New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-07-19
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49,
sFFlcIAl JOURNAL or THE UNITED STATES
OFFlcyAL JOURNAL Of New ORLEANS


To the Editor Of the New York Tribune;
SrR-I notice efforts on the part Of some
Northern exchanges to underVaLue the III
teIligenee Of Greeley's supporters among
the colOred men Of this state, ascrlDmg our
attitude to the influence OF Governor " ar
moths patronage. / hold no place under
him. and the great majority Of Greeley's
colored friends do not. Allow me to say q
word In vindicati0n Of my people.
The cOi0red man In the South was lnl-
fiated into the mysteries of suffrage by
white men who magnifed the sacredness OF
the political oath administered, and in
tensifed superstitious fears as to the penal
ties which would overtake the eOl0red man
who tried to escape from esOteTic bondage.
Though leagues are no longer IN existence,
the colored man still shiyers 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 for all
elections, and the majority Of the c0lored
people will take no other ticket than the
one sent by this authorized distributor,
The hailing signs, watchwords, passwords
and grips Of the pass have been translated
into size, color and device, as to these
tickets. Two sets are generally printed,
and if the first is found to have been coun-
forfeited, they are called in, and on the day
of election 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 ev-
cry effort to make his merits known as an
original abOltionist and as the journalistic
founder Of the Republican party. The fed
eral office-hOlders have more time and tacil-
tiles for reaching our race than any other
class, and they use their opportunities, first
of all, to discredit the loyalty of all cOlOred
men who are Independent Of them, and
next, TO put the most ignorant colOred men
from the country on parish committees,
headed by white carpet-bagger, and into
conventions dominated by the Customhouse
at 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 col
Ored man Ia the forlQrn hope in the coming
contest. If Greeley does not get at least
fourth Of our vote he will not win. think
he win get at least 10000 out of the $1,000
cclOred votes Of this State. Such force,
led by Pinehbael1, who combines in himself
nearly all Of the best elements of leader
ship, when added to the Liberal and Re-
form vote, win sweep the State.
The other thing wanted to say was that
INC IENOAb AI0HH A1E6nbAbGu Is AAdu6 DY bub
most intelligent portion of the colored peo-
pie here. During General Grants term, he
has held sway over the minds and hearts of
the eolored people of this State simply as
the head Of the Republican party. They
questioned neither his past political record
nor bis present acts. He was the best lead
or they bad, and they sought for no other.
But since Mr.. Greeley's nomination, the
more intelligent Of them argue somewhat in
this vein: Mr.. Greeley is the apostle of the
Abolition press; General Grant is simply
the official leader Of the party that MF.
Greeley founded.
Mr.. Greeley has never taken back any
thing he said in favor of the negro; General
Grant has never recalled an appointment
unfavorable to the negro. Mr.. Greeley says
what he thinks; General Grant keeps what
he thinks to himself Mr. Greeley is sup
ported by Julian, Tilton, Sumner, and
many other Abolitionists; Grant is upheld
by Conkling, prO-slavery arist0crat, and
Morton, an old time Democrat. Greeley
has made the Democratic party drop their
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 elections; |
Grant supports the interference Of federal |
officials. Greeley is in favor of harmonious |
relations between the white and the colOred /
people of the South; Grant keeps officials
IN power who will not allow the colored
people of the South to come in contact with
he white natives. When Greeley plumbers
le plumbers into kindly deeds; Grants
plumbers are all sinister ones In short, all
Grants claims are of a military character,
md so are the dangers threatened by his
Ontinued rule. These are their general
easons, and think they are good ones, for
Grant and supporting Greeley.
SELLA MARTIN.
Shreveport, July IL, 1872.