The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1872-04-06
A d ID Il II S S
STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEE
OF THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF LOUIS.
lana.

The primary object in calling - con
venti"n at date earlier than would
have been dune under ordinary circum-
stances. is To secure and perfect
organization of the Demo-
cratic party throughout the State
The accomplishment of this result a.
an element of success is too important
to admit of delay, and the necessity
for its immediate attainment is render
ed the mare urgent by the present con-
ditinn and probable operation Of the
registration and election laws.
We have labnred strenuously for a
modification of these and coguate laws.
and with the single object of restoring
tn the people their rights of seLf-gov-
eminent. The extraordinary powers
with which the Executive had been
armed. the corrupt dispensatipn of his
was; patronage, the holiness and fire.
qurncy of his usurpution of power to
strike down those in his own party who
refused to become his personal adher-
ents, his repeated acts of political
trrnchery TO the colored race whose
votes had elevated him to office, com
binrd to create i'll 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-
car votes, with the party of the Execu-
tive in the General Assembly. Gov.
Warmoth had had the article in the
constitution rendering him Ineligible
for a second term abrogated, and in
view of his political isolation, by the
detection of the colored voters, it be-
came manifest that his surrender of any
of his political pow.r or patronage
would practically result in his ubdica-
ton. Easily or willingly deceived
were those who thought that he could
personally or politically afford to mod
Ify single law IN the interest of the
! people. The view first entertained by
your committee, that the maintenance.
of all these Infamous aud oppressive
laws were the political life blood of
the Governor, has been verified by the
fact that, although the Legislatu has
] been with full houses legisiaiing for
| two weeks, with majority obedienily
Submissive to Executive dictatinn, the
Executive, as he intended, has succeed
ed in classifying his professions for re-
f"rm by defeating every effnrt to that
end that has been made by the Legis
lature. The alternative was presented
to engage in fragrant conspiracy with
the, Governor to fraudulently defeat
the popular will and imposing upon
ourselves the deba>ing humiliation of
eleciing him Governor or to endeavnr
ny honorable means to obtain the de-
sired relief to cur people
These views and considerations in
ducrd Us to approve and cordially in
d"r>e the temporary arrangement made
with the anti Warmnth Republicans
t'r certain specified remedial purposes
Ii involved only "a question Of voting
Ia the tw" Houses by partie. having a
, common interest aud common object.
\" compromise of principle was asked
or given by either party. The great
Est caution was used in the propositions
agreed to that no political significance
could be- prediclted of this rrformato
~ combination. 1t was To expire as
it has expired by the very limitation
gifts object, and each party has emerg
ed from the combined effort with its
political integrity Unimpairpi. its pu-
litical attitude unchanged, and its
aims unbiased by past action.
Its needless to recapitulate the
revolutionary proceedings to which
the Governor resurted, such as taking
armed possession of u coordinate de-
partment of the government, calling
an extra session when the General As
sembly was in regular session and only
notifying his personal adhe rents, max
ing repeated acquisitions upon lucal
commander of United States troops.
expelling by armed violence the legal
Speaker of the House and many mem
bers. We refer to these uaprrcedent-
ed acts. to remind the people that the
Governor did not and will not hesitate
to Initiate revolution in our midst
whenever he discovers that by legal
and constitutional means an attack
agninst his autocratic prerugatives is
meditated, lfto-day the people have
not controlling voice in Legislation;
if their hurthens have not been light.
ened, if their political rights have not
been restored, and they have the pros
peat OF turbulent election in Nuvem-
ber, the responsibility rests upon those
who have put their trust in Governor
Warm"th, who has had the time, the
opportunity and the power, but not
the intention, to accede to the demands
of the people. We record the sad fact
that the proximate cause Of our failure
to attain those beneficenf results was
the detection of those Senator'S and
Representatives who, representing