6. POLITICS IN THE SOUTH, 1866

The Politics of the Southern Soldiers

Annual Cyclopedia, 1866, p. 759. Resolutions adopted by a convention of soldiers at Memphis. [1866] Whereas, a convention of the Union Soldiers and Sailors, are now in session in the city of Cleveland, Ohio, having under consideration the best mode in which to restore the Union of these States and to cement that bond of fraternal friendships so sundered by the late war; and

Whereas, we, the soldiers of the late army of the Confederate States feeling and being in sympathy with the movement of our late adversaries to restore our country to its former state of peace, happiness, and prosperity; and

Whereas, we believe that our stern advocacy of the principle for which we conscientiously struggled during a period of four years will be rather a recommendation of our sincerity, and honorable purposes to the brave soldiers of the Union; therefore,

Resolved, That we have seen with pleasure the movements made by the soldiers and sailors of the Union, for the preservation of which they have so long fought; and that we have no fears that wrong or injustice will be done to us by those we have learned on the battle-field to respect as "foemen worthy of our steel."

We tender to them a soldier's pledge of our fidelity to the Government, of our assistance in the maintenance of law and order, and our earnest desire for the return of that day when the American people can say with truth they "know no North, no South, no East, and no West." . .

The charge that the life, liberty, or property of Northern men is unsafe or unprotected in the South is a slander which could only have emanated from the cowardly fears of "fireside heroes," or from the corrupt machinations of reckless office-holders, grown desperate at the approach of retributive justice, and the loss of power and place.

The Louisiana Democratic Platform

[October 2, 1865]

Annual Cyclopedia, 1865, p. 512. Whereas, The National Democratic party of the State of Louisiana, in general convention assembled, fully recognizing the fact of the issue, . . was made openly, manfully, and honorably, and that the decision having gone against them, and,

Whereas, We have now come forward in the same spirit. of frankness and honor to support the Federal Government under the Constitution. Therefore,

Resolved, That we give our unqualified adhesion to the National Democracy of the United States, and that we recognize that party as the only agent by which radicalism can be successfully met, and this Government restored to its pristine purity and vigor.

Resolved, That we emphatically approve of the views of President Johnson with regard to the reorganization of the State Governments of the South, whereby the rights of the respective States are kept unimpaired, and in consequence of which these States are to regulate their institutions as freely and with the same guarantees and privileges as are enjoyed by any other State in the Union. . .

Resolved, That we hold this to be a Government of white people, made and to be perpetuated for the exclusive benefit of the white race; and in accordance with the constant adjudication of the United States Supreme Court, that people of African descent cannot be considered as citizens of the United States, and that there can, in no event, nor under any circumstances, be any equality between the white and other races.

Resolved, That while we announce emphatically our opinion that the Constitution of 1864 is the creation of fraud, violence, and corruption, and is not in any sense the expression of the sovereign will of the people of Louisiana, and while we believe that it should be repudiated and abolished as speedily as it can be done legally, yet, as the Government organized under it is a de facto Government, and the only de facto Government in the State of Louisiana; as the election about to be held is called under that Constitution, by an officer holding his position

under that Constitution; as the recognition of Governor J. Madison Wells by the President, Andrew Johnson, is to that extent a recognition of that Constitution and of the Government organized under it, and as this convention has no right to make or alter Constitutions or forms of government, we, therefore, recognize it as the existing Government, but recommend the calling of a convention of the people of the State at the earliest practicable period, for the purpose of adopting a Constitution expressing the will of the entire people of the State.

Resolved, That the institution of slavery having been effectually abolished in the Southern States, we consider it our right to petition Congress for compensation for all losses sustained by the emancipation policy. . .

Resolved, That we advocate the repeal of all ordinances and laws found to have been passed in Louisiana, and which are not in harmony with the Constitution and laws of the General Government, and which are not the deed of bodies constituted by the people at large.

We most earnestly and strongly appeal for an early general amnesty and prompt restitution of property; assured that thereby impending total ruin will be averted and the domestic tranquility of the Southern States successfully insured.

