The Colfax chronicle. (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1876-1877, 1876-08-05
Speech of General Francis T
Nichols,


sion of his nomination by the
Baton Rouge Conventions:
Gentlemen of the Convention
l thank you for the confidence you
have manifested in rendering to
me this nomination, and the full
extent of that honor cannot be
appreciated except by one intim-
ately acquainted with the condi-
ton of this State. I enter, gen.
tlemen, into public life, for the
first time, and in choosing me,
you have chosen one who knows
nothing further as his guide than
his sense of right for all classes of
the people of this State. Ap-
plause.
1 am satisfied that by following
out that simple announcement on
my part, 1 shall receive the full
confidence of this people.
Gentlemen, 1 feel proud to have
been placed by you in the position
of leader of the thousands of
honest men who are now being
massed to wrest our beloved State
from the hands of the spoilers. I
am satisfied that we are going on
to victory, and l am satisfied that
you have accorded me the privi-
lege of leading this corps d',-mee
to that victory, under the banner
of 1ilden and Hendricks.
l wish to state to you, gentle
men, that 1 am speaking to you
without preparation; however, 1
will state that if / be elected Gov
ernor of this State, will go and
take my Office untrammeled to-
wards any man or set of men; that
will do my whole duty, and after
the interval between this time and |
the time I shall take my oath |
as Governor of this State, l |
shall cease to represent the Demo-
cratic party, and be the represent
alive of the people-not of one
set, but the whole. l recognize,
gentlemen, each and every obliga-
ton incumbent upon me under
the Constitution of the United
States, and all the recent amend
ments thereto, and under the con-
stitution of the State of Louisiana
and the laws under them; and 1
propose, in so far as it is in my
power, to enforce them, without
regard to race, color or previous
condition.
In regard to the Civil Service, if
l be appointed to the Office of Gov
ernor, l wish it distinctly under
stood that no friend of mine shall
receive any appointment at ny
hands by reason of ..hhat fact. Ap-1
plause. l wish it distinctly un-
derstood, that any man, if there
be such, who supported me in con-
yiction or hope that 1 would so
far forget myself as to give him
personal consideration, they are
wofully disappointed.
l propose to bring back proper
tone in public affairs. I propose
to do right myself, and in SO far as I
l can control the doing right by ]
other parties 1 intend that others
shall do right.
There is one thing about which
would make mention, 1 refer to {
our colored citizens. 1 believe, I
gentlemen, that you have selected $
as your standard-bearer to-day q :
man who has always felt kindly,
IN fact don't know a man who '
has kinder feelings towards the S
,olored people than 1 have. Zap e
Dlause. My record on that !;
point does not date from to-day,
nor from The war, bat it goes back
rom the earlier period of my child t
mood, aud it is well known among d
he colored people of Assumption; b
ind l want them to know, and
want you to know that will I'M 9
linchingly protect them in all II
heir rights. l feel satisfied that e
lone of you are disposed to in S
erfere with or deprive any one of .
heir rights, and if you are so dis =
'osed, you VIII find Inc opposed to Z
ION. Az t said befora IF + sborld
,e elected by. the people Of this I O
State, l want when my admins c.
Iation shall close to have
t said that no man holding Office IL
lnder my appointment shall bear 81
nd be the proof of dishonesty, a
" the simple fact of his being a [
Gentleman and an honest man y
Applause -