Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-06-18
LOUISIANA.
Resolutions OF the Committee Of
White and COlored Citizens.

NEw ORLEANS, June II. An ad
iourned meeting Of committee OF col
ored and white citizens was held las'
night at ~ Carondalet street. The com
mittee on resolutions submitted the tol
lowing, which was unanimously adopted,
Whereas, Louisiana is now threatened
with death in every vital organ OF her
material and political being, and
Whereas, Her dire extremity is but
the fruit Of unnatural division among
the children Of her soil and Of her adop'
ton; and -.
Whereas, We have an abiding faith
that there is love enough for Louisiana
among her sons to unite them in manly
and unselish struggle for her redemp-
tioa; be il therefore
Resolved, First That henceforward
we dedicate ourselves 10 the unitcaton
of our people.
Second-That by our people, we mean
all men, of whatever race, color or rell-
rion. who are citizens of Louisiana, and
who are willing to work for her prosper
ity. :, l.
speech and pen, and deed, the equal
and important exercise by every citizen
of Louisiana of every civil and political
right guaranteed BY the Constitution and
laws OF Louisiana, by the Constitution
and laws of the United States, and by
the laws of honor, brotherhood and fair
dealing. q,
Fourth-That we shall maintain and
advocate the rights of every citizen OF
Louisiana and every citizen Of the United
States to frequent at will all places OF
nublic resort, and to travel at will in all
vehicles of public conveyance, upon
terms OF perfect equality with any and
every other citizen; and we pledge our
selves, so far as our influence, counsel
and example may 60, to make this
right a practical right; and that there
NAV be no misunderstanding OF our
views on this point: First, we shall re-
commend to the proprietors of all pub
lie places of licensed public resort in the
State of Louisiana the opening of said
places to the patronage of both races
inhabiting our State; second, we shall
forther recommend all railroads, steam
boats, steamships and other public con-
yeyances to pursue the same policy;
third, we shall further recommend that
our banks, insurance offices and other
public corporations recognize and con-
cede TO our colored fellow citizens, where
thew are stockholders in such institu-
tons, the right of being represented IN
the direction thereof; fourth, we shall
further recommend that hereafter no dis
tinction shall exist smCng citizens OF
Louisiana in any of our public schools
or State institutions of education, or IN
any other public instruction supported
by the State, city or parishes; fifth,
we shall also recommend that the pro-
prietors of foundries, factories and
other individual establishments, in
EMPLOYING mechanics or workmen,
make no distinction between the two
races; sixth, we shall encourage by
every means in our power our colored
citizens in the rural districts to become
the proprietors of the soil, thus enhanc-
ing the value Of lands, and adding to
the productiveness of the State, while it
will create a political conservatism
which is the offspring of proprietorshiE;
and we furthermore recommend to all
the land proprietors of our State the pol
icy Of considering the question OF break
ing up the same into small farms, IN
order that our colored citizens and white
immigrants may become practical farm
ers aud cultiyators of the soil.
Fifth-That we pledge our honor and
good faith to exercise onr moral infu-
ence, both through personal advice and
personal example, to bring about the
rapid removal of all prejudices hereto
fore existing against the colored citizens
of Louisiana, in order that they may
hereafter enjoy all the rights belonging
to citizens of the United States.
Sixth-That we earnestly appeal 10
the press Of the State TO Join and coop
crate with US in executing this move
ment of unity, and accord justice, and
like ourselves, forever bury beneath it
all past prejudices on the subject Of
race or color.
Seventh-That we deprecate and
thoroughly condemn acts Of violence
from whatever source, and appeal to
our people Of both races to abide by the
law in all their differences, as the surest
way to preserve to all the blessings OF
life. liberty and prosperity.
Eighth-That we pledge ourselves to
this cultivation of a broad sentiment
nationally, which shall embrace the
whole country, and uphold the flag Of
the Union.
Ninth-That as an earnest Of our holy
purpose, we hereby offer upon the altar
Of the common good all party ties and
all prejudices Of education which may
tend to hinder the political unity Of our
people
Tenth-That in view Of the numerical
equality between the white and colored
elements Of our population, we shall adj
vocate an equal division of the Offices
of trust and emolument in our State, de-
manding as the only condition Of our
suffrage honesty, intelligence and abil-
ity; and we advocate this, not because
OF the Offices themselves, but simply
rather as an earnest and proof upon our
part that the union We desire is an equal
union, and not an Elusive conjunction,
brought about for the sole benefit Of one
or the other Of the parties in that union.
[Signedl G. 7. BEAUREeARD,
Chairman.
GEORGE B. KELsO,
J. n. MARKS,
c. c. ANTOUE,
CHARLES H. THoNFsoS,
u