The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-04-06
LOUISIANA.
GREAT MEETING IN NEW
ORLEANS,
Pointed and Patriotic Action Of the
People.

New ORLEANS, April 6.-Ten to fifteen
thousands citizens went into Lafayette
square and the following was adopted:
We, citizens of New Orleans, in mass
meeting assembled, representing, as we
| firmly believe, the sentiments of large
majority of the people of Louisiana; pro
claiming anew our devotion to the cOnsti-
tuition of the United States and unquali-
he'd acceptance Of all amendments thereto;
asserting that in loyalty to our reestablish-
ed union and in tone of national patriotism
we do not yield to the people oe any sec.
ton OF our common country, as we stand
ready to prove by any test; declaring our
earnest desire to obliterate the feelings
of sectional bitterness which were left
as the result of the late unhappy war; and
to reunite the whole people of the United
States IN one common bond Of brother
hood; equally desirous Of breaking down
the barries of prejudice and dis;rust
which designing political tricksters have
from base motives reared between the
white and colored citizens Of the state and
to reestablish relations Of the two races
upon basis of just laws, equal rights,
: common protection and harmonious and
kindly sentiments towards each other;
profoundly impressed with the gravity Of
the crisis through which our state is pas
sing, and feeling that we should publicly
proclaim our sentiments touching the
same, do hereby adopt the following reso
, lutiohs:
First, That the right of local self gov
ernment is the fundamental principle of
) our Republican system; that it is the 10,
alienable privilege of every state in this
! union, deprived of which the state ceases
: to exist as such in a constitutional sense and
q becomes mere province of an alien gov
S ernment.
s Second. That for four years the people
of Louisiana have lived under a usurping
e government never elected by the people
y and never voluntarily acQuiesced in, which
was established originally and maintained
throughout it's career, by the military
power Of the federal government, and diff
tering from direct military government
only in name; and the particulars Of its
greater extravaganza and unbrldled cor
ruption, and the utter unhtness of the per
sons entrusted with its admlnlstrauon-lt
contemplate weakness and inability t.
enforce the laws. or to protect the rights o
d persons and the property OF Its citizens
and the greater hatred and contempt Will
which it was regarded.
Third. That the results of this usurpa
ton have been to destroy happiness anC
=. prosperity, to foment discord and disor
:. ders, lessen respect for law and govern
ment. to encourage violations of the right
- persons and property, to repress all busi
L. ness enterprise, to impair confidence an
al almost annihllate the value OF property
fq that whatever of order and confidence eX
] LII, Aaa El.rD bNV IC
the late election would result in restorin
to the state government to the control OF II
lg people and if that hope shall nov be disaE
It. pointed We see nothing in the future bu
R. anarchy, ruin and despair
1e 1a Fourth. That the government of whic
rs Francis T. Nichols is the head is the COZ
al stitutional government OF the state {
be Louisiana. Elected by a majority of MOI
r. than 1000 votes; is fully organized in a
. its parts exercising OILY the government
functions that are exercised in state
~ making and enforcing it's laws, admin
mr. tering Justice, collecting revenues, preser'
rs, ing the peace and order of society, Mar
Is officers elected as Republicans hay
in already recognized this true g0vernme
i. and those who have not yet done SO will
So soon as the federal interference shall ceas
that this government is not only capable
perpetuating itself and enforcing
authority but would encounter no resi-
tance or even desire to resist except fro
an insignificant clique of ambitious poli
. clans with small following of ignora
dupes.
ITS
rot Other important resolutions follow
- our paper must go to press.