New Orleans Republican., 1873-06-01

our case had not been correctly presented
to the Committee on Privileges and Elec-
tions of the United States Senate. Accept
ing the Senator's statement as true, we
must present our case properly before that
committee of the Senate at the next session,
supported by documentary evidence, staris-
tlcal facts, oral testimony, and by com
mittee of colored men, who, being on the
groundat Washington, will be prepared to
Offset, dispute, and neutralize the mlsrep-
resentations Of those, who, as evlnced last
winter, would not hesitate at doing any
thing that would make the McEnery gov
ern1nent success in Louisiana.
We know that the sponsor OF the Meme
~ government conceived that monstroslty
in iniquity; and strenuously attempted. by
fraud and these fingers, to place it in
power in this State. Action action action !
he telegraphed from Washington, meaning
thereby that the exertion OF McEnery s
friends alone would give him and their cor
spira"v ghost of chance to succeed.
So tonight, catching up the same words.
say to you, actIon action action !-coIcen-
trated, determined, but lawful and peace.
ful-must be resolved and acted OF by our
people, if they want, as l know they do, a
republican State government in Louisiana.
There is every guarantee OF the State
government maintaining every right, as
well as protecting the material interests of
the colofed people. We have colored
Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State,
State Treasurer, Superintendent of Educa-
ton, fourteen colored Senators, and over
forty colored men in the House OF Repre-
seltatives, and numerous other cOlored
men in office all over louisiana. A civil
rights bill, and Governor who Will enforce
it. We have all that people can wish for.
II will be our fault if We are foolish enough
to throw away the best chance we have had
since we became citizens Of this State. In
the number Of colored men who are In posi-.
tions throughout the State we have talent,
honesty and devotion to the interests of
our people, to which may be added many
honest and upright white Republicans who
are true to the colored people.
Now as to those men who are distastefu1
to Republicans, who have been appointed
to Office, say to you that is no cause for
opposition-I admit there is just ground for
compiaint-tO the State government. All
just cause of complaint can and will be re.
moved by the Senate when it meets. Pa.
tience then, and time are all that is neces-
sary TO remove even this cause ofill-feeling.
To perpetuate Republican, State govern.
ment'-the work of our hands and votes
is the work of the hour. Let us work one
and all to that end.
To the Democrats of Louisiana we say
that We have history Of which we are
proud. Our race furnished soldiers to drive
the British invader from our shores, and
again to restore the Union one and in
We paid taxes on twelve mil
lions of property before the war. and on
over thrice that amount now. We have
produced Cailloux, Crowder and a
nd Gloom their
fathers they have left behind them men of
their blood and race to carry on the good
work and live up to the examples set be-
fore the. We recall to mind:
FIrst-That our enemies shut their eyes
to these visible facts, close their ears to
these deep sounding truths, and are dumb
when asked to acknowledge these facts,
and their hands are closed by prejudice
when asked to applaud the efforts of a
patient, hard working, honest, bu: much
abused people.
Second-That the press, as represented
by the Picayune, Herald, Bee and other
kindred sheets throughout the State. ad.
vises our white fellow-citizens to crush US,
and hounds on depraved white men to in
suit, oppress and outrage US, and have hO
word Of condemnation of any outrage, muir
der or willful Misrepresentation of our peO-
pie. With an eagerness betting nobler
cause they assiduOusly and collectively do
all they can to create and foster an Odious
public sentiment of poisonous and malig-
nant hatred between the negroes and
whites.
Third-The Grant parish massacre is
willtuily misrepresented, and efforts and
arguments are constantly made to prove
that it was an act committed in de-
fense of the lives of the murderers. their
wives, mothers, children and property and
every excuse that fertile minds can invent
is adduced to excuse the whites, while at
the same time invention accuses the colored
men of crimes and excesses that the race
religiously condemn and are never indi-
vidually or collectively guilty of. No ex-
cuse OF any kind has or can be made that
will cause humanity to cease to condemn
"that massacre in any other light than
that of horror and condemnation. All the
perfume OF Arabia can not cleanse the
bloody hands of the perpetrators of that
fendish slaughter.
Until there is better feeling on the part
of the white toward the cOlored people, l
tremble for the prosperity of the State.
The colored people recognize and respect
the white peoples rights.
They demand and expect recognition of
their rights in return. Prosperity, peace
and its attending blessings will come to the
State only when there shall be an era of
friendship between the races, of her citi-
zens. Macaulay says, in one of his ESSAYS
that the removal of the civil disabilities of
the Jews did not make them Christians but
gave them a chance for their lives. So with
the negroes of America-their emancipation
and enfranchlsement has not made them
"white people, but it has given them a
chance for their lives.
White men Of Louisiana, let US live.
Mr.. President, am almost done, but can
not close until l have recalled the fact that
recently Mr.. Carpenter, Senator of the
United States, visited our city, heralded by
the Fusionists, the Two Hundred and the
renegade Republicans. All paid obsequious
attention to him, but when, after cOnsulta.
ton with the representative cOlored men,
he opened his mouth and told them some
home truths, they cursed, abused and de-
nounced him, thus adding one more TO the
many instances we can name OF the utter
contempt Tor Northern ID an, who. how.
ever honest, is a rascal if he is a Repub-
lcan and dares tel! them the truth and is
disposed to do right. We must re.
member that this Senator has told US
that our case was not presented TO
the committee as we presented il to him
when here. and that if, at the opening of
Congress. we would be prepared to prove
what we alleged. he had no doubt but
what we would save our State government.
Thus we have been admonished as TO our
duty. Let US one and all realize our past
fears, our present condition and our future
prospect. You will perceive that am not
now, nor have tonight failed to appeal TO
your Judgment and your better natures.
In a conversation with distin guished
member of Congress, faithful friend OF
our race in the days when the clouds were
dark and hardly a silver ray of hope was
to be discovered. he said to me: "Senator,
God helps those who help themselves
Let us al! take this home to us-each indi-
vidual in this assemby-and work daily
and hourly until success vii! crown our
effort IN saving the government of our
choice. Powerful agencies. strong int!u.
oxaos nro II. ,rari1 n dastrn1. rS I