Shreveport semi-weekly news. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1865-18??, 1865-10-28
REGISTERED Enemies,

This term has evidently been urosa
~ misunderstood in it's applir,tin,
to "A certain class OF our citizens. |
must be from this Observation-Disclosures,
that certain officials have been i'm
Peifed to attempt the exclusion .
persons coming under this classiti flea
tl"n from the benefit Of the prrsi
dent amnesty. and their distrau
chiSemelt, as voters, under the Con
stitutlon and laws OF Louisiana. Per
sons ignorant of the manner and cir.
cumstances under which the person,
referred to became classified as ere.
s'sttred enemies very naturally
conclude, from these harsh and VIC.
lent attempts to strike them from the
registry, that they are obdurate and
'ncurable rebels, who have been Gull,
ty OF some objectionable act of dis.
loyalty and treason. Otherwise il
would be impossible to comprehend
the justice or reason of admitting 10
the right of suffrage !, large class of
citizens who have been engaged in
active and violent resistance to the
authority Of the United States, who
have waged bitter and destructive
war against the Government and the
Union, and including those who have
,, " been registered or written down
'emies, but have been guilty of
Tuesdays paper INABILITY. In other
prior to II o'clock, Moon, >tavors and
paruons pf"es,ra1 a'.d real hostility,
a'sA treats mere sentimental! -. :'s::
bal hostility as incapable any : IN
torsivablr. 1t is Il distinction on-N
posed to that of law, which takes 0
heed of mere words and sentiments,
as proof of treason and rebellion. but
regards only deeds, practical facts,
" overt acts" rs the legal phrase has
it. 1t is Il distinct on, too, not found
Ell on reason or experience. The
mere verbal or written heclara,ions
Of people. when not attested by acts,
have but little Significance, and can
never constitute, save where they
tend to damage individuals. any
thing more serious than small misde-
meanors. Sedition aud Islander are
the highest offences which can be
committed by mere words and writ
ten or spoken declarations. But acts
may be- the very highest crimes
known to the law-mav be nun der
or treason, but words never can be.
SO much then tor the effect Of the
registration Of enmitv against the
United States, made during the late
war. 1t was about the simplest
least offensive and practical; the
most inocuous. futile, purely Senti-
menta! OF al! the forms in which the
spirit Of rebellion was manifested
Why, then, should this class be sin
gled out for especial ostracism and
Acknowledgement!
But it happens this registration
was not voluntary or responsible
act of the parties involved. 1t is a
great error to suppose that thesi. per
sons went torwald out of their bitter
and remorseiess hostility TO the | nj
ted States, and recorded themselves
enemies O.: the Government and
Union.
The facts were these Gen. But
Ter. some few weeks after his estab-
lishment in power, set on foot various
plans to compel the people to come
forward and renew their oaths of al
legiance to the United States. He
employed all his power TO compel a
general swearing in Of all our citi-
zens. No man could exercise any
rights, could trade, buy or sell, max.
any contract, appear IN court, draw
Il check on bank, or receive any rev
enue or dividends, unless he had ia
ken this oath-which by the by was
good dead more than an oath-to re-
new allegiance to the United States.
was an oath which imposed new
sties and Obligation upon the juror,
an IL ,hv " 3hlsstve assortment Of litefS"ss,
papers and pictorials. At his stand
on Texas street, next to this otiic"
can always be- found late city papers
pictorials, light literature, etc. Give
him a call.
Tie Rircr-The river is falling
all the way down with 81 feet scant
in the channel. Weather cloud y, 4
small sprinkle Of rain.
Dr.L.O. Scruggs, of Natchitoches
will address the people at the Court
House, to-day at IL o'clock, NJ.
Mr.. J. Ad. Rozier has withdraw
his name from the Democratic ticket
as candidate for Congress, and "otd
Jacob Barker, has been put IN hi,