Wilmington journal., 1873-07-25
THE BEAUREGARD RESOLUTIONS.
RATIFICATION MEETING IN NEW
ORLEANS.

The mass meeting Of our citizens at
he Exposition Hall last evening, TO
the new party movement,
was a grand success, many being
forced to retire on account of the hall
not being of sufficient dimensions to
hold the press.
The audience was composed oil all
classes of our citizens, both white and
colored, the latter, if possible, pre-
dominating.
Over the platform hur 6 the national
colors, in the centre of which hing
the inscription
EQUAL RIGHTs-oNE FLAG ONE coUA-
TRY-oNE PEOPLE.
Col. j. d. Hill called the meeting
to order, and in a few words nominatl Il
Mr.. /. n. Marks to the char, he
taking his seat amidst loud applause.
Col. Hill then proceeding, read the
list of officers, they taking their seas
on the platform.
Mr. Marks then said: We come here
tonight, I hope and trust i'll God, to
Law upon the altar of our country all
the preiudices of the past, to rcco8-
nize all citizens Of the United States
as equals before the law, and, as L
trust, to unanimously ratify the manl-
festo sent forth by committee of one
hundred citizens of Louisiana, com
posed equally of the two races, which,
/ trust. has inaugurated a new era, not
only in our own State, but through
the length and breadth of our entire
land.
Mr.. Marks here read the resolutions
adopted by the COmmitte Of One Hun
dred Citizens and published yesterday
in the Picayune.
Mr.. Marks then resumed: Fellow
citizens. YOU will perceive that these
declarations are specifically made
They are set forth in fair, unmls-
taxable, undisguiscd Language there
nothing concealed i'll II solitary line
of the entire document-we mean just
what we say-and we believe that anti!
these recommendations be carried INTO
practical effect there will be neither
peace nor prosperity nor good govern
lneht III Louisiana.
Mr.. Marks also referred to the rcsO-
luton recommending equal rights III
the public schools, and referred to
article 135 of the State constitution,
which so provides. A voice from the
crowd here asked, "Will you send
vour children to the public schools ?
TO which Mr.. Marks responded by i'll
forming the audience that those whC
disagr with the object for which
the meeting was called could leave the
room but if they stayed they mus!
listen respectfully and without lnt"r-
ruption.
Mr.. Marks introduced Mr. L. L. NJ
lain, of West Baton Rouge, who Sp' IL
us follows:
SPEECH OF Me. AiLAIE.
1I.. Plcsidc7u, .t1icllds U12d teijOiC
citizc,t$ We have assembled here to-
day for the purpose of considering tht
propositions set forth III the resolutions
which have already been presented t.
you.
But in our State, and in other South
crn States, these wholesome maXllno
have been in part or wholly ignore Il.
In many places a desperate and rcc.l
less party has striven to wrest fl ON AID
deprive the colored man OF those
rights to which he Is entitled Iudcl
the laws of the United States and 81
this State. Such. men deny the doe
trine .>'that every part should pay ohe-
slicnce to the Will Of the whole F.; that
the community should guard the rights
of each individual member, and that
each member should submit to tho
laws OF the majority" They have N
stituted vile system of anarchy, "nC
therefore there exists Il sense and feel
of insecurity for life OF property
among our citizens, especially III nui
country par she's, which covers the fan
name of our State with disgrace; Lei
ther have they given up their lnt n
ton of visiting with murder, MAIN NJ
and arson, those persons whose con
victions of right and justice to the col
ored people are i'll conflict with then
own They have loudly proclaimed
themselves the superior race, whicI
they b!asphemously assert is by tie
fiat of Almighty God ard have an
nuuncel their determination! 10 keel
down, to depress and to degrade the
colorcd people by every means III then
power, whether legitimate on unlawful
But we have to day met upon Il plat
form which ignores and abrogates. The
brutal and abasing considerations I'll
account of which the colored race ha'
been 50 long oppressed. We have
have now met upon the broad, tirn
and enduring basis OF equal privilege.
and equal rights with all mankind.
The third resolution proc!limS ,Ili
united advocacy "by speech and pen
and deed of the equal and impaIti
exercise by every citizen of Louisiana
of every civil and political right guar
;nteed by the laws and constitution o
the United States, and by the laws o
honor, brotherhood and fair dealing.
We claim these rights a5 bein" Dfi
Httc according to law and equity, whil,
ut the same time We tender our grd!c
ful acknowledgements to our South-ri
friends for their ample, though t;ldy
recognition of thcIn.
Under the same category may be
mentioned the fourth resolution
which binds the sirners of these rCao
iItions to maintain and advocate tn,
right Of every citizen OF Louisiana &
every advantage hitherto enjoyed
solely by the white race, whether !,
public vehicles, steamboats,. theat: *
public schools, places OF public re-Dr
generally, railroads, and mechGnira
and industrial institutions. For thi;
liberal policy and the wise judiciou
concessions attendant upon it, / an
confident that the colored people vii
be duly gratiiied, and, moreover, vii
be pleased TO manifest their appre~.a
tive sentiments when occasion give.
the opportunity.
1t is by the practical application o
these principles that the colored peo
pie will be able to decide as 10 tht
sincerity and influence of the unitica
ton party, and to judge whether th'
illiberal prediud ces that have hereto
fore attended the mere circumstance.
of their birth and lack Of educati OF
have been swept away, and that the,
are no longer considered mere despiseo
hewers of wood and drawers Of water
but that orr white fellOw-citizens have
dec mis- o., 5i,.- them the opportuni
ty, i'll e> ) .,>L', ct, that they them
selves Ell ', for their moral, politica
and intellectual improvements; ane
that should there be any rivalry be
tween the two races in the everlasting
march of progress, the ono Will b'
armed with as equal advantages as til,