The Opelousas courier., 1872-03-09

rendering him ineligible Tor second term afro
gated, and in view of his political isolation, by
the detection of the colored voters, it became
manifest that his surrender of any of his political
power or patronage would practically result in
his abdication. Easily or willingly deceived were
those who thought that he could personally or
politically afford to modify a single law in the
interest of the people The view first entertained
by your Committee, that the maintenance of all
these infamous and oppressive laws were the
political life blood of the Governor, has been
verified by the fact that, although the Legisla-
ture has been with full houses legislating for
two weeks. with majority obediently submis-
sive to Executive dictation, the Executive, as he
intended, has succeeded in falsifying his profes-
sions for reform by defeating every effort to that
end that has been made in the Legislature. The
! alternative was presented to engage in a fragrant
| conspiracy with the Governor to fraudulently
defeat the popular will and impose upon our
selves the debasing humiliation of electiDg him
Governor or to endeavor by honorable means to
obtain the desired relief to our people.
These views and considerations induced us to
approve and cordially indorse the temporary ar
rangement made with the anti Warmoth Repub'
licans for certain specified remedial purposes.
| 1t involved only question of voting in the two
Houses by parties having common interest and
common object. No compromise of principle
was asked or given by either party: The great,
est caution was used in the propositions agreed
to that no political significance could be predi-
Gated Ct this reformatOry combination. 1t was
to expire as it has expired by the very limitation
of its object and each party has emerged from
the combined effort with its political integrity
unimpaired, its political attitude unchanged,
and its aims unbiased by past action.
1t is needless to recapitulate the revolutionary
proceedings to which she Governor resorted,
such as taking armed possession OF q coordinate
department Of the government, calling an extra
session when the General Assembly was IN regu-
lar session and only notifying his personal ad-
herents, making repeated requisitions upon a
local commander of United States troops, ex-
| hry, o1a +ha oEap nf
the House and many members. We refer to these
unprecedented acts to remind the people that
the Governor did not and will not hesitate to
initiate revolution in our midst whenever he dis
covers that by legal and constitutional means
an attack against his autocratic prerogatives is
meditated. If to-day the people have not con-
trolling voice in legislation, if their burthens
have not been lightened if their political rights
have not been restored, and they have the pros
pect of a turbulent election in November, the
responsibility rests upon those who have put
their trust in Governor Warmoth, who has had
the time, the opportunity and the power, but
not the intention, to-accede to the demands of
the people. We record the sad fact that the
proximate cause of our failure to attain those
great benefcent results was the detection of
those Senators and Representatives who. repre-
senting Democratic constituencies, allied them
selves to the political fortunes of the enemy OF
their people.
This call for Convention is made in no strict
party spirit, nor to maintain or advocate the
ascendency of political partizanship. At time
when the material interests of the State have
been made the object of legislative and execu-
tive robbery, when every household in the State
is afflicted by the ruin which has resulted from
the desolating legislation of the past few years,
when the poor man and the rich man are alike
made the victims of legislative and executive
spoliation when the absorbing question is that
of taxation, and the universal cry of the people
ia immediate redemption from local and State
misgoyernment, the duty of patriotic citizenship
is to silence the voice of mere party warfare.
The Democratic party being composed of those
whose material interests are deeply and directly
affected by misgovern1nent is by the very fact
of it's existence party of reform. Its aim, its
purpose, its spirit, it's cardinal principle, its
platform, is reform. The vigor of its uneeasing
attacks against corruption is the moving prin-
ciple of its political action, and it will mete out
its stern rebuke to all corrupt officials, whether
they be Republicans or faithless Democrats.
Its powerful organization can be efficiently used
as an agency to accomplish reform. 1t has now
a vast political machinery which set in motion
will, as it has done before, strike terror in the
midst of the present supporters of a corrupt
government, and it comprises the active, earn
est, working and voting classes of our people. |
The name in the approaching contest will be a
mere symbol, its rallying cry and political |
motto will be Reform, for though the Demo |
cratic party cherishes its time honored princi-
pies and will pay due heed to national politics,
it will appreciate its duty to the people by urg-
ing them to consider as the dominant issue the |
overthrow of the present State Government,
Federal politics to the Tedemp- /
tion of our oppressed State from local misrule |
The necessity for unity and harmony was never
more imperative than at this time. The Demo- /
cratic party, conscious of its political power
and determined not to relnqush its responsible |
mission to restore to the peoble their rights Of
will not hastily involve itself
in sudden or Ill advised political experiments,
nor will the people accept the suggestion of it's
dissolution from party whose only record 10 its
ill-timed birth. .zE .ssss .ss9--, /
Upon one question of vital interest to the peo-
pie the Democratic party will take determined
stand. After registration and upon the casting
of votes means will be adopted to ascertain the
result. Every candidate, Democrat or Republi.
can white or colored, is entitled to the office to
section of the election law which leaves to the
discretion of a board of individuals the power to
change that result is revolutionary IN its design,
it's operations and it's purpose, and mast be treated
by lie people not atpoH The statute book. If the
Legislature were to pass law that there should
be no registration, no election, and that board
,f five persons was appointed to select your
Governor, Representatives. and other officers,
the people would hold an election and install
their officers, if need be by force, and their ac-
ion would be clearly legal. The same duty
1evolves upon them and they will perform it.
Ii Congress were to pass law creating parti.
,an board to throw out of the count Presidential
electors would the people of the United States
hermit that board to exercise it's revolutionary
functions? Can board or individual partisan
discretion supersede the constitution, the peo-
Die, the State This is not question to be de-
,ermined by the courts, but by the people in the
interest of popular liberty and republican gov
,rnment, otherwise this corrupt government
,an perpetuate itself in defiance of popular con-
iemnation at the polls This issue we sought
~ our previous efforts to avert. 1t is now fore
ID upon u.s. and we accept it, 9tssS a.4
We cannot too earnestly appeal to the people
10 send to the Convention the best representa-
ives they can select. QuestionsjEof deep mo
nent, affecting the material interests of the
State and the destiny of our people, will be de-
liberated upon and decided, and the Convention
will be charged with lnaugurating compaign
lpon whose issue will depend the rescue of our
iberties and the preservation of our prosperity,
he honor and pride of our State. We feel an
hiding confidence that the people will make a
roper response aud discharge this high trust
With fidelity to their true interests.
HENRY d. OGDEN,
resident Democratic State Central Committee.
THOMAS STEEL, Secretary.
~~- |
Democratic State Convention.