The Opelousas courier., 1873-10-04
The NIass Convention,
[From the N. o. Picayune, Sept. 90.


people of Louisiana, requesting then
to send delegates to a Convention, tt
meet in New Orleans November "a, fol-
the purpose of taking steps to bring
the Louisiana case before Congress al
the opening of its next session. We
will repeat that the address and resolu
tlons are well conceived and dispas
sionately expressed, without any alloy
OF bombast or fustian, which too fire..
quently disfgures documents of this
kind.
In regard to the propriety of calling
Convention, we are at loss to con-
ceive any valid objection on the part
of those interested in the well-being Of
the State, and who are, of consequence
opposed to the Kellogg usurpation
Yet, in the conviction that there may
be excellent citizens who disagree with
us upon this subject, we will. in antici-
patton of their objections, offer few
remarks i'll advocacy of the expediency
of calling Convention, as proposed
by the Committee of Seventy.
Firstly, we will assume that no ra-
tional and honest man pretends to
doubt the fact that the Radical State
ticket, Of which Kellogg is the repre-
sentative, was defeated by many thou
sands at the last election.
2. That the kellogg Government was
seated in power in defiance of the ex-
pressed will of the people, by force and
fraud on the part of the National Ex-
ecutive and United States officials, thus
not only outraging the fundamental
principles of self government, but plac-
ing the State in the hands of adven-
turers from abroad, having no interests
or feelings in common with the people.
3. The right to Government chosen
by ourselves is clear and indisputable.
Having been deprived of this right, it
Is proper and becoming that we should
use every feasible means to restore it,
But independent of this right, it is an
imperative necessity to the people of
this State that the abuses inflicted upon
them for many years past, and the ter
rible eXactions which are actually des-
troying the institution of property,
should cease.
The first step to accomplish this end
is a government chosen by the people,
administered by men identified with
the interests of the State and response
ble to the people for their official con-
duct; and not BY mere adventurers and
venegades, who, without principle, and
insensible to shame, have no policy but
spoliation.
The people, after years of suffering,
when hope was almost dead, united and
elected a government composed of men
their confidence, by whose
agency it was hoped that some portion
at least Of their lost prosperity would
be restored. Having up to this time
been despoiled of the fruits of their
victory, it is proposed that an effort be
made to the only quarter possessing
the power to give US relief-the Con-
gress of the United States.
But to accomplish this end, the peo-
pie must not supinely remain quiescent,
as their inertness and indifference will
very reasonably be ascribed to an ap-
proyal of, or at least an aceuiescence
in the usurpation. The people must
agitate. If they are by their apathy
apparently insensible to their own
grievances. they will neither obtain
sympathy nor relief from others.
Hence the necessity of the people,
through their representatives. assem-
bling in council, to interchange views
and organize plan of action by which
an effectual appeal may be made to
that august tribunal which holds our
destinies ia its hands.
These are some of the reasons which,
we think, should influence the people
of Louisiana to assemble in council to-
gether. We take upon ourselves to say,
in all confidence, that the questions to
be entertained by this Convention are
the grandest and most momentous ever
submitted to public assembly. They
are nothing less than for the recovery
of the lost liberties of a great State,
and all the blessings which flow from
freedom. Ii the downward progress
continues, the homes and property of
the people, and even civilization itself,
will go down before corruption and
barbarism. We think in all humanity
that the security of these blessings are
worth an effort.
No doubt some patriotic but despond
ing citizens are opposed to the assem-
bling of a Convention, from a aconvic-
ton of its inutility. They urge with
much piausibility that Grant is COM
mitted against us, and that Congress,
being largely Radical. is in sympathy
with our enemies, and, of consequence,
will give us no relief; hence we might
as we'll remain passive and save our
selves the modification of defeat. From
these views we dissent, recognizing the
truth of the premises. The conclusion
does not inevitably follow, as logical
sequence because there is power in
the land, above and beyond Grant and
Congress, who, we well know, have not
done us Justice. The power we refer
to is the public sentiment of the coun-
try. The moral power of public opin-
Jon is almost omnipotent in any coun-
try possessing even the form of a con-
stitutional government. Absolute mon
archs recognize its power and bow be-
fore its dictates. Controlled by its in
ffuence, Grant, the most arbitrary and
obtuse of men, deferred active inter-
ference in our affairs until he was sus-
tanned by the sham judicial DEGREES OF
Durell. And Congress, divided in
opinion, deferred all action.
Let us then make another effort in
our own behalf. With the report of
the Senate Committee in our favor, our
case il better understood than it was
last year. 1t stands out in naked de-
formity before the whole people, and
involves principles that will, if prop
erly ventilated, compel the people OF
every State in the Union to accord us
assistance, ii from no higher motive