New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-11-18


We are not insignificant and uninfuential
elements, gentlemen, in the prosperity OF
Louisiana; all its industries feel our pres
ence and would languish without our help.
We are important commercially now, more
than ever, as consumers. As hOndsmen we
consumed annually S0000.0 900, as freemen
$32O. .000, 600. and to that extent we stimulate
and build up the prosperity OF the country.
BY the accepted tables upon the subject, an
ableb bodied emigrant in the West is sup
posed to be worth $3.50 annually to the
wealth OF the country. We, a people with
muscle and endurance, and furnishing
million sturdy workers Of equal value with
the Western emigrant bring to the coun-
try's great aggregate Of products, in the
many forms that our energies assume, an
nually, $3.50. 900 900.
If domestic violence or foreign wars de-
manded rally around the country's flag,
we could furnish d half million of strong
arms and brave hearts for the service.
Whether as a soldier, consumer or a
producer, our value and status are fixed.
Honorable and influential, we can no more
shirk the duties OF the situation than we
can afford to foregO its privileges and
abandon its rights.
An additional reason for nov claiming
your attention to these commercial ques-
| tions is that in them, directly and indirectly,
| is found the guarantee of our social. civil
and political rights. The immediate effect
of pressing and perfecting the commercial
enterprises particularly referred to. is that
| that the Mississippi, cutting our State and
washing the borders Of our chief city, will
be the channel through which the intel
| ligent and unprecedented millions of the
West and Northwest will ship their pro-
ducts to Europe and receive return pro-
ducts through the same channel therefor.
The millions of values changed and inter
| changed will be followed by millions of
| owners, with large and liberal ideas.
The attrition OF thought and personal con-
| tact will wear off and destroy insensibly
but surely all preiudices founded on color,
| so that we shall no longer exercise the
| rights guaranteed by the constitution and
| the laws with lnisglvings and under suffer
| ance, but as freely and fully as though we
| had inherited the same for generations.
Gentlemea of the convention, permit me
| in conclusion to be somewhat personal |
think have reached just and sober esti,
| mate relative to the future of my race. Our
| condition is almost inconceivably better
| than before our enfranchiSement but we
| would come short OF a correct conception of
our condition, if under the exuberant and
| joyful feelings Of a new found liberty We
should count our lives q holiday. Freedom
has brought not only it's joys, but its duties
and its cares. Neither liberty nor citizen
ship are the portions of children, but of
men, and it becomes US, in the just appre
| citation of our high estate, to struggle
earnestly for indiviC uai advancement in in
telligence and in the virtues that adorn the
freeman, and for the public good.
| Gratefully apprecisting what my party
and my country have done for me, and
| highly prizing the continued and generous
confidence that my people have given me- |
propose in the future, as in the past. never
| to give up the ship nor forsake my people,
| but in the new sphere in which | am called
to serve them to give my best endeavors
and watchtul care to their interest. and
never to cease my labors until Hon. Charles
| Summers civil rights bill has become law
| and free Cuba part of our great country.
| At the conclusion of his address three
rousing cheers We're G wen Tor Senator Pinch
| back.
| The next speaker was Hon. James Lewis,
| who. alter occupying the floor for d few
| minutes, moved that committees be ap
| pointed to carry out several points men
toned in Senator Pinchback's address.
Mr.. w. H. Green followed, and after a
short, but remarkably able speech, moved
| that in addition to the above committees,
| a committee of five on statistics be mp
| pointed by the president. Adopted.
| Mr.. Burch moved that the address of SEN
| ator Pinchback be adopted as the express
| sion of the sentiments and will OF this con-
| ventiOn.
| Hon. James Lewis took the floor and
| urged the appointment of the committee
proposed by him.
| The question recurring upon Mr.. Burch's
! motion, it was submitted to the convention
| and referred to the committee on resolu-
| tiOns.
Mr.. Stamps moved that Senator Pinch
| backs address be referred to the committee
on resolutions Adopted.
| Captain Canonge, of Orleans, offered a
resolution inviting the Hon. J. 4. West,
| United States Senator, and Hon. w. P. kel-
logg, Governor of Louisiana. to address the
convention to-day Adopted.
Previous to adjournment the following
| committees were announced:
| Committee on resolutions-A. BertOn-
neau, w. II. Green, H. Mahoney, T. A..
| Cage, w. G. Brown, T. B. Ttamps, T. T.
| Allan, John Gair, j. Henri Burch, K.
| Blunt, William Harper, George Y. Kelso,
William Murrell, I. w. harrington, James
| Lewis.
Committee on nominations-Ed Butler,
! A. Bertopneau, w. G. Brown, c. +. Ladd,
L. A. Fullen, John Gair, j. w. Armstead,
Joseph Connaughton, G. B. Hamlet, J. f..
| Burton.
On motion the convention adjourned to
| meet again at II A. NJ. to day.