The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1877-05-05
Policy of the state Government.
From the N. Q. pieayune, April 1sth.I

From the N. o. Picayune, April 1sthI
A joint resolution, passed by the
Senate on Monday, indicates to the
citizens of the State, of all parties,
what is the 9policy of the Nichols
Government. The resolutions, which
were published in full in our yester-
days edition, ~ indorse the policy OF
the President, as set forth in his lnau-
gural address, and pledge hearty co.
operation (2) declare an acceptance OF
the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth
amendments of the constitution; l3)
guarantee the rigid enforcement OF the
laws, and equal protection to all citizens
in person, property, political rights and
privileges; (D invite friendly relations
between citizens of both races; (5) de-
clare in favor Of equal advantages in
education for white and cOlOeod chill
dren; and (6) undertake, on behalf OF
the Nichols Government, that it will
discountenance any prosecution OF In
dividuals, if attempted, for past poll
tical offenses.
These principles, which are now au-
thoritatively declared for and III behalf
of the Nichols Government, are sub
stantially the same as those which were
announced by the Conservatives in the
last political canvass. The Baton
Rouge platform declared:
We fully recognize the binding effect of the
three recent articles of amendment to the con
stitution of the United States, and accept the
same as final settlement OF the eontfoVersles
that engendered civil war, and we pledge our
selves to protect every citizen III the exercise
Of the rights acquired and guaranteed by said
appointments, whatever be his rt-Se, color or
previous c8aaif1n,
Gov. Nichols, upon his nomination,
repeated these pledges Vsry fully and
clearly, and they have been made and
repeated by his representatives during
and since Che campaign which resulted
in his election. The trinmph of the
Conservatives was assisted by the votes
Of a large number of colored citizens
of the State, who joined with them on
the faith of these pledges, The prin-
ciples above l9ferrea u (which are now
reiterated by the members. OF the
General Assembly, pledge the State
Government to line of action which
has already been pursued by. tsJe State
officials since the Inauguration OF the
Nichols Government. The resolution
will, it is hoped, instruct good many
who have profesged to be ignorant or
skeptical heretofore, concerning the in
tentions of the Nichols party. The
people who sustained the Nichols Gov
ernnent are thoroughly aware OF this
policy and approve pf it, and many
have given it their support on that ac-
count, No Republican platform can
honestly promise more to the c0lored
citizens of the State than do these reso
lutions. No Republican State Govern
ment that ever existed In the State was
ever more sincere in its pledges, or as
much interested in fulfilling theIn, or
half 80 able to fulfill them, as is the
State Government whose General As
sembly has just made the declaration
referred to.
Upon this question there can be no
MISUNDERSTANDING between the suppor
tiers of Coy. Nichols and those who
have hitherto been misled into attempt
ing to uphold the nnfounded claims of
Mr.. Packard. lit is entirely understood
among all parties that the Nichols Gov
ernment is fully pledged to guarantee
protection in all his rights to every
citizen Of tho State and the people who
sustain the Government sustain its
policy. The colored people will find
that under the present State Govern
ment their rights will be more respected
and more rigidly enforced than under
the geak and corrupt Radical officials
who have betrayed their confidence IN
the DaSt