Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-05-06

rom opnence 10 extreme poverty quent upon ine
demorslza. Jon o. the blacks and their inc tement, by
secret enissares. to fapnS aud pluader, where
no. reschei by the gun6Cas, andyou have but feebe
picture Of the suerings Of large portion OF the peo-
PIE Of Louisiana.
Bora and rsisod on the banks Of the Mississippi, l
may feel more Eensiby than others the desolation
have described but appreciate the spirit and forth
tude with which these misfortunes have been borne,
YOU sir, must take yet another view. At no election
prior to the period Of her secession had Louisiana ever
cast than 900 votes Immediately the break
ing out of the war; she st 600 volunteers into TIE
field and before the end of the fret year. she had in
creased these to nearly many men in the ervce as
she had voters and when New Orleans fell and subse-
quenty, when the Mississippi river passed into the pos
sess or Of the enemy the majority Of these men we're
doing duty in Tennessee aud Virginia. SO that, while
their State was being overrun, their homes laid waste,
aud their families scattered OF drvel into exile, they
were standing guard the Potomac or the Rappahln-
mock, over the homes of Virgnians, or keeping back
the enemy from entering through Chattanooga, upon
the happy homestssds OF Alabams and Georgia.
Mr. Speaker-f do not nor Go theee brave soldiers,
new scar and decimated, complain of this for
everywhere tie Louisiana soldier has been apprec aea,
both on the battle fsld and the hosptable homes of
tho7e among whom he has been thrown-but allude
to is that may have this House and the country APP
preciate the generous mlgusnimy of the State that
can pass resolutions speaking OF her Sacrifices and yet
forbesr this, the noblest one of them all lest
she should TO mike of grievance or appear TO
regret what she had done.
Mr. Speaker, will not pursus this subject, lest l
should unnentionaly seem TO- magnify the merits
of my State in dsparagement OF R1y other State. To
do this would indeed be to do Violence to the spirit OF
the resoui lions have presented But sir, should, In
the fortunes of war, Virginia now n0by breastiDg the
advance of tho elemy and standing in this respect to-
wards those States east of the Mississippi river much
as Louisiana does wards those States west OF the Mis-
sissppi river having given up her tea coasbe forced
to Richmond aud then Petersburg, andthen Lynch
burg fall and, finally the Confederate Capitol removed
from her border-the enemy in full possession OF the
railroad between this aud Tennessee as highway for
troops and suppies-aad should che them under such
circumstances asst inflated ia condition to Louisiapa
come together ia her legislature her resolutions,
doubt not would be less bold and defiant than those
OF my Satebut assurecly, sir enc of her sons you
would feel that ustre had been shed on her hisory
IL is thus to- day that my heart swells with emotion oil
grautude-I find it difficult TO express towards those
noble men who passed these resolutions. They came
together at period OF dagger to consult for the COM
mon safety, and to inaugurate as Governor gallant
der who had been shot down on the battle field
Some of them from their wasted plantations, some Of
them from within the enemys lnes others from their
military commands. There we're few OF them who had
not suffered in person or family but although the eDe-
my was preparing to invade them with formidable
numbers from thee direciOns-iTom Arkansas on the
NORTH from the Gulf coast the south, aud from the
heu flVer on Tue eabt-tOeT COuTiBc lalieu Du5
rising with the OCCASION and filed with tie magnitude
of the contest if to place record last expression
OF devotion TO the cause they resolved in language more
emphatic tha1 ever before employed, and destined TO
be historical;
That the spirit Of the people of the State yet una.
bated-that their determination TO resist anything Ike
reconstruction had BEEN in no wise weakened but, on
the contrary strengthened and confirmed by the baE
baroas character OF the war Waged against them that
they untalterngly determined, and had renewed
their VOWS, spare expense of blood and treasure
make tie Confederate ates free and independent
Republic. "That in this her hour of trial Il use their
words Eouisiana tenders to her Government aud sis
ter States her Warmsst sympathy and cordial opera
ton; and that, relying upon the ability of her Chief
Magistrate the ski OF military Ii aders the bravery
of our sold ers the heroic devotion Of our women, the
ardent patriotism of our men, and above all the justice
of our cause--invokng the blessing of Almighty God
upon our Efforts che confidently bdes the result"
Mr. Speaker the Legislature that passed these Teclu-
tons aid not STOP wh the Utterance OF noble senti-
menta. II proceeded furnish the families of sold ers
with cotton cards and medicines to supply them gra-
tuiousy with cou TO pSy them out Of the ate Trsa-
sury for everything that the Satc Con ederate au-
thortes had impressed from them, and to continue
from the Safe Treasury eleven dollars month TO every
wounded colder honorably discharged or unable to
provide for himse-and at the time to make IL
PententisFy offence for any one knowingly to harbor
deserter discourage the enlistment return Of
SOlQlcf, OF Dy NVIu UT hCLOu 10 SOCK 10 Wcakel IN
way tho confidence of the people in the success of
our cause.
Mr.. Speaker, cannot pass from this picture withOu
expression OF PRIDE, that my SAFE ltho borne down
aud sadly oppressed has known bow, in the agony
of her Distress to show herself worthy of tue men sle
has sent TO the battlefield. The Romans once hanked
defeated General because he had rot despared of the
Republic; but here we are call.d ca TO admire more
than Roman virtue in that sublime earnestness OF pur-
pose that people, forgetting for time all qu5s.
tons of complaint and grievance, 10 become more
hopeful under disaster and to grow in devotion their
under DANGER soldiers TO their battctorn *.
Louisian4, ehieebed by her losses, cannot eend
her sister Stasalready che hss given freely of
her noblest sons there is rot Safe in the Confedea
cy whose soil has not been stained by their bood-bu:
there is moral force in true and loyal devotion to
cause, which gives strength beyond increase of
numbers, and which, when felt by whole peaple, COM
pei success. l. is this that Louisiana has sought 10
manifest by these resolutions for beyond words
of sympathy to her government and sister Stses they
mean-Ihat in veal aud in woe, happen what may, she
intends to stand by them she expects them TO stand
by her in this great contest, until the Confederate States
shall become free and Independent Replolic; and
that neither internal difficulties State eaousies shall
aliedae the members OF a Confederaoy TO which even
those States tho most remote and the least geogrsph
caly connected cling with devotion proportional to
their sacrifices and the magnitude of the dangers
with which they are threatened.