Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-04-13

sands voters in the heretofore slave Stat
OF Louisiana have sworn allegiance to tn
Union The State held elections, organized
state governments, adopted Constitution
aVing the benefit of the public school
equally to the black knd white, and en-
poWering the Legislasnre to confer the elec
tive franchise upon colored men. The
Legislature has already voted to rstify the
Constitutional Amendment recently pass
ed py Congress, abolishing slavery through.
out the Union These twelve. thousand
persons are thus fully committed TO Union.
TO perpetuate freedom in the State com
itted to everything and nearly all things
the nation wants, and they ask the nations
recognition and assistance to make this
commmittal. We have rejected and spurn-
ed them we do our utmost 10 disorganize
and disPerse them; We, in fact say to the
white man, you are worthless, or worse-
we VIII never help you or be helped by you.
Ie blacks, we say, this cup of liberty
which these, your Old masters held to your
lips, we will dash from you and leave YOU
20 chances of gathering the spilled and
scat'ered contents in some vague and un-
defined manner when, where and how. If
this course discOursging and paralyzinp
Dothto white ard black, has anytendency to
bring Louisiana into proper practical rels-
tions with the Union, have so far been
unable to perceive it. If, on the con.
traryf We recognize and sustain the Gov
eminent of Louisiana converse of all this
IS made true We encourage the hearts
and Ferve the arms of $4,000 to adhere to
thelr wcrk, and argue for it and proselyte
ior It, and fight for it, and feed it and grow
IL a1driPen it to complete success. The
ce@cCed man, too, in seeing all united for
hin Is inspired with vigilance, energy and
daring to the same end. And grant that
ne desires the elective franchise, will he
not attain it sooner by saving already ad-
Vaueed steps toward it, than by RUNNING
backward over them? We concede that
the new government of Louisiana is only
what it should be as egg to fowl. we
shall sooner have fowl BY Matching the
egg than by smashing it. (Maughter) |
Again, if we reject Louisiana, we also
reject our vote in favor of the proposed
amendment to the national Constitution.
Ts meet this proposition, it has been ar
gued that no more than three-fourths of
those States which have not attempted Sc
eession are necessary to validly ratify the
amendment. 1 do rot commit myself
against this, further than to say that such
ratification would be questionable, and sure
to be persistently questioned, while ratifcs-
ton BY three-fOurths of all the States would
be unquestioned and unquestionsbIe.
repeat the question, can Louisiana be
brought in proper practical relation with
The Union sooner by sustaining or discard
ing her new government. Whist has been
said Of Louisiana will apply to other States,
and yet SO great peeuliarities pertain to
each State, and such important and sudden
changes occur in the same State, and withal
so new and unprecedented, is the whole
case, that no exclusive plan can safely be
prescribed As to details and collaterals.
each exclusion and inhexible plan would
surely become new entanglemert. I'M
portant principles may and must be infex-
lble in presentation as the phrase goes.
1t may be my duty to make some new an
nouncement to the people of the South.
am considering, and shall not fail to act
when satisfied that action will be proper.
A RECoNNoHsANCE.
An expedition recently went from Nor
folk to within a mile of Weldon, and
destroyed portion of the Seaboard & Roa.
noke Railroad, and captured thirty pris-
oners with one hundred bales of cotton and
a large quantity of tobacco. The sxpedi-
lion encountered and repulsed force of
rebels near Murfreesboro. Weldon is re-
ported to be strongly fortified, and garri-
sOned by one thousand rebels.
INCREASE OF NAVY.
Such has been the increase of the navy
that the Navy Register for this year will
contain fifty pages more than previously
published. Sixty vessels were added be-
tween January Ist, 1864, and January lst,
1865, and perSOneE in proportion the names
of sixty-four irOnclads are given. The en-
ire number of vessels is six hundred and
sighty-three. It appears that within the
period above mentioned seven naval YES
'elS were destroyed by rebel torpedoes, and
rs many captured by the enemy.
The ports recently closed by the procls-
maticn of the President, will continue to
he blockaded.
NEW YORK, April Il.
FOREIGN NEWS.
The steamer Morovesn arrived at Port
land tonight, bringing Liverpool dates to
March 30, and Queenstown 81. Her news
is two days later.
SatterthWsites circular reports a very
active market for American securities,