The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1871-11-04

OatilS, S6cfeU oiSdIAiA"eAoiN
.guises were fesorted to. we nave
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 pohtlcsai
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 or behalf.
We ask of you that you viii give 10
the Government the fullest measure
of moral support to enable it to COM
plete that which it so ausplclously
| begun, and that minor differences OF
| sentiment and policy may be hushed
while the nation is gathering up 1t J
length to purge the land of the toulest
crimes by the hand of justice. When
the nation was threatened with owl
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 It's
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 COM
mon with all other citizens, we can
take our places wherever the interest
of the government, industry or hui
mainly may appoint only
one standard of duty, interest or pol
lcy Tor all clGlZenS.
We do not ask the government OF
: people OF the United States to treat US
T 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
l bodies, and that, in the administration
: of the laws, no inviduous distinction!
T he made TO our prejudice.
We affirm that the colored people O
! the States represented by Us have az
9 desire to strike out line Of policy fol
D their action involving interests 40
common to the whole people.
: While we have, as body, contrib
: uted our labor in the past to enhane'
the wealth and promote the welfare o
|, the community, we have as = elias
. been deprived OF one Of the chief ben
e efts to be derived from industry
namely the acquisition of education
: and experience, the return that civil
. cation makes FOR the labor of the ipdi
. vidual. Our want IN this respect no
:, only extends TO general education an
experience, such as fits the man t
= adorn the society of his fellows, butt
! that special education and experience
= required to enable us to enter success
/ fully the departments of q diversifie
a industry.
= We ask that your representatives i
Z Congress may be instructed to affor
) such aid in extending education to tn
= uneduca5ed classes in the. States "
/
i the financial interests Of the nation
= Although we urge our unrequited Il
" bors in the past as the ground of th
& appeal, yet we do not seek these beT
d efits for ourselves alone, but for tll
white portion Of the labofing class
n our States, whose need is as great ;
Q aurss a
~ In order to secure Che promotion |
=, our Industrial interest, you can rendt
n us assistance. 1t is true we have L
~ demands 10 make of the National Co
( eminent in this respect; but it is q
~ the power of the people of the Unite
10 States to aid us materially. In ord
"a to advance our knowledge and SIX
n. in the industrial arts, it is necessal
ma that we should have the advantage
n of the means employed IN the countl
ur at large for these purposes. That
~ preparing for industrial pursuits az
"a in putting our skill in operation, v
nj should come in contact with educate
,ts and experienced workmen and be p
It Ill possession of the results of the
of skill and knowledge. IF the trad
IS and workshops are shut against u.s.
AZ cannot reach that point of excelIen
.as to which we desire to attain. We a
If your aid and sympathy in placing
: on the same footing in reference
:. the pursuit of industry as that enjoy
90 by other citizens. If after having a
H. cess to the means of becoming skill1
as workmen, we fail to attain that stan
ng ing,we are content to take rank amo
20 the industrial classes of the count
cb according to the degree of our pro
ms cheney. Should we be excluded fri
nb these benefits, state of things W
o arise, most prejndicial to the intere
nf 4ha clyi1Ied Iaharar namely tha &