The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1872-07-27
The CclOred Vote of Louisiana.

To the Editor of the New York Tribune;
SIR-I notice efforts on the part of
some Northern exchanges to 1lndervalne
the intelligence of GreeIey's suDnorterS
among the cOlOred men of this State.
ascrlbing our attitude to the influence Of
governor WarmOth's patronage. |
hold no place under him, and the ma
J0rlty OF Greeley's cOlOred friends do
not. Allow me to say a word in yidica-
tiOn OF my people.
The colOred man in the South was in
itiated into the mysteries of suffrage bv
white men who magnitied the sacred
ness of the political oath administered.
and intensified superStitiOus fears as to
the penalties which would Overtake the
colored man who tried to escape from
esoterc bondage. Though leagues are
no longer IN existence, the cOlOred man
still shlyers with fear at the gOshts they
have lett behind them. In every par
lsh OF this State there is some one white
man who distributes ballots for all cleo
tlons, and the majority of the colored
people will take no other ticket than
the one sent by this authorized diStriMn-
tor. The, hailing signs, watchwOrds.
passwords and grips of the pass haye
been translated into size, color and de-
wee, as to these tickets. Two sets are
generally, printed, and if the first is
found to have been cOunterfdited, tbev
are called IN, and on the day of election
or the night before the other set is dis
tributed. ''''
l am particular in this statement for
two or three reasons. The first is that
| may make our Northern friends m
derstand that the intelligent cOlornd
men, who know of Mr.. Greeley's 1abOrS,
are intercepted in every effort to make
ms merits known as an original abOli-
ZIONIST and as the journalistic founder
OF the Republican party. The federal
OInce-hOlders have more time and fa-
clllues Tor reaching our race than any
Otiler class, and they use their Opportn-
nlt1es, flrst OF all, to discredit the low
atty OF all coIored men who are indepen-
dent OF them, and next, to put the most
ignorant colOred men from the conntrIy 1
on parish committees, headed bv =
white carpet -bagger, and into conTan1
tons 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 re-
suit is likely to be credited to our White
friends entirely. This would be unjust
The cOlOred man is the forlOrn hone in
the coming contest. If Greeley does
not get at least fourth of our vote We
will not win. I think he will oct at
least 10000 out of 81, 900 cOlOred votes of
this State. Such a vote led by Pinchback,
who combines in himself nearly ali the
elements of leadership, when added to
the Liberal and Reform vote, will sweeD
the State.
The other thing l wanted to saw was
that the revolt from Grantism is made
Dy the most Intelligent portion of the
colOfeu people here. During General
Grants term he has held sway over the
mlnos = ~ ana an hearts OF the cOlOred people
OF TINS State simply as the head of the
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 intelligent of them argue
somewhat in this vain Mr.. Greeley is
the apostle of the Abolition press: Cen
Grant is simply the official leader of the
party that Mr.. Greeley founded,
MT. Greeley has never taken back
anything he said in favor of the negro ;.
General Grant has never recalled on nm,
pointn1ent unfayorable to the negro,
MI. Greeley says what he thinks Gen,
Grant Keeps what he thinks to himself.
Mr.. Greeley is supported by Julian, I'll
ton, Sumner, ndmany other Abolition
lists Grant is upheld by Conkling, A
pro- slavery aristocrat, and Morton. an
old Democrat. Greeley has made the
Democratic party drop their opposition
to our rights; Grants Congress was
afraid to pass the civilrights Bill. Gree
ley is in favor of each State mana ginr
its own political conventions and eIec7
tions; Grant supports the interference of
federal officials. Greeley is in favor Of
harmonious relations between the white
and colored people of the South Grant
keeps officials in power who will not al
low the colored people Of the South to
come IN contact with the white natives.
When Greeley blunders he blundels in
kindly deeds Grants blunders are ali
sinister ones. In short, all Grants
claims are of a military character. and
so are the dangers threatened bv his
continued rule. These are their gene
raj reasons, and think they are good
ones, for abandoning Grant and sun
porting Greeley. ~. :
SELLA MARTIN.