The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1871-11-18


guises were resorted to. We have
been hunted like beasts by armed
and disguised bands. Many, both
men and women, have been killed
vast numbers have received severe
corporal punishment; and many more
found shelter in the swamps by day
and by night, from this storm of
human hatred.
We owe it to ourselves and TO our
government to acknowledge the well
directed efforts that are now being
made to bring the perpetrators OF
these crimes to Justice. We are
assured that the American people are
in earnest to secure to us the fruits of
the great measures for our political
and civil Mobilization, and that the
Executive and Judicial departments
of the Government are thoroughly
sincere in their determination to give
effect to the Constitution and the will
of Congress in our behalf.
We ask of you that you will give to
the Government the fullest measure
of moral support to enable it to COM
plete that which it SO auspiciously
begun, and that minor differences of
sentiment and policy may be hushed
while the nation is gathering up its
length to purge the land of the fOulest
crimes by the hand of justice. When
the nation was threatened with divi-
sion, the political differences yielded
to the necessity of maintaining its.
territorial integrity. Now that it is
again threatened from the vortex OF
passion and crime affiliated, let the
same devotion to right and justice
induce equal efforts to preserve its
moral integrity.
While there remains anything to be
accomplished in order to secure for
ourselves the full enjoyment of civil
and political rights, we shall have class
interests calling for the united efforts
of persons of color. The moment these
interests are secured, the motives for
separate action will cease, and, in come
mon with all other citizens, we can
take our places wherever the interest
of the government, industry or hu
manity may appoint-recOgniZing only
one standard of duty, interest or pol
icy for all citizens.
We do not ask the government or
people of the United States to treat us
with peculiar favor, but that, in the
policy of the laws, our interests may
be grouped with those that receive
the consideration of our Legislative
bodies, and that, in the administration
of the laws, no inviduous distinctions
he made to our prejudice.
We affirm that the colored people of
the States represented by us have no
desire to strike out line of policy for
their action involving interests not
common to the whole people.
/ While we have, as body, contrib
uted our labor in the past to enhance
che wealth and promote the welfare of
the community, we have as a class
been deprived of one of the chief ben
efits to be derived from industry,
namely: the acquisition of education
and experience, the return that civil
cation makes for the labor of the indi-
yidual. Our want in this respect not
only extends to general education and
experience, such as fits the man to
adorn the society OF his fellows, but to
That special education and experience
required to enable us to enter success
fully the departments of a diversified
industry.
We ask that your representatives in
Congress may be instructed to afford
such aid in extending education to the
uneducated classes in the States we
represent as may be consistent with
the financial interests of the nation
Although we urge Our unrequited Ia
bors in the past as the ground of this
appeal, yet we do not seek these ben
etits for ourselves alone, but for the
white portion Of the laboring class in
our States, whose need is as great al
ours.
In order TO secure the promotion OF
{. our industrial interest, you can rendel
us assistance. It is true we have las
demands to make of the National Gov.
eminent in this respect; but it is il
the power of the people of the United
States to aid us materially. In ordel
to advance our knowledge and skill
in the industrial arts, it is necessary
that we should have the advantages
of the means employed in the country
at large for these purposes. That il
preparing for industrial pursuits ant
in putting our skill in operation, we
should come in contact with educated
and experienced wOrkmen and be pu
in possession of the results of thei
skill and knowledge. If the trade
and workshops are shut against us, w,
cannot reach that point of excellenc,
to which we desire to attain. We asl
{ your aid and sympathy in placing u
on the same footing in reference t,
the pursuit of industry as that enjoye,
by other citizens. If after having &C
cess to the means of becoming skillfu
workmen, we fail to attain that stand
{ ing,w are content to take rank amon
the industrial classes of the countr
according to the degree of our prof
cheney. Should we be excluded frOr
these benefits, a state of things vii
arise, most prejudicial to the interest
| of the skilled laborer, namely: the ex