The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-09-10


intended to protect him has no foundation In
truth, and there Is not State in the South
but what has fully recognized and guaran-
teed, III the fullest manner, all the rights
referred to. No State could be expected to
do more for the negroes than for the whites,
and when the State has, In Its organic law
framed by representatives Of Its own people,
accorded and guaranteed equal rights to both
races IL has done all that could be required of
1t by any civilized code Of law, morality or
justice.
The constitution of Louisiana, recently
framed by q majority Of white Democrats.
has done this, and gives the lie direct to the
presumptuous assertion Of the Chicago
Times.
i. The new constitution establishes and
guarantees free suffrage. Article 1877 Of that
instrument reads as as follows:
No qualification Of any kind for suffrage or
Office. nor any restraint upon the same. on &C
count OF race. color Or previous condition, shall
be made by law.
The RICH, of the eolored people could not be
more fully and clearly granted and guaranteed
than In this article. Nothing more In this
respect could have been done for the colored
free suffrage for the negroes and restricted
or qualified suffrage for the whites.
g. Equal free school facilities have been
granted to both whites and blacks Thus
article 221 of the new constitution reads as
follows 1.-THE italics are oursl:
There shall be free public schools established
by the General Assembly throughout the state
for TIE education Of an The chilarsn 81 ne State
bet,cefH the ages Of SIC and eighteen years /: and
the General Assembly shall provide tor their
establishment, maintenance and support by
taxation or otherwise.
But the constitution makes still broader
and more liberal provision for the intellectual
advancement of the colored people. 1t has
provided as literally for the establishment OF
q university for the education Of colored
people as for one for the whites, as will be
seen by article 22s, which says:
The General Assembly shall also establish IN
the city ct New Orleans university for the edu-
cation of persons OF color: provide for its
proper government and shall make an annual
APPROXIMATION Of not less than Eve Thousand
nor more than ten thousand dollars for Its
maintenance and support.
In no article In no particular does tho new
constitution Of Louisiana discriminate against
the colored people, and the Democracy OF the
State will vote solidly for the ratification Of
the work OF the Convention.
Nor does this spirit Of liberality toward the
negroes date from the assembling of this Con-
vention. For years past the white people Of
Louisiana have freely and cordially conceded
and maintained all the civil and political
rights Of the coored people. The leading,
Intelligent negroes outside of the tools OF the
Republican party know and affirm this fact;
and, when the Convention was about to adj
iourn, the colored members unanimously ex-
pressed their qualification with the constitu-
ton as completed and their full sense OF the
Justice and fairness with which the Democrats
had protected the rights OF their race
The reasons why 50 many negroes will not
vote for Democrat are very different from
those alleged by the Times. The more igno-
rant Of them have had their race preiudices
infiamed against the whites BY the wicked
and rascally carpet-baggers, and, as the igno-
rant masses Of the North have been made to
believe that every Southern Democrat is q
rebel and secessioni5t, 80 these ignorant
blacks have been taught to believe that every
Southern white man is the enemy OF their
freedom, and only awaits the day when the
Democratic party comes into power that he
may once more crack the bull whip over the
negro slaves back. Many thousands Of igno-
rant negroes firmly believe this because they
have been told 1t by those they believed to be
Gen. Grants" agents carpet-baggers and
scailawags.
By leading the negroes to believe this
vicious lie the Republicans here have been
able to hold their votes, though they have
robbed them Of many thousands Of hard
earned money through the Freedmen's Bank
swindle, and by the same means the carpet
baggers and scallawags have been able to
retain their allegiance, though the carpet
baggers and scalawags have broken every
promise made them and stolen the funds col |
lected for the colored free schools.
This is the true and only reason why many
negroes will not vote for Democrat. But, |
happily, these deluded people are rapidly be-
coming undeeeived, ana before many months
a carpet-bagger will seem as offensive to q
Southern negro as he does now to Southern
gentleman.