New Orleans Republican., 1873-03-26
C0LORED PEOPLE In COUNCIL
ST. JAMES CHAPEL THRONGED
NO COMPROMISE WITH INJUSTICE
Speeches by Hon. William e. Brown. T.
Morris Chester, Esq, Hon. james
H. Ing graham, T. de =. Tucker
and Others.

thronge3 last night with large and intel
ligent audience OF ladies and gentlemen
assembled in pursuance to a call published
in the REPUBLICAN.
The meeting was called to order by Gen
eral Alexander E. Barber, who called
Lieutenant Governor c. c. Antoine 20 the
chair.
The Lieutenant Governor came forward
and was received with applause. He re-
turned his thanks for the honor conferred
upon him in modest way. He stated tie
object of the meeting to be TO congratulate
the American people, and especially the
Congress of the United States, in behalf OF
the colored people of Louisiana. on the
happy result of the late troubles through
which this people has had to go, as well as
| to render thanks to those who aided in
bringing about this fortunate consumma-
ton. He observed that the colored people
of Louisiana had been made to suffer griev-
iOusly through the periidy, venality and
corruption of many men in whom they had
| put their trust; but that the cOlored people
| OF Louisiana, numerically the strong
es. at the polls, would be prepared
| in the future 60 maintain their
rights without calling for help from others,
| even AZ other classes maintain their rights
for themselves. The colored people had re-
solved to take their political destiny into
their own hands, and were they to be again
| betray ed, on their own heads be the shame
/ of it. This is not an Indignation meeting
| it is not called to find fault with anything,
but only TO show the people of the entire
State that the colored masses are awake
and vigilant, even while they are grateful.
Hon. William 6. Brown was introduced
as the first regular speaker of the evening
The gentleman stated that no class so
deeply as the colored people was inter
ested in the results of the late struggle in
Louisiana, for with them everything was
at risk. This meeting was therefore called
of colored people, but through no disrespeet
or discourtesy to theirswhite brothers. 1t
was deemed better for the colored people
to speak out for themselves, and then sub
NIT their work to their white Republican
friends afterward. 1t was proposed d week
ago that few cOlored men holding office,
and SO having no personal grievances to re-
dress, should be a committee TO organize
this movement. That committee met to-
gether and instructed the speaker to pre-
pare and submit the following address on
the state of affairs in Louisiana:
The condition of affairs in the State and
nation in which the dearest interests of the
colOred people are concerned, having as
sumed such an aspect as to demand an
preston from those who compose 65, 900
out of the 10000 Republican votes in Louis
lana, we representing them and their most
vital interests. in solemn council assembled
do declare and proclaim the folio wing senti-
ments upon the political situation:
!. While We rejoice over the triumph of
justice which has sustained republican
government chosen by a majority Of the
people of this common wealth, We recognize
III the impartiaiity OF our courts and the
intieXibility OF the federal courts and gov
ernment that right is to be protected and
wrong rebuked. irrespective OF race or
color.
.. We are profoundly grateful to Hons
William II. Hunt, E. C. Billings and j. X.
Beckwith for their eminent professional
services in behalf of the legal government
and the people of Louisiana, in the case of
William Pitt Kellogg VS.. Warmoth ct ais.
but more especially are we indebted to the
penetration, firmness and integrity of Judge
T. H. Durell, of the United States District
Court. who preserved liberty and res
cued our imperTled State government
by a just construction of American law.
That recognizing in Senator Morton a
true friend OF the oppressed and a staunch
supporter of republican principles and free
Institutions, We tender him the cordial
thanks OF the colOred people of Louisiana
for his manly and powerful advocacy OF our
cause i'll the recent congressional investiga-
tion and in the United States Senate: we
are also grateful to Senators Flanagan
West and those other Republican Senators
who sustained our cause; that we offer our
congratular Ons 10 our State government,
aud pledge it our undivided support IN car
ryrng out the principles of the platform OF
the party upon which it was elected.
3. That our sincere Acknowledgements are
due and are hereby rendered to President
Grant for his unswerving devotion through
out his administration to the perpetuIty and
extension of republican principles in the
nation, and for his righteous ecognition of
our legal govern me 1t and his numerous |
good offices in benalf of equal and exact |
justice to all men.
!. We declare our unfaltering adhesion |
To the principles of the Republican party, |
but confess that our confidence has been |
weaken d, and our hopes disappointed i'll |
Ohl SoISlCoSiOHdI uoItSdGluIy WHO, tlt-
waited to position and influence by our suf |
frages, have ignored their constituents in
the distribution of their patronage.
>. We recognize in Hon. Z. Is. 5. Pinch /
back the representative man of his race,
and the most popular Republican in Leuisi
ana the true friend of the whole people, and
the pride OF his constituents; a remarkable
example of perseyering industry and a
brilliant illustration OF free institutions,
and, standing as he does, conspicuousy be-
fore the nation, we point to him with pride
as one OF the few members of Congress
elected from Louisiana since reconstruction
W hose skirts are free from the suspicion OF
fraud and corruption, and who represents
a constituency that delights to DO him
honor.
e. We are deeply panied at the failure To
accord 70 Hon. 7. B. s. PiDchback his seat
ia the United States Senate, to which he |
has been elected by the General Assembly
Of Louisiana, body elected by the people,
lr rgalized by the highest Judicial tribunals
of the State, sanctioned by the federal
courts, recognized by the United States
Senate, and protected by the President;
and sboud this injustice be perpetuated by
4 Republican Senate, We fear that it would
be impossible, under the popular revulsiOn
IN one band. and the powerful and pro-
rres-.ye influences now in operation by the
opponents of Republicanism on the other.
o guarantee the fealty Of the masses OF
,ur people 10 the Republican party in the
uture.
:. The exclusion by the Louisiana con
-ressional delegation of Governor Pinch
,ack and Hon. John Ray, the two recog-
lized leaders Of the Republican party and
Is noted elements OF strength, from con-
ultation in dispensing federal patronage in
1ousiana, was an act offensive 10 Us, winch
alls fer our unqualified condemnation, and I
lore than demonstrates that our conf
ence has been misplaced.