New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-07-23
ORLEANS,

Biographical sketch of Lieutenant Oov'
ernOr e. T.. AntOlno'
Lieutenant Governor &. Z. Antoine wst
born in New Orleans in 1886, and 10 there
fore now in the prime OF manhood. he
comes frem worthy ancestors. His father
was q veteran of 1872, who fought the
British at the battle of New Orleans. This
distinction of bearing arms for his country
was a rare one for a colored man to obtain
before the late war. His mother was ma
tive of the West Indies, and the daughter
of parents dragged from the shores oi
Africa in the accursed snackles of bondage.
His grandmother on his fathers side, the
venerable Rose Garrow, was also in her
childhood brought captive from her ma
| tive cline. According to African tradl-
ton she was the daughter of native
| chief. She was remarkable woman.
Among other prominent qualities she was
noted for her perseverance,, economical
habits and acts of benevclence. She became
| famous as a midwife, and by her intelli-
gence, industry and economy she earned
| sufficient money to purchase her liberty.
ard finally accumulated fortune of not
less than SI50,00O-a rare sum to be pos
sessed in her time by those of her race and
profession. But one generation in this
country too often sufices to run through
fortune, and the subject Of our sketch had
his own temple of fame and fortune to
erect. How well he has succeeded, We need
not say. He received . common echool
education from Mr.. William Mulford, and
by his untiring zeal to acquire useful knowl-
edge-s trait noted in his ancestors-he at
tanned proficiency which fitted him for the
various duties which he has 80 honorably
discharged with credit to himself and mis-
constituents.
Before engaging in public life Mr.. An.
toine's industry and promptness in all bust
ness transactions brought him commercial
success. His upright character earned the
confidence of all who knew him. He worked
quietly, and awaited patiently the dawn of
better day. 1t came, finally, with our late
civil war. After the federal troops occupied
the city, and colored men were admitted to
the army, he devoted his energies to recruit
ing men for the Native Guards" When
Baton Rouge was captured by Dick Taylor,
and the loyal soldiers and citizens were
filed with CONSERVATION and alarm, he
worked zealously until, within forty-eight
hours, he had raised . colored company
known subsequently as Company l. Sew
enth Louisiana Colored Regiment.
As captain Of this company he served at
Brashear, Low Morgan City, and other
points in the department with credit to
himself to the close of the war.
Gathering what worldly goods the war
left him he removed to Shreveport, Louis
lana, upon the declaration of peace, and
opened family grocery. where, with his
uniform politeness, he gained many friends.
With enfranchisement and reconstruction
he was naturally drawn into politics. When
the convention which framed the present
constitution Of Louisiana was called, he
exerted himself in vain to induce the old
citizens of Caddo to accept the new condi.
ton of affairs and permit the colored people
to elect them as delegates to that conven-
ton. Time has vindicated the wisdom of
his advice, which, had it been taken, would
have warded of many Of the disasters now
of, but they refused to accept
this olive branch Of peace SO magnani.
''shake hands across the bloody chasm."
Much against his own inclination Mr.. An |
tome was elected to the convention. The |
part he took in that body was prominent |
and honorable, in appreciation of which his |
elected him to the State Senate |
under the new constitution. While Senator |
be faithfully served his State. His term ex-
pired in 1872. At the State Nominating |
Convention held at Baton Rouge, Louis. |
lana, in August Of that year, he was unsni- |
mously nominated for Lieutenant Gov
srn0r, . position which he has filled with !
,redit and to the entire satisfaction of his |
party. So great was the enthusiasm mani
ested at his nomination that he was carried |
bodily to the rostrum, when, in his usual
unaffected manner, he delivered telling
The only point, we believe, which his
opponents, the Democrats, attempted to
make against him was that during his sens-
orial career he voted for the 80 called OBJ
loxious laws, now upon the statute books
If Louisiana.
This accusation is easily answered to the |
of all who are unbiased in their
opinions. Under the pressure of the Ku-
Alux terrorism then prevalent in Louisiana
hose laws we're enacted to save, not to
uin the State. Even had Senator Antoine
n his inexperience at that time possessed
he prophetic eye to foresee the defects in
hese laws which would render them liable
o the outrageous abuse to which unfaithful
fingers" afterward subjected them, as q
eading representative of the colored race
le could not have refused to respond to the
ry for immediate protection that came up
rom bis constituents from all parts of the
tate, demanding the passage of these acts.
When, however, time had developed the
mischief which the laws SO enacted could
70 made to work when placed in unscrupu-
Ous hands, he manfully took his stand for
eform, and for two years he stood, firm rs
he rock of Gibraltar, in that cause. The
anne noble principle, the Same fidelity to
lis people, the same honest desire to do
Vhst was right, which induced him to vote
or these laws at one period, prompted him
0 struggle with all his ability for their re-
ea1 when ho saw that fha 0oo1 Of hia |