Semi-weekly Louisianian. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1871-1872, 1871-10-29

this great nation combined with that
OF Europe, with the good offices of
our Government, is surely sufficient
to hasten the abolition of African
slavery throughout the world. We
sincerely trust that expression may
be given to such sentiments as will
attract the attention and influence
the conduct of those few remaining
nations that still maintain slavery
as a legal institution.
1t is our privilege, in addressing
you, to utter the voice of four mil
lions of citizens of this great COM
try. That voice is addressed to
those whose humane feelings rem
dered practicable that consummate
act that elevated so vast a body at
once to the enjoyment of civil an
political manhood. 1t is not too
much to anticipate that partiality
for the work that owes it's legal
completion to you, will influence
you to watch carefully the develop
ment of its practical results; that
no perversion from the purposes of
your bounty shall prevent the full
fruition of the great principles of
justice that actuated you.
The growth of this nation has
shown that its institutions are cap
able of blending into an harmonious
brotherhood all nationalities and
all interest and industries In all
other instances than shat of the &C
cession OF our race to citizenship,
the accretion of the elements of it's
population has been gradual
giving time to complete the process
OF assimilation. In our case. we
are we'll aware that there was much
to alarm the apprehensions of those
careful statesmen who hesitated to
speculate as to the strength of our
institutions much beyond what was
demonstrated by the precedents in
parallel cases in Europe and in our
own country. The instantaneous
embodiment of four millions of citi-
zens who had for years looked
upon the government as not only
denying them citizenship, but as
preventing them from acquiring
that capacity under any other ma
tional existence, was, it must be
admitted, startling political fact.
But we are happy to point to the
proof of the wisdom. of those who
regarded that course the safest that
was indicated by the demands of
justice. We are proud to be able
to point to the history of our peo-
pie since their admission to citizen
ship as proof that they understand |
what is due from the citizen to the
government owing him protection. |
Although they have suffered much |
at the hands of those who would |
deprive them OF their rights, they
have appreciated the difficulties and
embarrassments that necessarily
surrounded the attempts OF the
government to vindicate their rights
and have waited uncomplaingly I'M
til relief could be afforded ; although |
many times they could have found |
instantaneous relief by initiating
their oppressors and taking the law |
into their own hands.
We would call attention to the |
fact that the comforting of citizen
ship on our people, though the oc-
casion, is not the cause of the agita-
tons that have affected the country.
The true cause is the spirit of OPP
position to whatever is enlarged
and unselGsh in our government,
and that does not inure to the ex-
elusive interest of the privileged
few which has seized upon the act
of the Government as a means of
shutting out of the Southern States
liberal and national ideas.
We affirm, without fear of con-
tradiction, that the colored citizens
OF the United States have conducted
themselves as good citizens and
have displayed aptness to discharge
their civil and political duties, as
well as an intuitive fitness for that
form of Government which we
Justly regard as the highest expref.
sion of civic wisdom.
Under these circumstance, and
with the proofs Of the truth of our
abundant on every hand,
we ask your fullest confidence and
sympathy. We cannot point to the
work of our fathers commingled
with that of yours in the noble
structure of Government we all de- .
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