The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1864-04-20

should be the case, aud uey are admitted before
the action Of the Constitutional convention Is sub
mitted to the loyal people for their approval, and
the present State officers accept and recognize
that Constitution IL adopted by the people as the
Constitution vt the State, these officers may, il they
choOse, legally disregard the action " that convcn
ton, and remain under the old Constitution. IL
they should do this, what remedy would be left
uSY " Congress should recognize this assumed
State Government, before the Constitutional Con-
vcnuonal now ordered by General Banks, TO be
elected should assemble, or before itlhad adopted
and submitted Constitution otie loyal electors
Of tho State for their approval its whole power un-
der the newly elected officers eoaid and might be
used to defeat the wishes of the free State men,
and if desired by the present State officers this
would be better way Of accomplishing their pur-
poses than 10y refusing 10 accept the Constitution
termed by the convention and adopted by the pco-
pie. have no doubt that the officers OF this as
sumcd State Government could, if they were re-
oogniscd by Congress defeat the adoption OF a free
State Constitution in louisiana IL they desired to do
so. | do not say that they viii attempt it should
Congress recognize them, for do not know them.
only say that they could easily do so, II they
preferred the old Constitution To the new one,
Gentlemen will redily see the necessity Of avoid
ing such complications and all must agree that
the safer aud better way is to have new State Con-
stitutons adopted and approved by the loyal pco
pie and by Congress before elections for State ofi
GERS are ordered by any one, and before We admit
either Senators by Representatives in Congress
nom any ofthe rbc States.
hope We Shall have no such difficulty in Lou
isiunA as have suggested | have always had
such high appreciation of the character and ability
of Gcncal Banks, that regret very much that
have felt 1t TO be my duty ia say what have OF his
acts touching the reorganization of the State.
canuO, however Shut my eyes to the fact that tho
policy adopted by General Banks affords every in
ducCmcut for the secret enemies of the Government,
by uniting with the conservative faction opposed To-
a free State, to bring about just the condition of
things | have described. | trust we are not TO
have IN Louisiana repetition Of the Missouri
troubles. t.'.l.l
IL General Banks, instead Of ordering an election
for State officers under the old Constitutional Lou
isiana, had listened ~ the treo State mon aud or
dertd an election Of delegates to q convention IN
amend tho old constitution Of nusiana, or 10 make
new one for the State, the loyul men OF the nation
NIGH, have tolerated such an unauthorized assump-
| ton of power On his part. AS II Is, loyal men are
compelled to protest against u, not only because
Of his exercise Of power for which there Is no law,
and his disregard of the wishes OF the free State
mon, but because Of the difficulties and complica-
tons which repetition OF such acts in other States
may bring upon us. Here is what the free State
men of Louisiana say on this point:
| 4" Resoiaed, That this Free State General Com
mttcC, not rcliuQuishing its Judgment that the
only trua path to reconstruction is convention tU
| form new constitution before any election for
State officers and not renouncing its lawful claim
To have slavery abolished immediately, without the
dangers of any futile scheme ofgradual emanci
patton aud not yielding its assent TO the idea that
| the election of seven executive officers, can, by
proper use of terms bc styled the civil Govern
mcnt uf Louisiana but, nevertheless recognizing
the patrinic duty of endcavoring To place in office
men whose opinions arc in harmony with the
wants OF Louisiana and tho spirit of the age, will
| take part in the elections"
The farce of an election was gone through with
and of course the men representing an organization
whose loyalty never was questioned, were defeated
and the candidate of Gen. Banks was elected. 1t
could not well have been otherwise. A military
commander who announces that " martial latr Is
Ii, Taf al IIIro iLe In1 nj mn AZ
vote, would not find livery difficult to elect any one
he might designate, especially when the aggregate
vote did not exceed ten or ,ieren thousand, with
three candidates in the field. Hahn's whole vote
6,lIl, less than onclourth of the vote Of my Con-
grcssional district,
There are hty-four Parishes in the State, only
twelve of which are under our control.
n have been credby informed that of the nura-
ber who voted for Hahn, over 900 worc employ
ell in the Quartermastcr's Department about $50
are policemen in the city of New Orleans ; city la
bnrers 100, and other city officers lOOj some
600 were soldiers claiming to be citizens of Louis
lana. The acting Mayor of New Orleans was re-
moved by General Banks, and one appointed who
could and would control the votes aud influence
the 800 policemen, city laborers, and city officers.
