New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-09-10
racv, Tbev accpupliybed their lsellish pur-

nose under false colors. They humbled
| themselves to and petted the colored man
by gratifyin his ambition for power, tnat
J they might have the satisfaction Oh nun
| bling him and the Republican party Dy oe-
| stroying the republic.
| The colored man was esteemed by them
| for his ionorance-at least they dld not
! fake into their confidence educated and en-
| lipbtened colored men and elevate them to
| Office The eolored man not being used to
| cavern was easily led from his duty as an
| american citizen But his works were not
| of himself but of the bad men behind the
throne. for such they had already made the
first branch of our government
Through treachery and false pretenses
tbey alienated from the ranks of the Re-
publican party the ignorant masses of the
sought and obtained possession of the diff
| ferent State governments. Especially was
| this the case in the South. This accom-
! plished they readily obtained possession of
| the federal government, and then the
weapons of law made to protect the colored
man was easily turned to his disadvantages;
and he and the country made to repent the
day they obtained the power to make and
execute the laws. The negro was dis
franchised; the public debt repudiated; the
revenue squandered; the standing army in
creased: the people intimidated; the cleo
tons and ballOt-boXes were controlled by
the military; good men put out and bad
men put into power; riots, tumults and Sc
dition encouraged that the authorities might
exercise the military and terrifY the people.
Property was confscated for assumed taxes
to replenish the Golfers of profigate adj
mnistration, and a landed aristocracy built
upon the ruins of cOnfiscatiOn. Spies and
informers were scattered broadcast over the
country, who kept the officials aud the men
at the head of the government informed OF
the actions and the sentiments of the people.
Those days were as trying to the men of
America, as the days of the penal code were
to the patriots Of Ireland. The telegraphs,
railroads and inland rivers were taken pos
session of by the government, and the tariff
on passage and freight placed SO high
as to render them worthless to the
masses of the people. By this means
they prevented communication with the
people, and rendered them incapable of
assisting each other. The mail was no
longer secret, and, as far as the masses of
the people were concerned, America was no
longer a republic Nevertheless, the people
were not idle; they knew and felt that upon
them depended the fate of their country and
their liberty. The spirit Of seventy six had
not entirely died out, and as the ballot box
was no longer a safe depository of their SEN
timents, they began forming secret organic
dtlUuS, anu CoiIcCtLuB ~ iiic dIu amin uAtlIou
for the purpose of Furnishing the disturbers
of their peace and the betrayers of their
trust. These organizations had a national
head or centre, composed of one delegate
from each State, who held their sittings in
the then city of Philadelphia, now New Der
lin. and from this congress of the people
emanated the laws or regulations which
were to govern the society throughout
the different States, cities, towns and vii
lagos of the country. The organization was
designated the 'True Americans In some
localities they adopted a second name, such
as the "Stars and Stripes" the Boys of
'76." etc. While the people and their lead
ers were making preparations to resist by
force the acts of their oppressOrs. they had
not lost sight of the approaching Presi-
dental election. They had their candidates
nominated, and their canvassers and orators
throughout the country exhorting the peo-
pie and preparing them for the crisis. The
party in power had full control of the mill
tary force, and were determined that their
choice should not be defeated, nor be in
Inundated by the mob, as they were pleased
TO call the people. The day of election
came, and it so happened, through bust
ness, that on that day l invOluntarily found
myself in New Orleans, Louisiana. On that
morning the sun rose clear and refulgent
his morning rays brushed aside the mist
that had formed over the doomed city dur
ing his absence, and he looked down on the
scene as if to say, Now see for yourselves
the corruption that is undermining your
liberties" The air was soft and refreshing
and the sweet fragrance waited IN the
breeze from the many beautiful flowers that
bedecked the numerous gardens in the
neighbOrhoOd of my lodging induced
me to take q stroll on the banquette,
and enliven my appetite for breakfast.
Once outside of the house, | turned my
steps toward the business portion of the city.
About twenty minutes walk conducted
me to the corner of Camp and Canal |
streets: and there on Canal street, the |
beautiful promenade of the city, the sight |
that my eyes witnessed shall never be for
gotten. Soldiers and citizens, horsemen
and fOOtmen, carriages and drays, all min |
gled together, pushing and pulling, talking |
and shouting, and one and all of them |
using their utmost endeayors to reach one |
certain point first it was indeed complete |
noise and confusion, such as was, in my |
opinion, never witnessed before in that or
any other city. The people seemed deter !
mined to maintain their rights, and vote to |
a man. The military and the officials of
the government were as determined on
their part to intimidate the people and |
elect their choice. The officials of the gov
eminent, to make sure of victory, compelled
the people to poll their votes at Fort Casey, |
which place they had strongly garrisoned |
with military, and at which place none
could vote without a certificate of citizen
ship from the commander. When the peO-
pie were notified of this fact, they declined
to vote, and expressed themselves in a
manner not to be misunderstood. They
quietly withdrew from the confusion and
the artillery Of the fort, to consult with
their leaders and consider the situation.
The bread and butter men of the govern
H., Ill
when candidates of the government were in
question, set to work to elect their choice,
and declared themselves the only and
legal representatives of the people; when
in their language they only knew and
spoke to the colOred people who, through
a misunderstanding Of their designs, they
induced to adhere to them. They talked
about liberty, while soldiers were under
their command to drive tie people from the
every law of their making contained an in
situation Of inferiority i'll one class of the
people, such as without regard to race,
color" etc. But they had gained their OBJ
Jet. The people had bOlted, as they
termed it. They were again masters, and
this time they were to make themselves
more felt than ever for while the people
were assembled under their leaders to pro
test against the proceedings of the officials,
and petition the government for redress,
they were attacked by the soldiers under
the officials and brutaIly beaten and muir
iered in the streets and on their own door
steps as rioters and disturbers of the peace.
The election of the officials was proclaimed
legal, and again the people were defeated
by treachery and fraud. But this last out
rage made rebels Of tie petitioners, and the
pc pie few to arms in defense of their
homes, their lives and their liberties. The
day after the election some of my friends
Aft Ne " Orlaara for thai,. Nnrtl,on,o l,-o,,o. |