The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1865-10-18

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dangers to'be unprecedented from IT.; / know
they are serious, and | believe they are in
creased by every weak, urmanly attempt t.
propitiate, it, but am encouraged ID thu
hope that It cannot be maintained ID its in
tegrity. II has in its bosom, representing
respectable, intelligent, aud highly, coBserva
tive constituencies, men who, like Presiden'
Johnson, are attached to the principles fol-
which we contend. and if we plant our
selves firmety on these principles they mus
be With us. 5s- 1850 4
But our strength lies III the National De
Anocratic party, which, whatever may have
been its errors, has always been orthodox or
the doctrine Of statesrights. A doctrine
which it has held firmly through all the
great commissions which have shaken mems
minds. and corrupted their understandings
| know that this doctrine is in little repute
with some among you, who, it seems to me.
with little II election, confound the limiting
Of rights to a particular sphere OF action,
with the total abandonment of all right as
if one who had pushed his boundaries be-
You'd their proper limits, had deprived him
self Of the right to erect any boundary to
his demesnes. ] can well imagine the inef-
fable disgust painted on the features of that
stern Old Democrat. President johnson,
when he listened to the sneering remark of
one Of the South Carolina delegation on the
subject of what he was pleased to consider,
the exploded doctrine of States,rights. II
will be found SIR replied the President, "a
better States rights man than You are" |
am no party man in thestrict occupation Of
the term but am, as is the president, a
States rights man. aud if / am honored with
your confidence you will find me In the
council of the nation acting with the Ma.
tional Democratic party, the only one that
offers you any assurance for the restoration
of your political franchises now held in
allegiance by the event Of tile late war. To
counsel with this party which will necessari-
y draw itself the wise, prudent, and CON
servative men of the nation North, as well.
as South, / now engage to you my best abiI-
tiles to reinstate you in your ancient politi.
cal rights; aud my assurance that. not one
of these shall, with my consent, be eon,pro.
missed away for any temporary expeiient.
The result of the late war, which was es-
sentiaily one of ideas, has, without doubt.
settled for ever, what controversy within and
without the halls Of Congress for more t1an
a generation Of. men, had failed to settle the
relation which the States bear to the Fed
tral Government. But if that war was
waged by this government for the purpose
only Of restoring, these States to constitu-
tional subsection. ard on no other principle
could It be justified in the face of the civil
lied world, however the result may affect in.
it cannot divest You If any polit.
zeal right yoa before possessed. Il may.
for all indefinite period, IS if does now, hold
these rights in allegiance; aud it may depriv.,
you, as it undoubtedly will. Ct an important
privilege guaranteed by the Consultation.
This. guarantee, protected you in that indie,
feasible right to- property in slaves which
you Inherited from your fathers but, as
condition precedent to the restoration OF
your francliises, you are required, to part
with this privilege. AS an unsuccessful
beligerent party contending for it, you are
bound to accept 10 good faith this condition
Of the corqueror,--a condition necessary to
harmonic the. States in the Union. For
my own part, | early accepted the conclu
sons Of Mr.. Seward, that there was an If.
repressibie conflict which would speedily
terminate in making the States of the Uni
on all free or all slave; aud as private cit
izen, for | was then occupying no position Of
honor or triist, favored the withdrawal Of.
the slave States from the Union, as a meas
IRE necessary toevade this eonfict. Bui il
was irrepresslble, aud terminating as it has
the consequence must surely follow, leaving
all the States free. 1t is evident now as it
was then, thai States partly free aud partly
slave cannot exist together in harmony un.
der one government, and as we are now in
dissoldbly united with the free States IN the
Federal Union we sbould snccomh u Tho
necessity hronabt ;,non no viii
The better grace. a. The GREAT p sacrifice u" We
are making. Il for the common rood
Under the circumstances in which we are
compeIled III this though II nav he for tbs
common Good We hardly s,,s;a;ni ) cla;n,
against the GENERAL poy fs fnr ramn
neration ala It nat involve more man tho
loss in the value IF the saves. Bnt ;t1,oes
The apnibilation Of the great hnIk oftha
visible property If the country 9 inyaiyes co n