Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1872-02-10


,.st.apstarr message2te the beslsla;
.sro of which we give this week por-
, sn and viii publish the entire docu-
ment in our next lumber gA~v--l
= STATE 9F LOUISIANA j -
- Executir re Department.
Nm Orleans, Feb. 5th, 1872, ,
II the Honorable Mep.lrrs of the Sen
,te and House of REPRESENTATIVES.
Of tI,e( icneraI Assembly OF the state
of Louisiana -. -. =. ~ \
Thirty four days Of our session nave
,.an d;ss;na,ed in contests, the nature
Of which viii not discuss now, ons
which are familiar to the members OF
~onr honorable bodies, and which, per
sT ns,t0 add, have, tended much to
WEAKEN the confidence Of the people III
free government. ..gf,.. "a, u
ssgret the necessity that impels
me- 10 once more address you, frankly
SINCERELY and earnestly, on Questions
deeply, affecting theihterests and ieei-
ings o. the people Of TINS State. in,s
l shall do without unnecessary 'e1~
biare Crf ifculnlocation.SfW
TSere are laws on the statute hooa
rL;ch must lie modified and winch
,'o, are pledged in the most solemn,
s'',,ner "a modify in a way that VIII
make them acceptable to the great DO
dy of the people: fs-sss ~.
The public voice has spoken in tins
behalf with no, uncertain sound. and 1t
ia YOUR duty as representatives OF the
oeopIe tOgiye the rorce OF law to the
popular will without any further delay.
viii be candid with son. aud state
fat youra plighted faith is suspected
ON this subject, ewhen 80 much time Is
Wasted insielay. Every consideration
ofiustiee fo the people, TO yourselves
and to =. yseif, whose friends a large
ouml,er- ei yea are. requires that the
modification of these laws should re
s ssp,'J Ssef sr' II )4'e 'na ffh y
The, condition Of affairs in 1868
which induced and made necessary the
euacfmeut of most stringent laws Oh
the subject of registration and election
has &c ased, n great measure, to ex
ist. .3lA ~
The relations between the white an'
colored citizens OF this State--t'e'
unsettled and hostile-haye pow eeei
established on u basis OF quiet ahe
growing respect for the rights OF eacl
ether. % barely allade to the scene
of 1868. have no. wish to refer u
them, excel,t TO show that what ma.
have been then necessary Is uhlieces
sarypow. In no. State OF the Onio'
,,oessff,ercs exist more determines
spirit among all classes to MAINTAIN
thrxigigrs of'oar coloied citizens toa
in Louisiana at this time. And us
patural result, mutual confidence
RAPIDLY snringing up between the wv
rares, IN piaeeS et the hostility. leaioqs
and apprehension formerly exiStin
befxcp,as theIL; bxa,rto4 hgE. ISIS,
TIE stringent provisions OF the eie'
ton and registration laws, enacted
meet this disturbed condition Of soci'
tysxhouht NO longer be permitted
rrn,.ii y,u. the statute book, lint .shoui
hs made. 10 cn;ltorm To, the more el
liehte,sea condition OF public sent
farnt. nc
Care should 1be taken while m"dii
ing those faws TO retain every Prov
ion t,sas mays be necessary to prete
ana secure the weaker members OF 81
regulation full, free and equal adva
tages to yote for the men OF the
choice Tor Office. Without this g
equality of all men before the law b
comes a delnsion aud a barren boon.
The other provisions, that make q
machinery one-sisled, partisan al
dangerous to the liberties OF the Peep
when welded by an ambitious exec
tive, should be so modified that Z
breath Of suspicion OF nnfairne
should not attach to a victory ACHE
ed by either party at the election.
Il would sbe, much better for the
terests 81 society and the perpetulty
free institutions that the Republic
party should be defeated rather tn
that the opinion should prevail tn
it's success has been obtained by
fraudulent use OF officials powers a
extraordinary advantages in the ma
ipulath,n btiihe votes and sutirages
the people. lIf such a law is reqnir
to bolster up and sustain the Reput
can, party in this State, am free
say had rather it would perish. .
These are no new views OF mine,
simply restatement OF my anu;
message of 1870, more fully made
my annual message OF this year, a
which I nov desire to reiterate "
more distinctness and emphasis.
WE WATCHED HER BREATHING
Those who have in silent sorrt
watched through the long hours OF
night, The last lingering moments
one most dear, can best apprecl