Year: 1873


to see kept in, if they can be rightfuliy,
and who tell me that their case was not
presented fairly, indeed not presented at
all 10 the committee, come again to Con-
gress with memorials and proofs; show
if YOU can that Kellogg was elected 70
McEnery and his friends let me say the
same thing. Come to Congress in the
earliest days of its next session, present
your side of the case, give US all the facts
and if it appears upon the full and hhal
examination, as 1t did appear to the COM
mittee on the examination which was made
of the case as il was presented, that kel-
logg and his associates were not elected,
and it can be made TO appear that McEnery
was honestly elected; or if the case shall
show that Kellogg was not elected and
McEnery was elected by fraud, in my judg-
ment it will be the clear duty Of Congress
to interfere, and have no doubt Congress
will interfere ard order reelection


This is plain language, and the colored
men must be up and doing. They must
work for the future; they must form their
committees, collect their testimony, spend
their money, and send representatives
North who can and will speak for them; and
by these means show that they are on the
war path as well as the McEneryites. We
believe that Governor Kellogg was elected,
and that we can prove it. There is evidence
to be had which has never yet been brought
forth, and that proof will sustain this ad-
ministration. In spite OF the obstacles
placed in the way of Republicans, we hon
estly lieve we overcame our opponents.
They deride our proofs and our people be-
cause many of them signed their names
with mark. but it is not halt as disgrace
full as it was for them to make marks
on the backs of their slaves. 1t IS the duty
of the col0red people to send their own men
to Washington to defend their cause and
assist our friends in substantiating our cleo
ton. If visit TO the South has opened the
eyes of Senator Carpenter, and made him
believe things that he did not credit
before coming here, it would certain
ly do a great amount of good to
send colored men to the North to state
the real grievances of the coloIed people of
Louisiana and contrOvert the vile ISLANDERS
heaped on Us. 1t is not difficult to con-
vince the Northern people that we have
Deen wronged, and that most desperate
attempt has been made to overthrow our
State government, which we honestly be-
lieve to have been elected, and to turn it
over to our political opponents. 1t is COM
paratively an easy task. 1t costs less ct
fort to maintain the truth than to bolster
up fraud and wrong. We have been crimi-
nal in our inertness. We have got work to
do. When Warmoth saw his fortunes fail
ing in Washington, he telegraphed here to
his friends, "Action, action, action ~ re-
peat his words, but not with his peculiar
meaning, and say to the colOred men of
Louisiana, Action, action, action !" Let
US say to our friends who gave gone abroad
on pleasure excursions, "Return and rem
der US your assistance, for we need you
The time has come when every prominent
or representative cOlOred man IN this State
must put forth his best efforts and energies
and act tor his State, his party and his
people. Many of our friends may rest upon
the proclamation of the President upon
Louisiana affairs, which has just been is
sued but this proclamation is not what
they should rely upon, for the effort will be
made to overthrow the Republican party in
this State and the election of Governor kel
logg by action in Congress. This effort must
be met by US, and, in conclusion, earnest
~ appeal to your patriotism, love Of civil
and political rights, and your willingness
to perform your bounden duty in this mat
ter to arouse, shake of your lethargy and
do good battle in so noble cause.


Hol. James H. Ingraham was next an
nounced, and spoke as follows:


Once again duty calls, and in response
thereto we have assembled this night
to again acknowledge our determination TO
support, maintain and defend our rights and
the national and State administrations.


nal OOu IultS III Tue dualIs VI HcE Is as
certain as any truth of science. Every stu
dent and every thinking man recognizes
this truth for Il is from the beg inning, and
the world of thought and action hangs upon
it.


Eternal wisdom marshals the countless
millions of earth beneath its banner, on
which is inscribed the legend, The world
exists by the will of God, and man rules
it by thought and action Kings and
raicol m +hrnyvp
nations are born and die; republics flourish
and wither; dynasties perish as leaves;
families are scattered over the earth, but
nothing is by accident, though men may,
through their ignorance of causes believe
SO. The deeds Of time are governed, as
well as judged, by the DEGREES of eternity.


"God rules the universe and all therein,
and in the fullness Of His mercy, and at
His appointed time, he caused the negroes
in America to become f-eemen, soldiers and
citizens. 1t is vain, ii is sacrilegiOus in man
to attempt to set at naught his work.


We assert here toni ght, and the assertion
cannot be disproved, that the colored people
of Louisiana are not inimical to the white
people of the State. We desire to live in
peace with them, and we are ready and
willing to do all in our power, all that is
absolutely necessary, consistent with honor,
to prove as living reality this assertion.
Our very conduct under grave and adverse
circumstances attests the truth OF our de-
sire to live in peace with our white fellow
citizens. We claim, and are prepared to
prove. that we have not attempted to dis
possess our white fellow citizens of either
their rights or property. We claim, and
are prepared to prove, that while we have
ever done all in our power to maintain ami
cable relations of friendship with our white
fellow citizens, that some of the latter have
spurned Us and trampled under foot our
honest efforts, and undone the work of
years in moment of time by the inhuman
butchery OF our people.


The fact that the best element OF our
white fellow-citzens have no word of con-
demnation for these inhuman slaughters is
indeed painful. 1t is, however, claimed
that they do condemn privately these
bloody acts. 1t is of this private condemna-
ton that we have most cause to complain;
for, in the absence of public condemnation,
the actors in these bloody massacres con.
strue that public opinion approves their
deeds by its failure to denouIce them.
There must be no more Grant massacres.


We believe we have agencies at work for
our elevation and protection: unseen by our
fellow citizens of Democratic faith, some.
times like messenger through the dark.
ness OF night we feel its approach; and, de-
spite the prejudices of our enemies, we feel
that the hour has come for our people-for
mankind-tO enter upon new form of be-
ing; unseen hands have drawn the bolts
from the gates of futurity.' and we and
others are striving for mastery in this State
and country not as white or colored people.
but on account of our development, moral.
ly, intellectually and socially.


We meet tonight in response t6a call
of those colored men men who, viewing
with alarm the efforts of our opponents
friends and supporters of John McEnery-
to misrepresent the condition Of affairs in
our State, by creating here at home pub
lie opinion favorable to violence, pillage