The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1872-03-30
To the Democratic and Reform voters Of the
State OF Louisiana:

STATE oil LOulslanh:
Rooms OF STATE CENTRAL Cox. D
New Orleans, Feb. %, 1872.
The primary object in calling 4 CON
vention at date earlier than would
have oeen done under ordinary circum-
stances, is to secure and perfect q
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 moro urgent by the present con-
dition and probable operation OF the
registration and election laws.
We have labored .trenuously for a
modification of these and cognste lnws,
and with the single object of restoring
tn the people their rights of self gov
eminent. Tn. extraordinary powers
with which the Executive had been
armed, the corrupt dispensatien of hi.
vast patronage, the holiness and fire.
quency of his usurpation of power 10
strike down those in his own party who
refused to become his personal adher-
en.s, his repeated acts of political
treschery to the colored race whose
votes had elevated him to Office. com
bined to create in the minds of the
Republican opponents of the Governor
the serious apprehension.
The Democratic members Of the
General Assembly were numerically
too weak to cope, unaided by Republi-
can votes, with the party of the EIecu.
tive in the General Assembly. Gov
Wsrmoth had had the article in the
constitution rendering him ineligible
fora second term abrogsted. and in
view Of his political isolation, by tn,
detection of the colored voters, it be.
came manifest that his surrender Of any
of his political power OF patronage
uould practically result in his sbdics.
tion. Easily or willingly deceived
were those who thought that he could
personally or politically afford to mod
| ify single law in the interest of tn,
people. The view first entertained b,
your committee, that the maintenance,
Of all these infamous and oppressiv,
laws were the political life blood o
the Governor, has been verified by tn,
fact that, although the Legisl allure ha,
been with full houses legisIating 70,
two weeks, with . majority obeiientl,
submissive to Executive dictstion, tn,
Executive, as he intended, hat success ed
I'd in classifying his professions for re-
form by defeating every effort to tina
end that hs. been made by the Lesis
lature. The alternative vas presented
to engage in a fragrant conspiracy will
the Governor to fraudulently defea
the popular will and imposing upol
ourselves the debssing humiliation o.
electing him Governor or to endeayol
by honorable means to obtain the de-
sired relief to our people
These views and considerations in
dsced as to approve and cordially in
dor'e the temporary arrangement mad,
With the anti-Wsrmoth Republican
for certain specified remedial purpose
Ii involved only Q question of Totins
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 proposition,
agreed to that no political aignificsnc,
could be predicated of thi, reformsto
~ combination. 1t va, to expire q,
it has expired BY the very limitation
of it's object, and each party has emery
ed from the combined effort with II,
political integrity unimpaired. its DO.
litical attitude unchanged, and it,
aims unbiased by past action.
tits needless to recapitulate the
revolutionary proceedings to which
the Governor resortsd, such Is taking
armed possession of Coordinate dc
psrtment of the government, calline
an extra session when the General a.,
sembly was in regular session and onl,
notifying his personal adberents, max
ing repeated acquisitions upon q loca
commander of United States troop,
eIpelling by armed violence the legs
Speaker Of the House and many mem
bers. We refer to these urprecedent
ed acts to remind the n.onl, IL. al