New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-05-21
SENATOR CARPENTER AND TIE COL0RED
PEOPLE,

SENATOR CARPENTER AND THE COL0kkO
PEOPLE.
We present 70 our readers this morning
a very full and faithful report Of CONVEX
satiou which took place on Monday be
tween Senator Carpenter and number OF
leading colored men at the residence OF
Lietenant Governor Antoine. 1t was
frank and friendly interchange OF VIEWS
in which both the distinguished Senator
, the one hand, and his colored interlo-
cutors on the other, protested desire 1of
inflammation rather than to ventilate thelf
lrssneetiye views. As We publish nearly
everything that was said on the occasion'
we are exempted from repetition here
and merely desire to refer to the spiri1
that seemed to actuate the actors IN this
most impressive scene.
The colored men, representing nearly
everv narish in this State, eagerly en-
braced the opportunity to meet and TAX
with gentleman so high in the counseis
Of the nation as they know Senator Car
peu,e, to lie. They regard him as one
who can speak with most potential voice
mon matters involving their dearest IN
terests. Naturally. they assume that he
is .bei, s.auneh friend, and possibly they
were disposed 10 credit him with the pos
session Of more power for their good than
he or any other one man can command.
Ye. an intelligent, able. eloquent, honest
and successful man can do much for the
RICH. cause, and the colored people 'ntul'
lively felt they had such man with them
q. the time. His auditors on that occa.
sion, though few in number. there not
being probably half a hundred present.
are the delegates OF more than fifty thou
sand voters. They are emphatlcaiiy tae
leading colored men Of Louisiana. Upon
them and their constituents Will depend
the question for years to come
whether this State shall remain
Republican and home for the !aboring
colored man, or Democratic and relapse
into an immense jungle OF weeds and
deserted plantations. For we may refine
j, down 70 the finest possible point. and
prove. by theory and abstract reasoning
and specious arguments. almost any
political gina that professional pollf1'
clans may suggest; yet the fact will al
ways remain that the colored people will
abandon this State unless they.can have
q government here that is not only able.
bu: willing TO protect them. They tnc
existence hard enough now, and, with the
State and federal offices filed by their
political friends. are scarcely able to con-
tend with their hereditary enemies. Upon
all sides they are beset with foes who are
not vet even reconciled TO the idea that a
coIored man should vote. and look upon
his holding Office and receiving and dis
pensing public patronage as intringements
Of their hereditary rights. 1t was the re-
representatives. Of such men-the real bone
and sinew Of this State, the actual pro-
ducers of most Of the marvellous wealth
for which is fertile acres are noted-wbo
surrounded Senator Carpenter Oh Monday.
They regard the national government with
p sentiment Of love and veneration that
il is impossible 20 ove1rate. They know 1t
released them from slavery, and has never
refused 70 shield them with its protecting
arm. /: has taught their tyrants to
respec: its authority. and even to reverse
the odioUs rule laid down in the bred
Scot. decision: it has compelled respect
Tor the rights Of the colored race. They
ie!; on Monday that they were addressing
this grea. and pa.ernal government: in the
person of Senator Carpenter. They were
laying their grievances before tina: power
upon which they have learned to lean fol
their political existence. And therefore
they spoke their sentiments freely as to q
powerful friend, 70 enc by no means a
stranger: for they not only spoke com
mon language: but all the subjects
preached were familiar in their scope &c
every one in the ,oom--in tact to ali The
people OF tie nation.
Probably no Senator Of the United
States ever before occupied similar posi-
ton. lie was, though informally. con
stituted committee Of one 70 inquire. OF
behalf o; the United States. into the con
dition o. the nations wards: to hear wha
they had to say. receive information which
can no: be had in Washington. and Civ
the hes: advice at Lis command for tn
momen: upon each particular point 0
inquiry. We doubt whethes Senator Car
penter himself ever before spoke 10 1
body Of men cut o, Congress who have 81
large constituency: FOX the whole col
ored population Of the South are inter
ested in wha. was said on that occasion
And none who heard him doubted tina
they had an able friend and champion il
him. though they may have been nnabl
| to see al! the difficulties in the way whic!
| he attempted 10 set before them.
Orp MINISTER tn SPANISH AMERICA.