The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1874-07-04
Rumors of War.

city, to equip the negroes and protect
them in their rights, which are being
seriously mennccd by the just demand
of tho whites for their privileges; and
has it never occurred to our people
how far severed are the rights of the
white man and the black man. We
are totally opposite in our opinions
of liberty, Of justice, of privileges,
and when the black man lcSislates,
he does so, actuatcd by his own ideas,
and for his own benefit. a creature
without reason, and guided by bis
prcjudiccs only, the government he
can give us, will be only for his in
terest and our degradation. These
are truths that are self evident, and
tho course of the negro Legislators in
our State for the past six years, is
proof as strong as "Holy Writ to
these statements.
Let us for a moment look back over
their conduct in the capacity of pub
lie officials in our State, and we Will
at once I've struck with the force OF the
argument; that it is utterly impos-
siblc for the negro to legislate for the
interest or benefit of any but his own
race.
As early as their first public acts;
that of the Constitutional Convention
held in tho city of New Orleans, in
November 1867, their line of conduct
was marked, and they were then
abandoned by men who were at that
early day, advocates of all the rights
of citizenship to the colored man,
thinking very property from their
small knowledge and experience with
them, that as human beings they were
as other races of mankind, having
once recovered from the natural feel
ing engcndercd by bondage from
birth, they would make us class, as
GOOD citizens as the white men. In
that great "Magna Charta," as it
were, to the colored citizen, the Con-
stitution of 1867, the rights Of private
property were violated and to do
that which legislation has always fall
ed to effect, viz, social equality, and
q social equality which is abhorrent
to our traditions, and repugnant to
the laws of nature. No one can deny
that this violation, for the above pnr-
nose was not deliberate and intended ;
for when a proviso was offered that
"nothiug contained in that article,
n should be construed to give greater
rights to any persons Of whatever race
or color, than are now possessed by
persons of the white race,' it was al
most unanimously voted down. Thus
showing conclusively, that the color
ed delegates declared emphatical|!
that they required, and would enforce
more rights than was possessed b!
> white men.
Look at their public school system
their militia and constabulary acts
their DISTINGUISHING clauses in thu
y constitution, which was 10 direct VIC.
lation of the Bill of Rights contained
,, in that instrument; and we here STATE
=. that tho conditions upon which th'
white race have been offered the ex.
ercise of the elective franchise, an,
the capacity to hold Office, are mos
humiliating. What are the require
ments of those who are to be tho dis
y peusers of justice7 Simply this;
practice of the law for two years j
all that is required for the Distric
r Judges, and for the Probate Courts
courts which are required to pas
& upon the most difficult questions nm
s der our laws, those relating to Sue
$ cessions, the Judge is required to pos
D sess no qualifications, except that Q
!. beinga citizen Of tho United States
s and even the expression, that h
G should DO learned in the law, wa
Il stricken out, audit was publicly sal
:. that such IN article was included i
/, the Constitution that negroes mig1
n hold tho place Of Parish Judge.
q is useless to enumerate all their acts
If as it would require volumes to do st
q to prove that what is legislation, an
g good Legislation from their stan
!. point, for the black man--is death Q