The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1872-08-10
The COlOred Vote of Louisiana.

value the intelligence of Greeley's
supporters among the colored men of
this State, ascribing our attitude to
the influence of Gov. Warmoth's pat
ronage. hold no place under him,
and the great majority of Greeley's
cOlOred friends do not. Allow me to
say word in yindication of my peo-
pie.
The colored man in the South was
initiated into the mysteries of suffrage
by white men who magnified the
sacredness of the political oath ad-
ministered, and intensified supersti-
tiOus fears as to the penalties which
would overtake the colored man who
tried to escape from esoteric bondage.
ThOugiIiyfagues are no longer in ex-
istense, the colored man still sliyers
with fear at the ghosts they have left
behind them. In every parish of this
State, there is some one white man
who distributes ballots forall elections,
and the majority of colored people
will take no other ticket than the one
sent by this authorized distributor.
The hailing signs, watch-wOrds, and
grips of the pass, have been trans
lated into size, color, and device, as
to these tickets. Two sets are gener-
ally printed, and if the first is found
to have been eonnterfeited they are
called in, and ON the day of the cleo
ton, or the night before, the other set
is distributed. am particular in this
statement for two or three reasons.
The first is that / may make our
Northern friends understand that the
intelligent colored men, who know of
Mr.. Greeley's labors, are Intercepted
in every effort to make his merits
known as an original Ab0litionist,
and as the journalistic founder of the
Republican party. The Federal Office
holders have more time and facilities
for reaching our race than any other
class, and they use their oppOrtuni-
ties, first of all, to discredit the loyal
ty of all colored men who are indie
pendent of them, and next, to put the
most ignorant colored men from the
country on Parish Committees, headed
by Il white earpet-bagger, and into
Conventions dominated by the Gus
TOM House ut New Orleans
Our friends should know of these
facts for another reason. When this
State is carried for Greeley and Brown
the result is likely to be credited to
our white friends entirely. This
would be unjust. The colored man is
the forlorn hope in the coming contest.
If Greeley does not get at least Il
fourth of our vote he will not win.
| think he will get at least 10000 out
of the $1,000 colOred votes of this
State. Such force, led by Pinch
back, who combines in himself near
ly all of the best elements of leader
ship, when added to the Liberal and
Reform vote, will sweep the State.
The other thing l wanted to say was
that the revolt from Grantism is made
by the most intelligent portion of the
eolored people here. During Gen.
Grants term, he has held sway over
the minds and hearts of the colOred
people of. this State simply as the
head of the Republican party. They
questioned neither his past political
record nor his present acts. He was
the best leader they had, and they
sought for no other. But since Mr..
Greeley's nomination, the more intel
1igent of them argue somewhat in
this vein: Mr.. Greeley is the apostle
of the Abolition press; Gen. Grant
is simply the official leader of the
party that Mr.. Greeley founded. Mr..
Greeley has never taken back any
thing he said in favor of the negro !;
Gen. Grant has never recalled an APP
pointment unfavorable to the negro.
Mr.. Greeley says what he thinks; Gen.
Grant keeps what he thinks to him
self. Mr.. Greeley is supported by
Julian, Tilton, Sumner, and many
other Abolitionists Grant is upheld
by COnkling, pro-Slavery aristocrat,
aud Morton, an old. time Democrat.
Greeley has made the Democratic
party drop their opposition to our
rights; Grants Congress was afraid
to pass the Civil Rights bill. Greeley
is in favor of each State managing its
own political conventions and cleo
tions; Grant supports the interference
of Federal officials. Greeley is in IA
yor of harmonious relations between
the white and the colored people of
the Sonth; Grant keeps officials in
power who will not allow the colored
people of the South to come in con-
tact with the native whites. When
Greeley blunders he blunders into
kindly deeds; Grants blunders are
all sinister ones. In short, all Grants
claims ARE of military character, and
SO are the dangers threatened by his
continued rule. These are their gem
eral reasons, and think they are
good ones, for abandoning Grant and
supporting Greeley.
SELLA MARTIN.
SHREVEPORT, La, July ii, 1872.