Shreveport news. [volume] (Shreveport [La.]) 1864-1865, 1865-03-14
Speech of Col. Lou 8 Bush,
Dciirercd at tie Z" fete" gircn To Mag.
Gen. FOrney's DirisiOr, on !Satur-
day, 1871 Feb, 1865.

them TOT tnrlr ueSOteu lAtTio''sH'
made manifest on every occasion
and paid we'll mrritrd tribute to
Governor Allen, of louisiana, under
whose auspices this feast was inaug
uratrd.
Addressing the Texans, he sssur
ed them he i-lt it was eminenily J
proper that Louisianians should offer
them "a token of respect aud gratitude
for their deeds of hrr"ism. and the
t,r,i,ui. with which they had EN-
durrd the trials and hard~hips +"
which they had been subjected and
then spoke, in substance, as follows:
Though yon have performed your
duty as BELTS good and trHc mrn.
you have. still more oaccomplish.-t
Our country now demands the rNrr
else of unboundcd patriotism. pure
self abnegation, and the devotion L"
her cause which can be expected OF
men who hav. resolved to be free.
regardless of sacrifices. Cnlrss you
propose to pursue this course. better,
tar better is it to lay down your
arms now. and ack knowledge Your
selves the willing sa>salS OF a hated
foe. and the subsrrvi.nt slaves of \
bisot.d oppres-or. God grant there
may not be among us those VIII" are
50 lost 10 every sense of honor. a. I"
submit to such sl,smctul degradation
tod grant th.r. are nou- =" ba>c
as to worship AT the shrine Of M"ioch
t" the extent Of forgetting their duty
tn their country. to save their proper
Nv, Ii there. be- those who AZ. 80
deb s,d as to overlook every princi
pl. which cnnoblr> human nature.
let til, IN leave IL and =" wh-r" they
will find congcninl intany-am"ns
us, they havcno abiding plac,-with
us, they can have no sympathy for
our people are now prepared to sac
riticr cvcvy,hinS--Save honor TT" at
tain the y"al for which We have been
struggling. and foi which "" ar" de-
tcrmin.i To confirm" ta,'limg, until
We shall have unturl-d TO the guz"
of an adIniring world the banner of
freedom in unsullied purity.
\ climax in our affair, las been
reached, and it h,.hoov-- us 10 ponder
we'll, and calmly, tue measures TO be-
adopted to meet the crisi-. ltiS pos
,lbl- that our intercourse with the
seat ct c,,vcrnn M nav h." severed
bv the rt"nv, and that ". may have
to rely entirely upon our own rr>"ur-
c-S Civil government Will. in con
sequence. l." seriously impaired, and.
perhaps. - far rs tn. Confederate
government possesses authority, may
b. partially suspended. In view OF
such an emergency. it drv"lr"s upon
our State Executives, AT once, to
prepare to countrrnc, Its d"lttrri"'i-
effects. aud to devils. means by which
the rights Of til. p-orl" shall Ia" inll,
guarded and protected. Will. they
StudiouSlv avoid tointrrt'.rr with the.
military authorities.
In such con unctur" the immrn7..
burdens resting on our military com
manrer will l.. far from riv.Ih =. and.
il We expect him I" Ne equal to thu.
requirements OF his position, he must
b. given til. undivided support OF
every man. He has shown himself
on all occasions, To the hr>. of my
information. prepared to giv" I" civil
authority du. respect ami obedience,
and has thereby established that he
understood that those rights, for th..
preservation of which We are now
coutrndiuy. are AT the foundation of
til" contest in which We are engaged
Bowins with det-,-nce to til" mayis-
" of the law, he has at The same
time .vfnc"d abundant capacity "a
manage our military affairs. and
founded - OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES cn,ious-
ness and uprightn.ss which entities
him to our confidence.
Having these premises upon which
20 predicate our reasoning. rules of
conduct can be deducted productive.
OF great advantages. Duty bids ~.
/, NOR. than ever, give to our local
civil! authorities. especially when the
+ con,in gency arises which involves
the paramount rule of srli-pr, serva-
= ton, the c"unteaance and supper,
which may Toe required To enable them
t. work out their great mission. Il ms
SION ,rhich mag tent to ar sa|ration;
nor should we hesitate to devote all
our means and abilities to the aid of
our military authorities. that they
may be prepared to drive the foe
from our soil. with shame and dis
sa.acc upon his banners. should he
dare attetnp, another invasion.
Without attempting to arrogate
the righ, of giving counsel. l none
. the less feel that As freeman, aud
particularly ON this occasion, and n.
this time, have the right to an
nounce my humble opinion. and there
fore have, and shall continue SO to
do, without reserve. If we intend
to succeed in this gigantic strife if