New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-06-07
REFORM STATE CONVENTION.
Third Days Proceedings.

son found no difficulty in calling the CON
vention to order. Most of the delegates an
swered to their names.
Two delegates from the parish of Terre-
bonnie, accredited TO both Democratic and
Reform conventions, announced their in
tentiOn to withdraw from this body, and
they withdrew.
Mr.. r. N. Ogden read the report Of the
conference committee and made few re
marks advocating the report. He pro-
claimed this the sOphistical age, although
he is a member of the bar; did not wish
this body to be pinned to the tail of any
party, TO be switched in any direction at
the pleasure Of the rulers. In that case
Louisiana would be swamped forever. An
enduring peace can only be secured by
adopting a policy which will secure conf
denee in the cOlOred people. We must form
a coalition with some one who has power,
no matter how that power was obtained.
We can not afford to lose point 10 bring
tie honest men of our State together. We
be questioned. Governor WarmOth has
deserted the Radical powers in Washing
ton and the cOlOred men, but for all that
ignore him and his schemes.
The speaker continued in a strain of SEN
timentahty, trying TO prove that senti-
mentality is a great humbug. He despised
all schemes TO take up power which would
stand on their merits, and IN time their
power will grow into tens of thousands.
[Cheers.
Mr. E. A. Burke followed, and at first ex-
cUsed himself for the intrusion. He spoke,
in substance, about as follows:
Major E. A. Burke-l was in hopes that
some gentleman more able than myself had
risen before you to answer the gentleman
who has preceded me, but stand before you
t~2i Ofn in NV pIr I n
held an Office, nor sought an Office, and
have never been in any bills or political jobs,
and so l shall intend to place before this
convention the true statement OF affairs.
There is a proposition before the cOnven-
ton. Why do you want a coalition with
the Liberal Republicans Because it is
absolutely, essentially necessary. Because
the Democrats, the RefOrmers, separately
or unitedly, can not carry the election.
This we know, for the reason, first, that the
Republicans in this State, united, are in a
V-ry large majority, The negroes themselves,
united, are a majority over the whites. 1t
is known by everybody that there are more
negro men in the State IN proportion TO their
population by a very large majority over
the white men in the State, in proportion TO
the total white population. Besides
this almost all of the offices of the
State are in the hands of Governor
WarmOth's friends and the Liberal Repub-
leans; Ali Of the police juries in the
country parishes are vacant to-day, and are
TO be filed soon by the appointment Of the
Governor, besides many other Offices which
are vacant, owing TO their nOn-cOnhrmatiOn
by the Senate. The city government of
New Orleans with its several thousand en-
plOyes and the whole police force are IN his
hands. The appointment Of supervisors OF
registration and commissioners Of elections
are also in his hands.
Besides this, let me tell you that which
you may find out when It's too late, that
the people do not believe the general and
indiscriminate charges that have been made
against the Governor, unsupported by any
proof whatever, and he has to-day, by rea-
son Of his position, more personal friends
and more personal followers than any man.
You must not forget, either, that the Lib
eral Republican organizations are in accord
with the sentiments and feelings of tie con-
servative people of this State. and that
Governor WarmOth is the head and front
of these organizations. And you must also
not forget that if this coalition fails,
the Liberal Republicans of this State, in
which there are 10000 German votes, will
doubtless call a convention and nominate
straight ticket upon the basis Of the Gin
cinnati convention.
Now, it being conceded that the Demo
Gratis and RefOrmers can not unltedly carry
the State, you are presented one of two al
CeTnatives-either TO unite with the Liberal
Republicans on the terms they propose, or
TO submit 10 disastrous and overwhelming
defeat.
What do we understand to be the terms
proposed That the Liberal Republicans
snail have two officers On the State ticket,
one Of them being the Governor, while the
Democrats and Reformers are given the
Lieutenant Governor and the balance of
the State ticket. Are these terms hard
Are they not iberall when you consider
that with this coalition we are 70 have
assured TO US a Reform Legislature, good
municipal officers and a United States SEN
ator OF our own selection, and # you do not
desire Governor WarmOth TO remain as
Governor, You can kick him up stairs" 10
the United States Senate.
But the proposition of the Liberal Repub-
licans, as l understand it, is not, per Sc,
that Governor Warmoth shall be taken, but
that they shall have right to select the
candidate for the Office of Governor. They
don't dictate to You whom you shall select
for the offices you are to name, nor permit
you TO dictate to them whom they shall or
shall not name. You are not asked to bear
the responsibility Of their nominations, ard
can always shield yourselves from the Odium
that may attach TO them by pleading the
magnitude of the necessity which required
this coalition.
And now, it is well enough for us to IN
deTstand the result of the failure of this
proposed coalition. Ike arms Of the Gus
tomhouse or Grant Republicans are reached
out lmplOringly to him and to his friends
to come back to their party, and to save the
State from Democratic rule. The negroes
of all these parties, of the CustOmhOuse
party, of the Pinchback party, unite in i'm
ploring the Governor to be their leader in
80 z - H.. L.,
They tell him that TO their votes, to their
partially, he owes his position and eleva-
ton. Now, what will be the result if You
refuse to unite with his friends He will
necessarily be forced by his friends to unite
with them against the Democratic and Re
form parties as they unite together, breath
ing defiance. war and condemnation of him
and his friends.
Gentlemen of the city delegation, let me
suggest one point to you for your consider
alton in the interest of the white people Of
this State outside Of the city of New Or
leans. Go to the upper border Of this
State, and come down the Mississippi river
90 to the Red, Ouachita and the TeChe
rivers, and what do you behold Immense
negro maiOrities in every parish. Take
Carroll, Madison, Tensas, ConcOrdia, Point
CCupee, Iberville, East and West Feliciana,
East and West Baton Rouge, Ascension,
Assumption, st. James, st. John, st.
Charles. Terrebonne, st. Mary and st. Mar
tin; Caddo with its 10000 negro majority;
DeSOto, Bossier, Natchitoches, Red River
Grant, Rapides and Morehouse, making
twenty-six parishes in all. Now, l ask the
delegates from these parishes if they can
elect a single police juror or constable in
all Of these parishes put together?
Then, gentlemen of the city of New Or
leans, are we to insist that all Of these par
1o1 lo cd 70 .a,11o
negro Judges, sherifs, cOnstables, justices
$500 nd ,anl.an s.-..nr. ..