Semi-weekly Louisianian. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1871-1872, 1871-10-05

by virtue of the power vested i
him as commander-in- chief of til
army and navy, in accordance wit
prior notice, publicly proclaimed 70
the full period of one hundred days
did order and declare "that all per
sons held as slaves within certai,
States and designated parts o
States are, and henceforward shal
be, free"
Fifth. The acceptance of two
hundred thousand colored troops
as the contribution of four million.
OF disfranchised Americans to tn.
service for the defence and main.
tenance of the authority of law and
the integrity of the Union, then fol-
lowed.
Sixth. The organization of the
Freedmen's Bureau, which has not
only been of large benefit to the
newly-emancipated in supplying his
physical wants, in furnishing food,
clothing, shelter, and protection,
but has contributed largely to- his
education and elevation, bringing
to him the school-house, with many
OF the appliances needed for educa-
tional purposes.
Seventh. The thirteenth amend
ment to the Constitution of the
United States, which forever fixes
the organic law, in unmistakable
terms, the freedom of all the people
OF our country, was ratified on the
18th of December, 1865.
Eighth. The fourteenth amend
ment, defining citizenship, being
ratified on the 9th of July, 1868,
became q part of the Constitution.
Ninth. The fifteenth amendment,
declaring, in section l, "The right
OF citizens of the United States to
vote shall not be abridged by the
United States, or by any State, on
account OF race, color, or previous
condition of servitude," was ratified
on the Both of March, 1870.
Thus, step by step, from the
position of things, we have been
advanced by legal enactment. First,
to the position of men ; second, to
the position of citizens third, to
the position of roters, with all the
responsibilities and duties, the pri-
vileges and immunities attaching to
these several characters, and all this
has been accomplished since the
I'D of September, 1862. On that
day the first step was taken, and to-
day we celebrate the completion of
the grandest moral, political, and
legal reformation that the world
ever knew. Nine years ago to-day
we were without country or gov
ernment, legally and politically
outcasts and nondescripts. To-day
we are the legal peers and political
equals of any and all of our fellow
citizens.
On the 4th of March, 1861.
Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated
President Of the United States. His
administration was sustained by the
Republican party, and to this party
belongs the honor of inangurating
and perfecting these great measures;
nor is there any ether great poll
tical organization in the country at
once willing and able to support
and maintain them.
First; considerations of gratitude,
Of self-interest, of patriotism, render
It the duty of the colored American |
to support by his influence and vote
tor this great party of Freedom.
And the same considerations which
would induce him to support the
Republican party, ought to induce
nim to oppose and seek to defeat
oy all honorable means the Dem
,cratic party.
1t does not render our duty less
simple and plain that the Dem
'cratic party in some quarters is
protesting to accept as accomplish
ID facts the thirteenth, fourteenth,
md fifteenth amendments to the
Constitution. This recognition, if
node in good faith, comes at a late
lour-after the Republican party
las shown itself the party of flee
lom, competent alike to effect and
ustain such measures. But this
ecognition is not made in good
aith /; for Senator Thurman. as
veil as Alexander H. Stephens,
that the fourteenth and
ifteenth amendments are un-
constitutional and void. And there
3 no champion of the "new de-
'arture" doctrine since the death
nd burial of Vallandigham with
i'm slumbers this last of his poll
ical subterfuges. The Democratic
'arty is to-day, as in all its past
history, inimical to any measure
he end of which is our elevation
nd advancement.
But has the colored voter no
laims upon the Republican party I?
Ie has and these claims can not
e disregarded nor have they
een. In no wise, therefore, do I
with the notion THAI the
republican party has been slow to
ecognize the claims of its colored
oters to official places of honor,
esponsibility, andproft. Nor is it
rue that in the distribution of its
atronage discrimination has been
4 81