10-02

success of the reconstruction policy of Congress,
as indicated by the adoption, In majority Of the
States lately In rebellion of Constitutions securing
equal civil and political rights to all.n
Never was Q sadder misstatement solemnly pro-
claimed to the world by any respectable body Of
men. So far from securing equal civil and politi-
cal rights 10 all. the very foundation upon which
all of these constitutions rest is proscrptive. By
the present Constitution of Louisiana seven dis
tinct classes, composed of the most wealthy the
most intelligent and the most experienced in affairs
of government, are disfranchsed for imaginary
political of1enses, made ofeDses for the first time
BY that Constitution. and of which, II is needless
say, the parties have never been convicted. And
by the Interpretation placed upon that Constitu-
ton by the present registrars OF voters, large
number of naturalized citizens, many of whom
were soldiers in the federal army, have also been
denied the right to register and vote.
AT sthe last election in this State twenty thou
sand, one third of the entire white vote Of the
State, denied the right Of suffrage, while the
elective franchise wrested from them by the strong
arm Of military authority, was by the same au-
thority conferred upon more than eighty thou
sand negroes, originally imported from the wilds
OF Africa, and just emerged from two hundred
years of slavery. Thus we have seen established
among u.s. not universal suffrage and negro equal
ity, but restricted suffrage and negro supremacy.
What has been the result of this most reckless
and wicked experiment! Has 1t been 10 any
sense success, This depends upon what
Congress intended to accomplish by adopt
ing this policy. If il was their purpose to pros.
trste all material interests, to array onehilf
of our people against the other half, and to use
the strong but not exaggerated language of Sena-
tor Doolittle, to "inaugrrate hells" in every
one of these States, then have they achieved
complete success, and well may they congratu.
late themselves upon the result. Bat if it was
really their object to establish governments
capable Of securing the rights OF all, and sfording
protection in life, liberty and property to every
citizen, never was there more disastrous failure.
Our present State government presents spec
faala aal tod IN rolf nth feel
those OF shame and disgust. The ascendsncy of
the negroes at the bsllot-box has enabled them
to elect the lieutenant governor and about one
half Of the Legislature of theireown race, and
large number of reckless and unprincpled adven-
turers from otDer States, who have no home or
interest here, and are entire strangers TO our laws
manners and customs. These two classes have
obtained the absolute control OF the State gov
erDment in all its departments, and have inaugur.
sted system of profigacy, bribery, and open
and shameless corruption that we hope, for the
honor of human nature is without parallel.
These men seem TO labor for but two objects
to perpetuste their own power, and to devise new
and hitherto unheard of schemes for plundering
the State. They have created about two hun
dred new offices, with enormous salaries, and
have increased and, in most instances, doubled
the salaries of the cid ones. Under this proiigate
legislation the public debt is daily increasing at
fearful rate the public credit is utterly runed d,
and the ability Of the people TO support the
enormous taxation levied upon them by men who
pay no p0rtlOn OF II, constantly QlmlnlsnlDg. NOT
Is this all. The white people Of the State, sm irt.
ing under sense of wrong, groaning under an
almost iniolerable load of taxation, seeing their
money 6aily squandered to enrich needy ad-
vepturers while they are in the same proportion
impoveIi he'd and ruined ere becoming hourly
more restless, discontented, and hopeless of the
future.
On the other hand, great number Of the ne
groes, though naturally quiet and peaceable
race, excited by infsmmatory appeals to their
worst passions, from white men of the most de-
prsved snd abandoned character, aud elated by
their sudden elevation 10 power, have become
idle, turbulent and lawless; impatient of con
tredictiCD. tolerating no discussion of their
newly. acquired rights, with no idea Of strength
except IN its physical development, and no
8Ess EsvsT 10 @ tdd tdda
aluh ana the tnreh as the readiest means Of Gpn;
vinciDg their opponents. Is II surprising that
the white man often answer these arguments
in the only way suited to the capacity Of those
who offer them? Thus almost daily we hear Of
collisions, of bloodshed of riots actually occur-
ring, and of still greater dangers threatened.
Doubtless these reports are often greatly exsg-
gerated but it is not to be denied that there are
FREQUENT collisions between the races, and that
the public mind is in such condiuon as con-
stantiy 20 endapger public peace. la this state
of things the governor of the State proclaims to
the world his inability to preserve order and en-
force The laws. and calls upon the president for
large military force to be placed at his disposal.
Ia this the assumed success boasted OF by the
Chicago convention, aud IS there anything here
upon which to congratulate the American peo.
pie? What ia the cause Of this confessed and
proclaimed inability to accomplish the only
results for which governments ought ever 10 De
instituted or sustained among men! IL Is to oe
found In the fact that this government has not the
confidence and cannot command the support OF
the white people OF the State, and it de non
strstes. what was perfectly obvious before 10 az
but crazy political zealots, that white men will
not quietly submit 10 slavery, ana that the negro
is totally unfit for a ruler.
In the meantime, while we shall not cease to
struggle against the tide that Ia sweeping us TO
destruction, we feel that We must mainly rely
upon the good and true men Of the North; and We
can but appeal to them by all the ties which once
bound us together, by all the traditions OF the
past and all the hopes OF the future, to take from
us the intolerable burden which has been imposed
upon is by Congress at the point Of the osyonet.
And in The language Of our revolutionary faihers
when sddrt ssDg their British brethren, we sol
emily warn them that if they remain deaf to the
voice of Justice and of corsanguinity, and permit
the shaekes to be riveted upon us, we may at no
distant day become ''the example, and ht instru'
mepis for enslaving them" J. o. FUouA.
Chairman.
Col. Cutie, of Caddo, offered series of resolu-
tiops which were referred to the committee, al
his request without being read, in order TO save
time. .
A resolution was adopted declaring that all
resolutions should, before being read. be handed
TO the committee on resolutions
Ex.Gov Wicklifie offered resolution indorsine
the Nominees of the National Democratic Conven-
tion, ard pledgiDg them the support OF the Demo
crecy in Louisiana. Adopted.
Ex.GOv. Wicklife rendered his resignation al
| elector at large, VIII ch was accepted.
communication was tn IN read from Lloyd X
| Colemsn rendering his resignation as elector fo
-,ha 6fih district If the State. The rH-isnniinr
| was accepted.
| Col Leblanc sent in his resignation as eleetor
| which WAS also received.
| Colonel Heron then announced his resign auon
| on notion the convention went into an electoi
for elector for the State at large, in the place
| ex-Gov Wicklife.
| The convention was also notified that the Hon
Isaiah Garrett, Of Ouachita. eector at large, ha'
also resigned also ]. p. FTeret and J. N. Lea
| alterDetes.
| Tie convention then proceeded to. choose tw
electors for the State at large, in place OF ex1oV
| WiekIjfe and Isaiah Garrett.
| The following nominations were made ",
| Blackmsp, of Claiborne, Durant DlPonte. oil or
| leans Judge Cullom. of Avoyelles, g. W. Race, 0
| Orleans. Clarence Ward, Of lberville, Christia
| Roselius, CT Orleans.
| Messrs Blackman and Race were elected.
| Nh Race then returned thsuks for the une1
nacted honor Five minutes before the time
eIecton he had not the least idea OF being an eleS
toy. he had been asked whether he could qualii
| - n - ar. I ath amendment and had answered YES