American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-07-05
THE NEW POLITICAL DEPARTURE
THE'PLATFoRM ADOPTED.


AS many of our readers do not
FULLY understand the precise nature
Of the Louisiana Uniticatiun pro-
Iect, of which q. I. Beauregar,l and
|. N. Marks are the head and front.
we give below the Platform for the
of all.
The New Orleans Herald says:
At u meeting in which each race
was represented by some fifty or
sixty of the most prominent among
them, the matter was discussed fully
in all its bearings, and the following
basis of compromise and union was
arrived at. 1t was adopted wIthOut
ii dissenting voice among those pres
ent, aud, inaug urating, as it does,
ii new political departure, pregnant
with interest to every citizen; we
place it on record.
PLATFORM;
Whereas, Louisiana is now threat
ened with death in every vital or
gan of her moral. material and po-
litical being; and
Whereas, her dire extremity is
bnt the fruit of unnatural division
among her natural guardians-the
children of her soil and of her iidop-
ton and
Whereas. we have an abiding
faith that there is love enough in
Louisiana among her sons to unite
them iii Il manful and unselfiSh
struggle for her redemption /; be it,
therefore,
ResOlred- flrSt--That hencefor-
ward we dedicate ourselves TO the
uuitication of our people.
SecOnd-Ihat by "Our people
we mean all Men of whatever race.
color or religion, who are citizens of
Louisiana, and who are willing to
work for prosperity.
Third-That we shall advocate
by speech, ard pen, and deed, the
eqnal and impartial exercise by eve
~ cilizeU OF Louisiana of every civil
and political right guaranteed by
the Constitution and laws of the
United States, and by the laws of
honor, brotherhood and fair deal
lug.
FOurth--That we shall maintain
aud advocate the right OF every cit
izen of Louisiana, and of every ciii-
zen of the United States, to frequent
at will all places of public resort,
and to travel at will on all vehicle
of public conveyance, uEOn terms
of perfect equality with any and
every other citizen; and We pledge
ourselves, as far as our influence,
counsel and example may go, to
make this u right-a live and prac-
teal right-and that there may be
no misunderstanding of our views
OH this point:
l. We shall recommend to the
proprietors of all places of licensed
public resort in the State of LouiSi
ana the opening of said places to
the patronage Of both Races inhAbit-
ing our State.
=. That we shall further recon.
mend that all railroads, steamboats,,
steamships and other public con.
veyanees pursue the same Policy.
3. We shall further recommend
that our banks, insurance Offices;
and other pablo corporations recog
nize and concede to our coIOred fel.
low citizens where they are stock.
holders in such institutions, the right
to be represented iu the direction
thereof.
4. We shall further recommend
that hereafter no distinction shall
exist among citizens of Louisiana in
any Of { ur public schools or State
institutions of education, or in any
other public institution supported
by the State, city or parishes.
4. We shall also recommend that
the prOprietOrs of all founlrieS, fac.
torres and other industrial estab
iishments, in employing mechanics
or wOrkmen, make no distinction
between the two races.
5. We shall encourage by every
means in our power our cOlOred cit
liens in the rural districts to become
the prOprietOrs of the soil, thus en-
hancing the value of lands aud add.
ing to the protluctivtness of the
State, while it will create IL political
conservatism which is the offspring
of rropriotorshIp; and we further
more recommend to all landed pro
prietors in our State the policy O
considering the question of breaking
up the same into small farms. in or
der that the cOlOred citizens and
white emigrantS may become prac
teal farmers and cultivators OF the
soil.
Fifth-That we pledge our honor
and good faith to exercise our mora
influence, both through personal AL
vice and personal example, to bring
about the rapid removal of all pref
udices heretofore existing again st
, The colOred citizens of Louisiana, i
order that they may hereafter EMO,
all the rights belonging to the clti
zens of the United States.
Be it further resolved, That we
earnestly appeal to the press of this
State to join and cooperate with us
in erecting this monument to unity
concord and justice, and, Ike our
selves, forever to bury beneath il
all party prejudices.
ResolUed, also, That we deprecatt
and thoroughly condemn all act,
! L.