The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1872-04-13
To the Democratic and Reform voters of the
State of Louisiana:

Rooms OF STATE CENTRAL Con-.
New Orleans. Feb. 90, 1872.
The primary object in calling con-
ventiun at date earlier than would
have been done under ordinary circum
stances. is to secure and perfect a
thorough organization of the Demo-
cratic party throughout the State
The accomplishment of this result as
an element of success is too important
to admit of delay, and the necessity
for its immediate attainment is render
ed the more urgent oy the present con-
dition and probable operation of the
registration and election laws.
We have lahored strenuously for q
modification of these and cognate laws.
and with the single object of restoring
tn the people their rights of self-gnv-
ernmept. The extraordinary powers
with which the Executive had been
armed, the corrupt dispensstien If his
vast patronage, the bnldness and fire.
quency of his usurpation of power to
strike down those in his own party who
refused to become his personal Adher-
ents, his repeated acts Of political
treachery to the colored race whose
votes had elevated him TO office. com
bined to create in the minds CT the
Rrpr blican opponents of the Governor
the serious apprehension.
The Democratic members of the
General Assembly were numerically
too weak to cope, unaided By Republi-
can rotes. with the party of the Execu-
tive in the General Assembly. Gov.
FWsrmoth had had the article in the
constitution rendering him ineligible
fora second term sbrogated, and in
, view of his political isolation, by the
detection of the colored voters, it be-
cane manifsst that his surrender of any
of lis political powsr or patronage
wohld practically result in hi. pbdics-
tor. Easily or willingly deceived
were those who thought that he could
personally or politically afford to mod
ify a single law in the interest of the
people. The view first entertained by
ysur committee, that the maintenance
of all these Infamous and Oppressive
laws were the pnlitical life blood 81
the Governor, has BEEN verified by the
fact that. although the Legislat ure ha.
been with full houses legislaiing fnr
two weeks, with majority obadiently
submissive to Executive dictstinn, the
Executive, as he intended, has succeed
ed in classifying his professions for re-
G form by defeating every effart to tina
;. end that has been made by tho Legis
!. lature. The alternative was presented
: to engage in fragrant conspiracy with
4 the Governor tn fraudulently defea
h the popular will and imposing upor
! ourselves the debasing humiliation %
. electing him Governor or to sndeavoi
!. ny honorable means to obtain the de
), sired relief to our people
: These views and considerations in
e dnced Us to approve and cordially in
d dorse the temporary arrangement mad
: with the Warmoth Republican
f fur certain specified remedial purpose
il 1t involved only a question of votin,
e in the two Houses by parties having
= common interest and common object
/ no compromise of principle vas askpt
10 or given by either party. The great
o est caution was used in the proposition
i agreed to that no political 81 gnifcanc
could be predicated of this r-formato
Ie ~ combination. 1t was To expire a
y t has expired by the very Limitation
e ofits object, and each party has emery
Is ed from the combined effort with il
y political integrity unimpaired, its pn
h iitical attitude unchanged, and it
aims unbiased by past action.
: tits needless to recapitulate IN
e revolutionary proceedings to whic
u the Governor resorted, such as takin
10 armed possession of a coordinate de
; partment of the government. calm
an extra session when the General As
y sembly was in regular session and onl
ie notifying his personal adherents, max
ing repeated acquisitions upon a lnca
y commander of United States troop,
Is eIpelling by armed violencs the legs
Speaker of the House and many men,
q bers. We refer to these urprecedeni
5 ed acts, to remind the people that tn
50 Governor did not aud will not hesita,
= to initiate revolution in our mid.
/! whenever he discovers that by legs
:. and constitutional means an attac
! against his autocratic prerogatives j
! meditated. Tito day the people bav
. not controlling voice in Legislation
if their hurthens have not been ligh,
= ened, if their political rights have No
- been restored, and they have the pros
~ pect of turbulent election in Novem
5 Der, the responsibility rests upon thns
s who have put their trust in GoveInc
- Warmnth, who has had the time, III
{ opportunity and the power, but n,
the intention, to sccede to the demand
) of the people. We record the sad fac
. that the prc1imate cause of our failur
> To attain those benefcent results wa
/ the detection of those Senators an