Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1865-12-13
Interesting Letter frOm the
South.

| Editor Chronicle You were promised
when | left Ohio, that occasionally yol
might be furnished with a letter iron
me, giving the condition of things il
Louisiana since the collapse of the rebel
lion. In doing this, as inclination or lei
sure may allow, shall refrain from Civ
ing opinions, except so far as the rea
state of things may be an inference from
such facts as fall under my personal ob
servation, or as l may learn from others
The subject may be considered under
two heads-lst, the political condition
as developed under the reconstruction
policy of the administration, and ID, tn,
| business and material condition and pros
poets of the State, under that policy. Ny
object is, convey tOyOur readers the Tea
state of things, rather than to give them
opinions and speculations of my own.
1t is claimed that the civil government
of Louisiana Is an organization under the
Constitution adopted in 1864, resulting
from measures inaugurated by Genera
Banks at the request and by the approva
of the late President. The Judges o
Courts and State officers are appointed o.
elected under that Constitution and law,
consistent with it. or enacted since it,
adoption.
This government has not been recOg
nized by Congress, and in consequence o
the occupation of the State by the Uni
ted State forces, it only acts by the per
mission or ac9uIescence Of the military
Not unfrequently courts are, by military
order, eDiOined from doing certain thing
and prevented from executing their judg
ments, orders or DEGREES.
The Legislature under this COnstitu
ton, elected two Senators to Tepresen
the State in the United States Senate, Il
wit: Michael Hahn and King Cutler.
There are in the State fifty four parish
es, only twelve OF which participated IL
the election ordered by General Banks
and in many of these elections were only
held by very few persons, who were en-
abled TO vote at polls guarded by sol
diers.
Mr.. Hahn, VINO was elected Governo
at this election, being elected to the Sen
ate, as he supposed, es.gned the Cover
norship and that left Lieut.. Governor J
Madison Wells acting Governor. Thu
stood matters at the collapse of the re
bellion.
Soon after the surrender of Lee anC
Johnston, the citizens of Louisiana wh'
were identified with the rebellion, or wbt
were in its armies, and who had escaped
the casualties of war, returned TO thei
| homes in the State, many of whom wer'
residents of New Orleans.
In October, Governor Wells ordered al
election of State officers and for Mem
bers of Congress, which was held on tn,
9th of this month. This order of eleC
tion brought into existence two distinc
political organizations-one the Nationa
Democratic Party, the other the Nation
Conservative Union Party.
enclose you the platform and ad
dress of the National Democratic party
but they are PROBABLY too lengthy fo
publication in your paper. l shall deem
it sufficient 10 state the substance OF thi
platform upon material questions.
1t is first declared '' that the issu
which for the last four years had trieC
the strength of the Government of tn
United States, was made openly, manfull.
and honorably, and had gone agains
| them, 1.-THE National Democrats, for thl
is the grammatical construction and il
consequence of this they are willing I
come forward in the same spirit Of frank
ness and honor to support the Fedora
| IGovernment. under the Constitution. p
In other words, the Democrats of Loui:
lana allege that the late rebellion wa
open, mantul and honorable, and its bein
put down by the strength Of the Govern
ment of the United States, they propose
in the same spirit of frankness in whic
they carried on the rebellion, to supper
the Federal Government under the Cor
stitution. That your readers may Sc
that have given the true constructio
and the spirit of this platform, upon thi
point, quote in full its preamble:
Whereas, the National Democrat
Party of the State of Louisiana in gene
al Convention assembled, fully recogni
ing the fact that the issue, which for tn
last four years has tried the strength {
the United States Government, was mad
openly, manfully and honorably, and tbs
the decision having gone against them
and,
"Whereas, We have now come forvar
in the same spirit of frankness and hoI
or TO support the Federal GoVernmer
under the Constitution"
This platform also alleges this Cover
f ment to be government of white Pc,
} pie made and to be perpetuated for th
exclusive benefit of the white race" an
declares the Constitution OF 1864 to b
"the creation of fraud, violence and co
ruption, and not in any sense the EXPIRE
sion of the will of the white people Lot
isiana, and that it should be repudia;e
and abolished as soon as IL can be don
legally" 1t is admitted that the goveTr
ment organized under it is a defacto @,
ernment only, or in other words, thai
is government in fact and not in righ
and that Governor Wells holds his Otfic
and has called an election under tha
Constitution
There is one other material allegatio
in this platform, showing the opinion {
its authors and supporters, which | wi
give in its own language.
" Resolved, That the institution {
Slavery having been effectually abolishe
in the Southern States, we consider
our right to petition Congress for con
Ipensation for all damages sustained b
emancipation
The platform of the National COnsel
vative Union party Is only different i
this-it does not pronounce the rebelliO
open, manly and honorable, it recognize
the Constitution of 1864, and the Gov
ernment organized under it, as lawful
and it repudiates the idea of applying t
Congress for compensation for slaves o
damages occasioned by emancipation
This was the tenor of the speeches Of tb
conservatives during the canvass
There was another party organized
called the Republican party, numberin
by its vote about two thousand white
and about eighteen thousand colore,
| DeOnle This narfv did NOT racogniz