, 1863-12-31

Meeting OF the Friends OF Freedom Ii
NGIF OEleQux.

a AConvention Of tie friends Of freedom vas
held in New Orleans on the light Of the 18th.
The meeting was large. Thomas J.. Dur1ut
Was elected President The following is his
speech on taking the clair:
F1llor-citizesas Of tie Coa.e7,tion: Friends Of
the cause Of human freedom and liberty, I
feel greatly oppressed by tho scnttmafts
which crowd npon me with overpowering
influence, as thank you before taking my
seat in the honorable position which sJopr
voices have assigned me, for tho honor ron
have conferred on me-, You are assembled
in great and sacred cause. It is the cause
for which your fo1sfathers fought the cause
for which yOur brothers on many 4 battlefield
are falling and dying. It is the sacred cause
Of liberty. We arc prompted to the execution
Of the task which NC hare undertaken bv
every sentiment Of justice and humanity, Of
Justice to ourselves as men representing the
great principles Of freedom In the State Of
Louisiana, and to those wearing the bonds Of
slarerg, but whose bonds are now to bo bro
ken. This Convention Is the first deliberatiye
body in Louisiana that will proclaim the
freedom Of all men, no matter how dark a
hue their skin may be cmbrowncd, beneath
tic surface there is the soul Of o man, and
therein we recognize the great principle Of
equality and fraternity. It Is the assertion
OF this principle which will lead to the recon.
tructiCn Of slavery tart, Phdnix-like3 will
rise from the ashes of this rebellion tho spirit
Of a new freedom. Out Of this in6urrcction
will grow resurrection that will lead Us to
aglorious immortality.
After the election Of the Secretary and. other
officers, the President remarked that the OBJ
1cct OF the Convention was to elect delegates
to Convention Of the friends Of freedom OF
the Southern States, that 1t had been pro-
posed to hold Mt Louisville, KJ., on the 8th
Of January; that Letters had been received,
by which 1t appeared that the Sth Of January
might be considered too soon, aud that 1t was
prouap1e that the 2ol Of February would be
fixed npon, and that the place might be
changed from Louisvi1le, perhaps, to New Or
leans.
4 committee on resolutions was appointed,
bnt asked time to report, and tho Convention
adjourned to the following Monday.
The Era Gays of the Convention:
Among the delegates we're representatives
Of the old population, the native element, the
men who were born here End have lived here
all their lives, and who have seen Tie work
ings Of tile institution they havc nov reeolv-
cato overthrow. There were representatives
Also Of the new, the young elemeut-the men
Who have come to make Louisiana their
homes, and to share her Political destiny-
men who bring with them the vigo. of tho
Northern climate and the principles of free
dom, instilled into their minds from youth
and who wish to secure for themselves and
posterity the right Of free opinion and free
speech. Some Of the best legal talelt OF the
State was there; the President Of tic Con-
vention was man who has gained a national
reputation by his eloquent adyocact Of the
cause Of freedom and the Union. If my
doubt the purpose Of the Union men Of
Louisiana to throw of forever the lhackles
OF slavery, they should have witnessed tls