New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-04-19
WHAT WILL The WORLD SAY?

We studiously abstain from any az
tempt to mislead or excite public feeling
in regard to the violence at Colfax. The
report of Colonel DeKlyne affords, how
ever, authority for certain conclusions
|. The invasion and attack on the citi-
zens of Grant parish was without legal
warrant or authority. In the first place.
it appears that C. G. Nash, the person
who headed the invasion, had received no
commission from the existing State gov
eminent and had consequently taken no
oath and given no bond for the perform
ance of his official duty. In the second
place, no sheriff can do more than call call
on the "power of the parish as posse to
execute his process or to keep the peace.
He had no power to accept all from be-
yond his jurisdiction. but should report
to the executive resistance to law which
the "power of the county" was insufficient
to duell, as an instruction. The inva-
sion and attack on the citizens of Grant
seems for these reasons 10 have been
illegal
2 The attacking force seems to have
abused the powers of the law, and even
the laws of civilized warfare. The build
ing into which the negroes had retreated
was set on fire, and they were shot down
on the spot or by pursuit. That
there was an abuse of advantages is rem
dered reasonable by the extraordinary dis
parity between the numbers of sixty
killed and twelve wounded, SO far as re-
ported. Such are the fruits of the teach
ing of the head centres of Fusion. This
conflict and its disastrous consequences
to the negroes will go all over the world.
Whatsoever of sympathy may have re-
suited from the elaborate and CT pdrte
statements of our political contest will be
absorbed in the revived prejudice against
our whole people as lawless and oppres-
sive. Right or wrong true or false. well
or i'll founded, there is a strong feeling in
favor of a fair experiment Of negro
freedom. This collision at Colfax will be
taken up by the Abolitionists and by all
interests rival to New Orleans. When it
goes to Wall street that four hundred la
borers in the cotton field have been
killed, wounded or driven away, there
will be little disposition to advance CAPT
tai to be employed in cotton planting.
The publication of the same statements
will be made all over Europe, as an argu-
ment why no emigration should seek
country where strangers may be involved
in q murderous conflict, and be shot or
plundered by either party. Even the Gus
tomary facilities granted the planters by
our own banks and merchants may
be restricted by the same consid-
Grafton. There may be just such
conflict and panic in any parish of
the State. and no one can foresee the
effect Of general immigration Of labor
upon the prosperity of the planter. There
may be those among us who would be
glad if every black laborer would quit the
country. These agitators might be then
left in control of the Offices. But
we warn those really interested in
the welfare of Louisiana that the
departure Of large bodies of labor
would ruin the planter. The loss of black
labor and the failure of immigration. even
for short time. would reduce the price
of lands greatly. This is a grave subject
of consideration for our landholders. In
the meantime we look with anxiety to the
expressions of public opinion abroad upon
the conflict at Colfax. If the old aboli-
ton sympathies are revived, We may find
letters from Charles Sumner and Gerrlt
Smith expressing their adherence Of
such violence. Another issue may be
presented. aud Louisiana affairs may be
regarded as unworthy the time or con-
sideration Of Congress.
Instead of discussion about the legal
ity of our State government, there may be
another committee ITO inquire into tie
condition of the late insurrectlonary
States, so far as regards the execution OF
the laws and the safety of the lives and
property of the citizens of the United
States" Possibly it may turn out that
the white people of Louisiana may have
been misled, as well as the colored people.
We will await the verdict of the world
abroad. What people here may say or
think about the situation matters little. 1t
is better to abstain from reproaches or re-
elimination until full and authentic in
vestigation Of the Colfax massacre shall
have been made and published.