Resolved, That we invite all law-abiding citizens who agree with us upon the measures and principles above enumerated, without distinction of nationalities, to join us in our opposition to the Radical Republican party, whose tendency and aim are to centralize and consolidate a Government on the ruins of our State institutions.

Radical Politics in Virginia

Annual Cyclopedia. 1866, p. 766. Resolutions adopted by the Republican State Convention. [May, 1866]

Resolved, That no reorganized State Government of Virginia should be recognized by the Government of the United States which does not exclude from suffrage and holding office, at least for a term of years, all persons who have voluntarily given moral or material support to rebellion against the United

States, and which does not, with such disfranchisement, provide for the immediate enfranchisement of all Union men, without distinction of color. .

Resolved, That while the late rebels affect to accept the situation, they not only hold the same opinion still in regard to [Secession], but openly advocate their views in that respect as a basis of party action in the future, as we believe for the purpose of accomplishing with votes what they have failed to accomplish with bayonets.

Speeches of a Radical Agitator

Annual Cyclopedia, 1866, pp. 451, 454. Speeches of Dr. Dostie, a radical leader of New Orleans. Dostie was killed in the riot that followed the re-assembling of the Convention of 1864. [January, 1866] HE Congratulated the people that the gigantic rebellion was crushed; that its leaders languished in prison, and that the country was restored to its former tranquillity, minus slavery and sectional feeling. The progressive age demanded the overthrow of a Southern aristocracy in the liberation of four millions of people, and the best blood of the land purchased it... They would be compelled to quit their political heresies as they had quitted the field. The Republican party could not endure to lose the precious boon of liberty at the hands of what is left of an insolent aristocracy. They stand upon the broad platform of an equality of rights. It is said that negro suffrage is impracticable owing to the ignorance of the race. The speaker went on to show how rapidly they were being educated, and with what avidity they sought after knowledge. . . In our beloved land, we have our Banks and our Butlers, and a hundred others, all worshippers at the altar of liberty and universal suffrage. The same is the opinion entertained by all great men abroad. In Brazil, in Jamaica, and the French West Indies, all free persons of whatever color, are allowed to vote. In five New England States negroes have been voting since the Revolutionary War. George Washington cast his ballot in the same box with a colored man. Thirty years ago in nearly every State colored men had a right to vote. . .

now.

I want the negroes to have the right of suffrage, and we will give them this right to vote. There will be another meeting here to-morrow night, and on Monday I want you to come in your power. I want no cowards to come. I want only brave men to come, who will stand by us, and we will stand by them. Come, then, in your power to that meeting, or never go to another political meeting in this State. We have three hundred thousand black men with white hearts. Also one hundred thousand good and true Union white men, who will fight for and beside the black race against the hell-hound rebels, for now there are but two parties here. There are no copperheads Colonel Field, now making a speech inside, is heart and soul with us. He and others who would not a year ago speak to me, now take me by the hand. We are four hundred thousand to three hundred thousand, and can not only whip but exterminate the other party. Judge Abel with his grand jury may indict us. Harry Hayes, with his posse comitatus, may be expected there, and the police, with more than a thousand men sworn in, may interfere with the convention; therefore let all brave men, and not cowards, come here on Monday. There will be no such puerile affair as at Memphis, but, if interfered with, the streets of New Orleans will run with blood! The rebels say they have submitted and accept the situation, but want you to do the work and they will do the voting; and will you throw over them "the mantle of charity and oblivion ?" "We will! We will!" was the unanimous response of the excited throng, to which Dr. Dostie vehemently replied:

"No, by God! we won't. We are bound to have universal suffrage, though you have the traitor, Andrew Johnson, against you."

A Negro Politician in Florida

John Wallace, Carpet Bag Rule in Florida, p. 38. Wallace was a negro representative from Leon County in the Florida senate. [1866]

EARLY in 1866 it was reported that the freedmen would be enfranchised, and many of them thinking the right had already occurred, called a secret meeting for the election of a member