The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-08-02
The UniicatiOm of the People
the Only Pathway to Peace,
PpnSTHrr4v ana GAnA GnvnrRa
lmeRRt,

~ INV A-NtIbC VI lhC ~" ~ AAlNS I
do not intend to be diverted from
the great object | have in view. in the
earnest, honest and unseltiiSh advocacy
Of the just rights of the colored citizens
of Louisiana, and in the unification of
our people, by any personal attacks
upon myself through the columns of a
newspaper.
l certainly shall not notice the idle
vapOrlngs OF anonymous newspaper
correspondents. | am writing Over my
own signature, and the public, there
fore, know the source from which these
articles proceed, and can, therefore,
justly determine the amount of respect
to be paid to them.
A few words as to myself, before pro-
ceeding with the further examination
OF the vital question, now VOtuntarily
before the people, Tin my Opinion) for
the last time.
| have never held political office in
my life; | seek none, | want one.
In a long and very active life, most of
it devoted to the attempted ameliOra-
ton of my fellOwmen and the good of
the State, | would certainly be more
than human if | had not committed
errors. Through the greater portion of
my life | was a member and an earnest
advocate of that noble old organization
the Wing party. In my younger days
I supported the leading feature of
the original native American ~party-the
amendment and extension Of the natu-
ralizatiOn laws. When the KnOwNOth-
ing party was formed, believing it to
have the same object in view, I joined
it. Sent to the Grand Council of Phila-
delphia as one of the delegates from
Louisiana, | with Others) was refused
admission, unless | would take an oath
to wage war against the Catholic Rei-
giOR. This, the entire delegation re-
fused to do. On my return to the State,
having discovered the OSt6nSibIe object
of the national organization, | promptly
withdrew. | at once determined to cor
rect the error | had committed, and
supported Mr.. Buchanan for the Pres
idency as a religious duty, for the sue
cess of the Know Nothing party would
have been a blow struck at religious lib
city in this country. In the subsequent
canvass | was again free to support the
candidates OF my natural choice, Bell
and Everett.
In the more recent and unfortunate
struggle between the two sections of
our country, my heart was with the
South.
When the war ceased [ accepted the
situation, and yielded a constitutional
obedience to the Government.
| was prevented from taking any &C
tive part as a citizen in the political
affairs of the State, because I WaS dis
frunchised. Upon the change of the
form of the oath in the State COnstitu-
ton, and Oh the passage of the general
amnesty bill by Congress, | promptly
renewed my citizenship, registered as a
voter, took the oath to support the Con-
stitutiOn of the State, and intend to
keep that oath. And if every other man
IN Louisiana, vhO took that oath, aUiW do
the same, we shall 500 have peace, pros
perity, and good government in the
State.
| sOlemnly wore in supporting that
constitution Cart. 13) that
"All persons shall enjoy equal rights
and privileges upon any conveyance OF
a public character, and all places of bus
mess, or of public resort, or for which a
license is required by either State, par
ish or municipal authority, shall be
deemed places of a public character.
and shall be opened to the accOmmOda,
: ton and patronage of all persons, with,
out distinction or discrimination on &C,
, count of color"
, And further Cart. 1859 that-"all chill,
. dren Of the State, between the ages o.
Z, | OLA CtIlN U"OLOt -OAC SlidlA oO d0nAIUCCO u
1 the public schools, or other institution
of learning, sustained, or established by
{ the State, in common, without distinc
I ton ~Ofrace, color or previous condition.
= Apart from the policy, (arising out o
= the present political condition of affair
u in this State) Of permitting these pro
: visions of the constitution to becOmr
Il operative, how any citizen can by act
lively opposing them, reconcile it witt
the oath he has taken, [ cannot under
stand or appreciate.
~ No amount of sOphistry, sarcasm, 0
- ridicule, should induce any honest, in
= telligent citizen to attempt to evade O
avoid his paramount duty in this crisi
:, of the State.
As one citizen, Intend to respect thi
Is oath.
" As opportunity presents itself, I in
- tend to put into practical operatiO
every recommendation in the manifest
- to which | have affixed my signature
# And this is my answer to the question
h put to me at the mas meeting, and
~ all other questions which may arise OF
- of the declarations ratified at the mas
meeting.
II It is my determination to continue
e. battle against abstract, absurd and SIT
is pid preiudices, and to bring to bear tt
re force of my character, and all the lit
talent I possess, to break them dow
e, They must disappear; they UW diSal
o. pear. 1t is only a question Of tim
le 1t is our political duty to hasten it,
ne we desire to redeem the State. If v
do not want the entire cOlOred pOpuli
ton of the State to remain consolidate
a. against us, course is simple al
ly plain.
er From the close of the war, unto tt
al Inauguration of this movement, zoe hd
If driven the colOred population from I
er and we pretend now to express astOr
re ishment that they did not unite with I
~ By our suicidal course we divided Il
he population of the State, and it natural
We became the easy prey of bad and d
n signing men; and INSCRIPTIONS write
lie to-day, some of them the Instruments
We these same men, would have us still pu
is sue the same policy,
toll Will we ever awake to a true sense
is our danger? In order to do it, we sh:
we have to change some Of the watchm,
ill on the Press towers!
MS I. N. MARKS.
ely 9
RAILROAD.-We have been inform
ire through reliable authority that the IA
nd road is to be completed from Brashe
ess city to O%pelousas, and that in a year