, 1865-07-04


As Louisiana Was tho Ars. Of ,he ezirem.
Southern States to adopta Free State Con-
stItntIon, to elect under 1t Ftce Safe Leg.
irlatuse. and TO send up Its Senators and Rap
rese entatl1ts f0r,adnlission to the halls of Con-
Eress, so We might reasonably expect that 1t
would be the first TO acquire those rights and
privileges forfeited by the rebellion. The
wMmest friends Of the Free State party
were greatlJ disappointed by the refusal Of
Congress, toadmit the delegation from Lou
islaua, and many Of them fear that The present
direction OF public opinions and policy will
still further prclone the struggle, and greatly
complicate the difficulty. The history of the
rise md progress Of the Free
State party In Louisiana, with the dtfli-
cultIes 1t now meets, Is Of great interest
md Is not correctly undxstood in the conn-
Try. Under the State Constitution Of 1867,
aud by order Of Nal. Gen. Banks, an election
for State officers Was held In Louisiana, Feb.
g, q 1861. The result Of this election WIZ the
Installation Of Hon. Michael Hahn as Gov
ernor Of the State, Mnrch 18th, 1864, The
new Constitution prepared by the Conven-
tlou WAS ratified By the people, Sept. 5th,
1864. The Legislature, elected under the
uGh NAuttllut4SAs uC4A butA utek etEH1tut
commencing Oct. 4th, 1864. By tho cxptra-
tion Of the term Of Hon. Charles Smith, Hon.
Michael Hahn and r. King Cutler became the
senators elect to 8Cougress. Mr.. Wells be-
came the Cover hor Of the State. As is usu-
ally the case In times of great excitement Or
revolution, man ; unworthy men becsmc elc-
vated TO clIlce. Fer ths dishonesty or vaga-
sies Of these men, thc party with which they
were Identified have hsd TO suffer. Tho men
who came into Office may be dtrlded
into three classes. The 1rst class
were gtnulnc Unlcn men. who honestly
believed. and In msny cases had severely suI-
fered Tor their. sentiments. The second class
only the spoils Of Office. Tho third class
were composed Of men v ho had been ilcn-
titled with the old pro-elAfeTy party, and
were connected with secessicu by residence,
association. business, md eccIal relations
and other ties. The results Of this associa-
constitution adopted vas marked By few
faults and many exee!lencies. The legislation
Was liberal and judlcious, but the expendl-
turcs OF the public. funds was peIIaps nnpte-
cedeuted In extraraeanee and wastef1lneas.
The Free State party in Louisiana. are by
10 means united In their Eiews. The te.mt.
nation Of the war, the return Of Thousands Of
ance, and q variety Of other causes combine
10 draw party lines with much greater dis.
tinctnese. One party advocate freedom aud
the right OF suffrage to all Of The coio1ed pop
ulation, placing them upon an e1ullity with
the whites, another party wonld mnSe the
:7zen.hip gradual These two CLASSES are Of
the Free State party, and will be uns:ee33
against the third and greater. This thlsd
party will not consent that the negro shall
ever vote, or acquire the position secured by
knowledge and personal Independence.
TLey prefer system of slavery or peonage
to be secured By State legislation, peEhsps
party favor the Development of the State by
Northern capital and Northern enterprise,
and would Invite prosperity by securing lmui-
grafton from the North and from Europe,
hiding out sufficient Inducements Tor the
tame, but their opponents denounce all such
many of the old secesh faction, the men who
have fought h *are the State have no right to
remain in It. This latter party is made up of
the returning Southern soldiers, all the old
pro-slavery Democrats, all Of those who have
been active sympathizers with the rebellion,
and al who are opposed to the elevation of
Gov. Wells has thrown himself into the arns
of this c1ass.of men, who pledge him their
support. and will probably give 1t, NJ long a.
he can be made useful in Carrying out their
views. This leads me to review in hrief the
history Of Gov, Wells. Hcw was elected to the
office OF Llent. Governor, as true and un-
conditional Union man. He fed from his re-
bel prosecutors md sought refuge In this
city, under the protection of the cd Eag.
He WIS very Vind1ctiye in his feelings at that
time, going 60 far Us to hope that no quarter
would be given to those men Who had taken
up arms against the country that had given
than birth and nr0f erffnY1 and harfahpd frnrn
their hames and destroyed the property of
those whose crime Was loyalty to their gov
eminent and flag. He was very emphatic
IN his dennnclation Of treason.
Now, what is bis present policys Men
have been removed from office, n9der various
ing radical Republican Views: On June 17th
a large mass meeting was held In Lafayette
equare in honor Of the Governor. In an ad-
d ees, read by Governor Wells, in response
to q welcome speech ty J. Q. 4. Fellows,
President Of the meeting, Governor, Wells
said among other things: " It must be per-
with the. political history of the country,
that the radical Abolition party Is brokenup;
diso1ganized, and demo1alized, despite their
apparent sueeest during the present war"
He also says: j" Their official corruption,
By any party which has ever pre-
ceded it or may ever succeed 1t, has rendered
He also charges this great Union party with
having created an enormous Far debt, which,
he eays, will attach odium to them for hnlf q
century. Now, the party here condemned Is
the party that elected Abraham Lincoln and
Andrew johnson, the party that procured the
Issuing, Of the Emancipation Proclamation
that carried the war against the rebellion to
q successful issue, and vlndfcated the honor
Of the old flag, md preserved the country. !
This man is now Governor Of Louisiana. Un.,
der his administration, 9 ncw registry of vo-
terB is being made, Of course to include the !
'' returning prodig1ls.'' Local officers are
being appointed in the different parishes
ind 70 lave serytd in the rebel army, to have
actively sympathized With the rebellion, is
better recommendation to favor |
kban to hare BEEN driven away for loyalty, or !
% have fought under the Stars aud Stripes.
II the policy, advocated by GOV. Wells sud |
his supporters succeeds In Louisiana, I can |
only say, God pity the cause Of freedom and
The rights Of the colored man tn this State!
MORLEY.
New PRESIDENT OF LAwRECE UNlvERsl-
1.-THE joint Board Of Trustees and Wis
tors. on Tnesdny elected Rev. George |
u. steele, OF the New England II. F.. Com
etence, frealdent Of the Lawrence UnIverst-
ty, ut Appleton. Wis he a vnta nj II tn