New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-04-28
THE NEW THE NEGRO.

: representation. exactly 10. the extent ina
n such State shall deprive the negro of hi
right of suffrage. We may note that tn
. effect then of repeating equal suffrage il
Louisiana would be to reduce her repre-
q sentation in Congress to about two and
half members under the present ratio
This settles the political value Of tn
negro. The efforts to deter him from til,
exercise of suffrage have produced sucl
! serious effects, that the rational and bust
ness interests of society have rebuked thu
insane war.apon labor, and this dangerou.
tampering with political power.
| The spectacle of fifty or sixty educated
and refined white men OCCUPYING seats along
side of colol ed men here and not disdainine
to sign the same pay roll with them-the
really cordial and kindly relations which
were manifested in the closing scenes
and declarations of the Legislature, prove
that the political element represented by
the negro is established. tits known that
an active competition for the negro vote
will spring up among all who wish to
secure Office or the enactment Of public
measures. Each competitor will protect
those who support him. The value of the
new political element will be admitted,
and politicians will vie among themselves
as to which can commend themselves
most to its confidence.
Society has at last acquiesced in the
recognition and admission of this element.
1t is singular, yet historical, that precisely
similar objections were made against ex-
tending to the white inhabitants of Louis
lana at the date of purchase the rights of
American freemen.
The opposition of the French population
| to the administration of Governor Clai-
borne was very much such as has been
manifested toward Governor Kellogg,
and for similar reasons. The act
organizing the Territory of Orleans
provoked especial discomfort and pro-
duced much discussion in Congress and
great excitement here. Two Frenchmen
and native were sent to Washington to
protest against the passage of the acts
without the concession of equal rights to
the people of Louisiana. Upon the ques-
ton whether the new Territorial govern
ment should be based on the proconsular
rule ola Governor and council, or intrust-
ed to the elective choice of the people,
Mr.. Eustis, of Massachusetts
Thought it indispensably necessary that a |
vein of authority should ascend to the gov |
.rnment of the United States until the peo- |
Pile of the Territory are admitted to the full |
erj vi ent of State rights.
He proceeds to speak of the Creole pop
ulation as people
Who differ materially from the people of |
the United States From that knowledge
OF the people which l have been able to
acquire l have termed an opinion that
authority should be constantly exercised
over them. without severity, but in such a
manner as to secure the rights of the United
States and the peace Of the country.
He speaks Of
The character of the people at the present
time. When they sfiat be better acquainted
with the principles of our government, and
shall have been DESTROYS Of participating in
its privileges, it will he full time to ertend
to them The eleetire franchise.
MIR. Eustis proceeds with his reasons:
am one of those who believe that the
principles of civil liberty can not suddenly
be engrafted on people accustomed to a
re gme of a directly opposite hue. Tho ap-
proach of such people to liberty must he
q adual. belicre them at present tDt1Uy |
unqualified to exercise it, have understood |
that there ia none of that equality among
them which exists in the United States.
Grades are there more highly marked.
Mr.. Lucas did not wish to reflect on the
inhabitants of Louisiana, but he would
'ay that they were not prepared for a gov
srnment like that of the United States.
But Mr.. Huger, Of South Carolina, was
charged with the expression of opinion
ar more derogatory to this people. It
vas
That in HE opinion the LOuisianians were ,
10 better than negroes, and consequently
we're to be treated as that degraded race.
This remark was explained by Mr.. {
iuger to have been made ''merely by way
# comparison, to show that nothing was t
more dangerous than to pass from the S
xtreme OF slavery to perfect liberty" 4
Fortunately for the principles of repub- t
can freedom there were men too saga Q
ious and too just to assent to such ex- =
RENE propositions. We can not quote
aem all, but may comprehend them in t
le observation that u
1t is the true policy of this government ii
conclliate the people to us, to our man
era, to our laws; to show them that, con-
deriDg them as part of the Union, they s,
ave the right to expect the enjoyment Of
'irileges unhnOWn 10 them before, instead | 81
disappointing their hopes and compelling il
lem to run long quarantine before they h.
o admitted to a participation of those -
ghts which We ourselves possess. le
Such was and is the reasoning on which
o American people have admitted the W
'ople of all races and religions to full y
ID equal participation in and response ID
lily for the government Of themselves W
d of the republic. Under this principle
e refined and intelligent aliens of Louis al
10 were admitted to citizenship. suffrage ca
d representation: under this same doc di
ne the negroes who speak the English tn
1guage, believe in the Christian religion ca
d have been reared to the industrial and Sc
cial usages Of the country, have been tn
sed 'to the enjoyment of privileges IN i,
own to them BEFORE instead of being ce
Guided or of having to serve "a long
arantine before being admitted to sa
r.;o;.: -, fol