The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1870-05-14

| the State. Nnlle thus we canDOt mop
to redeem the State upon the issues o
any former party, it is thought by SOM
that a national party may prevail else
where and afford US relief. We canno
admit that any national party at th'
North is either anxious or able to re
lieve us. This process of Intervention
is too distant and uncertain to justify il
awaiting it,, Our own efforts in tha
direction would be futile, since We mus
persuade the colored citizen to vote biz
own disfranchisement to ensure our sue
cess. Perhaps the historical fact tina
the dominant party in Congress have ex
PEELED Southern candidates elected up
der national party is the most conclu
sive evidence that such issues are alike
futile and pernicious. We must there
fore beg the national parties to leave us
alone. To them the relief of the South
is a matter of abstract philosophy; to us
it is present and pressing necessity
II Southern constituencies remain as al
present, the Southern electoral vote can
not benefit any national party. We
therefore ask at the hands Of those who
profess friendship for us,s that they will
suspend their kindly efforts in our be
half untilwe have demonstrated our in-
capacity to relieve ourselves. Your COM
mittee, therefore, are forced to the con.
clusion that the reorganization of ma,
tional party cannot be relied on as a
means Of relieving the. evils of which we
complain. a oJ. -l,~ q sr,
&@a a Peoples Organization. %
We therefore recommend the co-ope-
ration of all citizens of Louisiana to aid
in the selection of good men for State
and local offices upon the sole basis of
qualification and character.
In taking this stand we but follow
the example of other Southern States,
each Of which has endeavored to secure
its liberation by adopting plan based
upon its peculiar resources and necessi-
ties. The signal success which has at
tended the conservative movement in
Virginia; furnishes most encouraging
and unexceptionable example, In that
State social peace has been res
tored, highly competent citizens have
been elected to Office, foreign capital
and numbers are pouring into the State,
the public securities have advanced in
value, and the representation in Con-
gress is unuuestioned. We only pro-
pose the same truce to Federal parties
which has been declared in other States.
A similar choice Of officers and repre-
sentatives, without regard to antecedent
opinion Or condition. We but demand
the same standard of official integrity
and capacity for public service which
has been secured elsewhere.
The purposes and. principles of the
peoples movement in Louisiana may be
more practically defined by proposing
for the consideration of the Convention
the following resolutions: y ....
Whereas, Certain rights of civil and re-
ligious liberty have been guaranteed by
the Federal Constitution to every citizen
Of thaSUnited States: and
Whereas, these rights have been, by
amendment of the Constitution, so ex-
tended as to include all persons, with
out regard to race, color or past condi-
ton !; therefore, be it - s
Resolved, That this organization viii
in good faith recognize, maintain, and
abide by ali rights so recited and guar
anteed to such persons by the fifteenth
amendment of the Constitution. i
Resolved, That we expect that all
persons who have been heretofore dis
tranchised for alleged political offences
shall be restored to the common .consti-
tutional rights given and guaranteed as
aforesaid. ,s.an- 81
Whereas, The fragrant abuses OF
power and the corrupt administration
Of, trnst which has recent Y pervaded
every department Of the State and city
government, without respect to the po-
litical party represented therein alike
threatens the rights, and demands the
censure of every citizen.
Resolved, That the protection Of rights
and reform of abuses, can alone be Sc
cured by uniting the efforts Of all good
citizens in the selection and election of
officers, State and muni-
cipal.. We recommend that. all mem
bers Of this association shall pledge
themselves to vote and use their influence
to secure the election ofacandidates who
present indubitable evidence Of honesty,
morality and capacity for public service.
u Resolved. That it will be the first du-
ty Of the Executive and Legislature to
impose the heaviest and most infamous
penalties upon any person who shall ap-
preach, any representative or officer of
the State or municipal government of
Louisiana with an offer of acorrupt con
sideration for the exercise or forbearance
Fof any act Or public duty, andoto. i'm
pose similar penalty upon such repre-
sentative or officer who shall entertain
or accept such offer, OF who shall fail
to file Immediate information thereof
with the proper legal authorities. Ian
adequate bounty should be guaranteed
from the public treasury to ensure the
efficient prosecution Of all such often
ders. ai1
Resolved, That an amendment to the
State constitution should be submitted
to the people. the effect Of which should be
so to regulate and limit the increase of
the public debt asto preserve just pro-
portion between the obligations and liza
bilities Of the State, and the increase Of
its taxable values.
Resolved, That In order to. .insuret the
effectual Endorsement Of these resoln-
tionssby the people Of Louisiana, it is
recommended to all who may feel an in
terast therein. Il, urpanixe at once under