With all the military power of the department to
support Hahn; with the votes of all the Govern
ment employees, the Louisiana soldiers aud police
men, his entire vOto in the twelve Parishes Is but
GIL, and vet this insignificant vote is paraded be-
lore the country, ana unbluShlngly cu1eu tnu
voice Of the cutire Stale of Louisiana, which, in
1s60 gave vote ofuvcr so 600. Hahn had hardly
many votes in the eutire State MS Mrs. General
lieaurcgard had sympathizing rebel mourners i'll
attendance upon her funeral in the city OF New Or
leans, in a day ur two after this election.
! have said nothing of Gcuerpl Banks orders and
treatment Of the freedmen Of Louisiana. God
knows ] have no desire 10 say word that ough
not to say, but | cannot remain silent when suci
irregularities are being committed. | am heart
sick Of this pandering to rebels and Shareholders
When General Butler was in command at New Or
, leans recognized free State man complained OF
his mnstorly administration. She rebels aud slave
holders, however, made day and night hideous
with their h0wling, And General Butler was
removed Since General Banks has been in COM
mand, there has not been rebel or pro-slavery
complaint, but frank and manly protests come tt
, | uS from well known Union iupn, who have beer
tried AS by fire. and whose loyalty was never faint
ed by taking an oath to support the rebel Govern
ment or by voluntarily defending and justifying ii
THIS simple fact tells its own story, and need
not add another word.
MIR. Speaker, let us see to IL, that there is NJ
repetition of these acts by any other General in al
attempt U organize civil government for rebel
Stats, without the cypress authority Of Congress
, Enact this bill as law and you insure the liberia
ton, regeneration and restoration of the South
Refuse to pass it, aud the loyal men Of the SOutl
left 10 the mercy and caprice OF military order
If prues loyaliss and opcn-throated rebels VIII
have been guiltYof every crime, will eonsplre 10
Missouri. The amnesty oath viii be taken b.
thousands who will at once strike hands with per
d iurers, robbers and murderers 90 destroy the me
who have, from the first, been faithful to the Con
/. stitutou and the Union.
, Mr. Speaker, the war ended feel confident tina
! the willy enemy will attempt to gain by diplomacy
J. much that he has lost by an appeal TO arms
Therein, sir, us apprehed, lies ouT danger. Tl'
nation, anxious for peace, will eagerly listen TO ia
voice Of the returning prodigal, until like the som
of the syren, it will, of y0Fc, u many loyal bu
too cOnhding men into plausible but delusive sc
g curty. Cunningly devised schemes of adjust
9 mcnt, declared by their authors To be hOnorabl
i to all parties" will be thrust upon MS, and ever
4 form Of sopistry employed 10 conceal their deior
5 mites, aud 70 eXto their merits
= let ms meet these issues now, AMI meet ther
| like men, Let us define, clearly and uhmistakabl
il the policy of the Government ON all question
= touching the reconstruction and FestoratiOn OF tI
rebel Stntcs to the Union and fhus render fOreVe
n impossible all humating compromises.
The trnly loyal men Of the North and South, vii
' expect aud demand this Of MS. They VIII deman'
that their heruc sacrifices and sulferiags shall no
1 have been all in vain. And, sir, such peopl
4 will must be eonsulted-must be obeyed. know
that obedience to it will make freedom and Jnstic
( the prominent elements Of every newly ORGANIZE
T State. rr--a als
r Mr.. Speaker believe, may safely say, tina
never in the history of any nation, has there bee
grander exhibitions Of patriotism and heroisn
than have illustrated every battle field az this ter
: own district, aud hear the simple and touching
e story told in almost every household, about father
: and sons, husbands and brothers, who have gon
into the army that the Republic might live, | an
. pIoul Of my country, and thank God thatl beion
n to such heric Fsce.