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

being deprived OF MONIES anu employ
ment as a means of subsistence, were
made by the landholders and employ
ers of our respective States. These
threats were in many instances carried
into effect, 1t was found, however,
that the necessity that existed for our
labor, left in our hands power suffi-
Gent to thwart the effort for our sub
lection.
To meet this new difficulty, resort
was had to secret organizations, with
a view to the control of the masses OF
the colored people by the murder OF
the prominent men of our class, and by
the infiction of bodily pain upon a
certain number of their followers. AS
the means proposed involved the
commission of the highest crimes
known among men, the protection OF
oaths, secret organizations and dis
ouises 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 husbed
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 fol-
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 fol
separate action will cease, and, in COM
mon with all other citizens, we can
take our places wherever the interest
of the government, industry or hui
mainly may appoint recognizing only
Que standard of duty, interest or pol
icy for all citizens.
We do not ask the government oil
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 nc
desire to strike out a line of policy fol-
their action involving interests not
common to the whole people.
While we have; as a body, contrib
uted our labor in the past to enhance
the wealth and promote the welfare o.
the community, we have as a class
been deprived of one of the chief ben.
efts TO be derived from industry
namely: the acquisition of education
and experience, the return that civil
cation makes for the labor of the indi
vidual. Oar want in this respect moi
only extends to general education anG
| experience, such as fits the man Il
adorn the society of his fellows, but b
that special education and experience
required to enable us to enter success
fully the departments OF a diversified
industry.
! We ask that your representatives il
Congress may be instructed to affort
such aid in extending education to tn,
uneducated classes in the States W,
represent as may be consistent witt
the financial interests of the nation
Although we urge our unrequited la
bors in the past as the ground of thi
appeal, yet we do not seek these ben
efits for ourselves alone, but for tn,
| white portion of the laboring class il
our States, whose need is as. great a
ours.
i In order to secure the promotion O
our industrial interest, you can rende
us assistance. It is true we have II,
demands to make of the National Gov
eminent in this respect; but it is il
the power of the people of the Unite,
States to aid us materially. In orde
to advance cur knowledge and skill
in the industrial arts, it Is necessar,
that we should have the advantage
of the means employed in the countr,
, at large for these purposes. That il
preparing for industrial pursuits an.
i'm uniting orr skill in onarafin,, t,-