LOUISIANA. 



513 



Resolved, That the National Conservative Union 

 party of Louisiana pledges itself to support by all 

 means in its power the Union of these States under 

 the Constitution of the United States. 



Resolved, That this Convention recognizes the re- 

 sult of the issues lately dividing the North and South 

 as final and beyond appeal, and that it proudly hails 

 the restoration of Federal authority over the national 

 domain as a triumphant vindication of our republican 

 form of government. 



Resolved, That the gratitude and admiration of the 

 country are eminently due to President Andrew John- 

 son, for the firmness, patriotism, and lefty conserva- 

 tism which he has displayed in his administration of 

 national affairs; that we regard his reconstruction 

 policy as wise, clement, and conciliatory, affording 

 the people of the South an opportunity to show them- 

 selves prepared to fill the part of good and loyal 

 citizens; and that it now becomes the duty of all so 

 to avail themselves of it as to give him no cause to 

 regret his magnanimity. 



Resolved, That the allegiance of every American 

 citizen is primarily due, under the Constitution, to 

 the Government of the United States, and that we 

 repudiate the doctrine that any State can dissolve 

 her constitutional relations to the Union except by 

 successful revolution. 



Resolved, That we hereby declare our inflexible 

 opposition to the payment of any debt or liability 

 contracted or incurred by any civil or military au- 

 thority in this State, in furtherance of the war waged 

 against the authority and Government of the United 

 States. 



Resolved, That we deem it just and proper that all 

 liabilities incurred by the Government, in the resto- 

 ration of peace and national unity, should be prompt- 

 ly and honorably liquidated by a system of taxation, 

 uniform in its provisions and bearing equally upon 

 all parts of the country. 



Resolved, That we cordially endorse the action of 

 our Conservative friends in the Northern States in 

 their manly opposition to the spread of radical prin- 

 ciples, and to the elevation of the African upon a 

 footing of political equality with the white man. 



Resolved, That we will maintain the right of suffrage 

 as now established by the Constitution of this State, 

 restricting the elective franchise to the white race 

 alone. 



Resolved, That we will favor the establishment of 

 just and equitable laws for the regulation of labor 

 and the fostering of the agricultural interests of this 

 State, a thorough and efficient levee system, and an 

 economical administration of the State government. 



Resolved, That we urgently advocate the speedy 

 issuing of a general amnesty, .and the repeal of the 

 confiscation law. 



Resolved, That regarding, as we do, the Constitu- 

 tion of the United States as the palladium of our 

 liberties, we shall steadily oppose any and every at- 

 tempt to ostracise any citizen, either on account of 

 his nativity or of his religious opinions. 



Resolved, That we most cordially recommend to 

 the next Legislature the passage of a general law for 

 the relief of those who nave resided outside of the 

 lines of Federal occupation in this State, and who 

 have been compelled to pay taxes to the officers claim- 

 ing authority therein. 



Resolved, That we earnestly appeal to all conserva- 

 tive loyal citizens of this State, who desire a speedy 

 restoration of our full rights in the Union of States, 

 to unite with us in the support of the candidates of 

 the National Conservative Union party. 



The Convention also nominated Gov. "Wells 

 for reelection. 



At tlie same time the friends of the late Con- 

 federate Governor, Allen, issued the following: 



For Governor The friends of ex-Gov. Henry Wat- 

 kins Allen, anticipating his immediate return home, 



VOL. v. 33 A 



hereby announce him as a candidate for Governor 

 of the State of Louisiana, at the ensuing November 

 election. 



Governor Wells, who had been nominated by 

 both conventions, had been formerly a Red 

 River planter, and manifested his devotion to 

 the Union cause by coming within the Federal 

 lines after they were established, and bringing 

 his slaves with him, and thereby emancipating 

 them. He addressed a letter of acceptance to 

 the President of the National Conservative Con- 

 vention, in which he thus explained his position: 



I have also received the platform adopted by the 

 Convention. After carefully reading the same, I 

 am pleased to acknowledge the conservative char- 

 acter and conciliatory spirit that pervades the plat- 

 form. According to my understanding, there is no 

 material difference in its principles and those adopted 

 by another convention, whose nomination I have al- 

 ready accepted. Both platforms are in unison with 

 the principles, liberal measures, and harmonizing 

 policy of the National Executive, whose lofty patriot- 

 ism and efforts to uphold the Constitution are fully 

 endorsed. In accepting the nomination, which I do, 

 of the National Conservative Union party, I therefore 

 consider that I can consistently do so on the plat- 

 form of principles adopted by both conventions and 

 without compromising either. 



I am not a party candidate, according to the strict 

 meaning of that term. Heretofore I have acted ir- 

 respective of all party trammels. I am warranted in 

 believing that I am indebted to my official record and 

 acts for the high and unusual honor conferred on me 

 in being chosen as their candidate by two conven- 

 tions from the people, acting under different party 

 names, but both, I am happy to believe, having the 

 same patriotic purpose in view, to wit : the true wel- 

 fare of the State, and to support the Constitution of 

 the United States and the Union of the States there- 

 under. 



All the other candidates on the separate 

 tickets were different individuals. At the elec- 

 tion which was held in November, the number 

 of votes cast was 27,808, of which Governor 

 "Wells received 22,312, and ex-Governor Allen 

 5,497. The total vote of the State in 1860 

 was 50,510. The Democratic ticket for mem- 

 bers of the Legislature was successful in every 

 county except one. 



On November 13th the Radical Republicans 

 held a mass meeting in New Orleans, at which 

 resolutions were passed claiming the election 

 of H. C. Warmouth as their delegate to Con- 

 gress from the Territory of Louisiana, in part by 

 the votes of colored persons, amounting to 

 19,000; also declaring the State organization 

 repugnant to the Federal Constitution ; and also 

 that the State Government has been made re- 

 pugnant to the Federal Constitution, both in 

 law and in effect ; therefore it was apparent to 

 all parties that the President of the United States" 

 could not restore it by proclamation. That the 

 State could only be restored in the constitu- 

 tional way by petitioning Congress for admis- 

 sion whenever a majority of the whole peopld 

 deem it expedient so to petition. That the tem- 

 per of a majority of the white voters, nine-tenths 

 of whom were disloyal, rendered it inexpedient 

 at this time to apply to Congress for admission. 

 That even in the face of this condition of things 



I 



