The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1871-11-04


IN the convention Of the coiored
people of the Southern States, begun |
10 be holden in the City of Columbia,
South Carolina, OF Wednesday, the
eighteenth day of October, 1871, the
following was submitted by the Com
1nittee ON Address
10 the People Of the United States
Of 4merica
FELLOW CITIZENS - The eoiored
people of the States Of Alabama,
Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia,
kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mis-
sissippi, North Carolina, South Caro-
lima, Tennessee. Texas and the Dis
trict of Columbia, have delegated to
us, their representatives, assembled
in Convention, authority to give ex-
preston to their purposes, desires and
feelings, in view of the relation they
bear to the Government and the peo-
Die of the United States, under the
course of events that has arisen since,
and as consequence OF the war OF
rebellion.
We owe TO the Almighty God and
The spirit of liberty and humanity
that animates the great body of the
people of this country, the personal
liberty and rights of citizenship that
we enjoy, and shall, under, the prompt
ings of duty, labor for the permanence
and perfection of the institutions that
have servedsaskthe+4 great instrument
If concentrating this act of justice.
In seeking more perfect recognition
rs members of the great political fam
iiy to which the interests of humanity
have been peculiarly committed, we
desire to recognize our obligations
and responsibilities as members OF
this great family, and to assure the
american people that we stand among
hem imbued with a national spirit
with confidence in and devotion to
the principles of representative popu-
lar government, and with ideas of
policy that embrace every individual
and interest of our common country,
The fruits of the great legal meas
Fires that were intended to establish our
lights and interests on common foot
ing with all other citizens of the
nation, have, to some extent, and In
particular locations, been withheld
from us by the prejudices and pas
sions of the hearts of a portion of ouI
fellow citizens as a remnant of former
IDEAS and associations. We need
YOUR aid and sympathy to complete
the great work begun and carried or
in our behalf. We desire to lay
before you the facts of our case in
brief, but truthful statement. We
have not at command the all-import.
ant instrument of local public press
rs the medium of communication witt
you the press of the South, with {
few exceptions, being in the hands o
chose interested to lower us in you
esteem. We have deemed a conven
ton of our representatives as thu
most efficient means of laying befor'
YOU the true state of our condition
and feeling.
Since the close OF the war, a settled
policy has controlled the public ant
private action of the great body o
the white people of the South toward
us. They have sought to hold US in
condition Of modified servitude, s.
that we should not be able to COM
pete with the industry of the country
They have not eeen contentea t
employ the advantages of that capi
tai and experience in public and pr
vate affairs confer, but resorted t
compulsory means, unsanctioned b.
the laws of the country, the spiri
ff American institutions, ana tn
practice of civilized nations.
The first great effort to carry int
effect this line of policy, was, perhaps
most eonspicuously displayed in th
adoption of the. code of laws, CON
monty known as the /" Black Code,
passed by tie provisional governme1
Of South Carolina, in the year Of 1876!
and followed by other States It
unnecessary to give in detail I'll
features of this SYSTEM 1t establisne
caste of the Oriental type. Il fur
ished courts for the trial OF question
of caste. 1t provided for legal. con
pulsion, as a means of procuring o.
labor, and fixing the rates of compel
sation and rules OF performanc
It provided separate laws-civil al
criminal secured separate cour
for their enforcement. Finallys
allowed us no voice in the passing
the laws that were to govern u
or hand in disposing of the procee'
of our labor taken from us as tax
Tor the support OF the government
our respective States. 40
The action of the military author
ties, followed by that of Congress
and, finally, the amendments to Il
Constitution of the United State
took from the hands of those seekil
TO establish system of slavery scare
" less objectionable than that viii
mad just been oVerthown, the mea
accomplishing theirpurpose throui
the forms of law
The next resort was to substitute a.
control, through the motives OF fay
and fear, the political and civil pc
ers conferred by the iberality of t
~ 1s,+ (lna 4ha ono hand r