Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-04-05

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 congratulations to
our State government, and pledge
tour undivided support in carrying
out the principles of the platform Of
the party upon which it was elected.
3. That our sincere acknowledge
ments are due and are hereby ten
dered to President Grant for his I'm.
swerving devotion throughout his
administration to the perpetuity and
extension OF republican principles in
the nation, and for his righteous re-
cognition of our legal government
and his numerous good offices in be-
half of equal and exact justice to all
men.
4 We declare our unfaltering adj
hesion to the principles of the Re-
publican party, but confess that our
confidence has been weakened, and
our hopes disappointed in our, Con-
gressional delegation, who, elevated
to position and influence by our suf-
frages, have ignored their constitu-
eCts in the distribution of their pat
rOnage.
5. We recognize in Hon. p. B. s.
Pinchback the representative man
of his race, and the most popular
Republican in Louisiana; the true
friend of the whole people, and the
pride of his constituents; a remarka-
BILE example of persevering industry
and brilliant illustration of free in
situations, and, standing as he does,
conspicuOusly before the nation, we
point to him with pride as one of the
few members of Congress elected
from Louisiana since reconstruction
whose skirts are free from the suspic-
ion of fraud and corruption, and who
represents constituency that de-
lights TO do him honor.
6 We are deeply panied at the
failure to accord to Hon. p. B. s.
Pinchback his seat in the United
States Senate, to which he has been
elected by the General Assembly OF
Louisiana, body elected by the
people. legalized by the highest just.
cial tribunals of the State, sanction.
ed by the federal courts, recognized
by the United States Senate, and
protected by the President; and
should this injustice be perpetuated
by Republican Senate, we fear
tthat it would be impossible, under
the popular Revision on one hand
and the powerful and progressive
influences now in operation by the
opponents of Republicanism on the
other, to guarantee the iealty of the
MASSES. of our people to the Republi
can party in the future.
Z The exclusion by the Louisiana
congressional delegation OF Govern
or Pinchback and Hon. John Ray
the two recognized leaders of the
Republican party and its noted ele
ments of strength, from consultation
in dispensing federal patronage il
Louisiana. was an act offensive to us
which calls for our unqualified con
domination, and more than demon
strates that our confidence has beer
misplaced.
3 In New Orleans alone there i.
an intelligent and cultivated popu
latiOn of color, exceeding in vote.
the entire white Republican strength
throughout the State, whose Repub
licanism is unquestioned and un
questionable, who should be consid
cred and consulted as representa-
tiyes in the dispensation of patron
age at least equally with our whit,
friends, the utilization Of many o
whom with our party is general,
bounded by official prospects.
We have Just cause to griey' ousl!
complain of the summary remova
from federal positions, since the cleo
ton, of reliable and efficient coloret
men, upon charges of incompetepcy
after prOtracted satisfactory sery
ces, without any complaints.
In our theory of government thu
Legislature is supreme and all at
tenlpts of any department to impair
its integrity, reflect upon its cbarac
ter, assume its prerogatives, or com
promise out of office, through undu,
or improper influence our represen
tatives duly elected, justly alarm
US.
The alleged action of persons VIII,
were elected by the people, and re
turned Ivy tie legal boards, in plac
ing their designations in other hand
subject to individual caprice, create
the gravest suspicion, and demand
thorough investigation by their re
spective constituencies.
In celebrating in connection will
the Southern people, we entertain
in the best interests of our beloved
State the sincere wish that peace, re
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