Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1874-08-19
CIVIL RIGHTS.
WHAT A DEMOCRATIC CONyEN
TION DID.
Senate NIT. Number one, EntireIy
EcIipsed.

In these days when men travel so
fast and change so rapidly, we have
sometimes to look back and see where
they have stood. 1t may be refresh-
ing now, when Democrats are making
so much noise over the Senate Civil
Rights Bill, to read the resolutions of a
Democratic Convention, held in Loui-
siana little over year ago and presi-
ded over by Gen. Beauregard. The
resolutions are as follows, and we hope
our readers will read them:
ResolUcd, That henceforth we dedi-
cate ourselves to the publication of our
people.
ReSolved, That by our people we
mean all men, of Whatever race. color
or religion, who are citizens of LOUISE
ana, and who are willing to work for
her prosperity.
ReSOlued, That we shall advocate.
by speech, pen and deed, the equal and
impartial exercise by every citizen 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 of
| fair dealing.
and advocate the rights of every citizen
of Louisiana, and every citizen of the
United States, to frequent, at will, all
| places of public resort, and to travel, at
WILL in the vehicles of public convey
ance, upon terms of perfect equality
with any and every other citizen and
we pledge ourselves, so far as our influ-
ence, counsel and example may go, to
make this right practical right; and
that there may be no misunderstand-
ing of our views on this point,
First-We shall recommend to the
proprietors of all public places of Ii
censed public resort in the State of
Louisiana the opening of said places to
the patronage of both races inhabiting
| our State.
Second-We shall further recon-
mend all railroads, steamboats,, steam
ships and other public conveyances to
pursue the same policy.
Third-We shall further recommend
that our banks, insurance offices and
other public corporations recognize
and cOncede to our cOlored fellow citi-
zens, when they are stockholders in
such institutions, the right of being
represented in the direction thereof.
Fourth-Hereafter no distinction
shall exist amOng-the citizens of Loui-
siana in any of our public schools or
State institutions of education, or any
other public instruction supported by
the State, city or parishes.
Fifth-We shall also recommend
that the proprietOrs of foundries; fac
tories and other individual establish
ments, in employing mechanics or
workmen, make no distinction be-
tween the two races.
Sixth-We shall encourage by every
means in our power, our coloreG citi-
zens in the rural districts, to become
the proprietors of the soil, thus en-
HANGING the value of the lands and
adding to the productiveness of the
State, while it will create a political
conservatism which is the offspring
of proprietOrship. And we further re-
commend to all the land proprietors of
our State the policy of considering the
question of breaking up the same in
to small farms in order that our color
ed citizens and white emigrants may
become practical farmers and cultiva-
tors of the soil.
Resolved, That we pledge our honor
and good faith to exercise our moral
influence, both through personal advice
and personal example, to bring about
the rapid removal of all preiudices
hCIStoloiS CAIsIillS uSdlIsI the COlOTeu
citizens of Louisiana, in order that
they may hereafter have all the rights
belonging to citizens of the United
State.
ReSOIUed, That we earnestly appeal
to the press of the State to join and CO.
operate with us in executing this
movement of unity, and accord JUS
tice, and like ourselves, forever bury
beneath it all past prejudices on the
subject of race or color.
Resolved, 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 bless
ings of life. liberty and prosperity.
Resolved, That we pledge ourselves
to this cultivation of broad sentiment
nationally, which shall embrace the
whole country, and uphold the flag of
the Union.
Resolved, That as an earnest of our
holy purpose, we hereby offer upon the
altar all preiudices of education which
may tend to hinder the political unity
of our people.
Resolved, That in view of the nus
merical equality between the white
and colored element of our population,
we shall advocate an equal distribution
of the offices of trust and emolument
in our Slate, demanding as the only
condition of our suffrage, honesty, in
telligence and ability, and we advo-
cate 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 of the other parties in that union.
American shIpbnIIdIng.