Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-03-23
SPEECH or HON. J. K. eDeEaTON.
cox4rxuED from FIRST PAGE.

The presidents win undil the work of his
friends in the last session Of congress in their
efforts to reconstruct states. The executive tn
umphed over the legislative power, and notwith-
standing his studied outrage on the legislative
authorizes Of the people" the majority in con-
gress kissed the hand that smote them aud, in
spite Of the reconstruction BILL in defiance Of It's
well maiured provisions, Louisiana and Arkan-
sas, states reared and reconstructed under the
PRESIDENT hand and plan, upon tie basisof mar
iial law. now knock confidently at our doors for
recognition
The crisis Of the election being past, a re-
newed effort Is made by the committee on rebel
liOus states, 10 carry out their plan OF recosni-
ton.
The various forms in which the subject matter
before the House has been presented, the con-
ficiing arguments which have been urged in its
support all indicate that division OF counsel ex-
ISIS among those controlling legislation here, and
who. having common purpose, should have
common plan for Its success.
The reconstruction DILL of this session, as orig
inally reported. contained section 1.-THE SEVENTH
directly and without conditions recognizing the
government aud constitution of louisiana as or
gained under General Banks proclamation.
Why Arkansas was not included do not know;
but the provision as 10 Louisiana was evidently
Intended to propitiate the president to approve
the bill. 1t seemed 10 be an offer OF compromise
between the House and the president, saying to
him, You NAV take Louisiana by executive
construction, and We viii remake Arkansas by
congressional reconstruction" For some rea-
son this proposition has been Withdrawn from
the committees bill reported BY the gentleman
from Ohio. Mr.. Ashley, but it stands in the
substi ute OF the gentleman from Massachusc
Mr.. Elliott, accompanied BY the further offer
ing 10 the president by the gentleman from ILL
nois, Mr.. Arnold, of proposition virtually 10
confirm the emancipation of January /, 1868.
The committees bill, IN )difei, now proposes
to recognize Louisiana and Arkansas under their
new constitutions, provided conventions OF
those states shall incorporate into their constiu
tons the conditions prescribed in the twelfth sec
ton of the BILL and provided further that il shall
appear by the United Sia;es marshal's enroll
ment that the persons who had taken the oath TO
support the constitution of the United Sta.es to-
gether with the citizens of the United ates from
such states, in the military or naval service.
amounted 10 a majority OF the persons enrolled in
| the state.
And there is therefore a direct proposition be-
| fore the House TO recognize uncondi iOnally, the
new government of Louisiana. ] shall here say
what further have TO say on that subject. The
case of Arkansas | shall not specially discuss,
for the principle of both cases is the same; both
rest on the amnesty oath as a condition of suf-
| frage and if Louisiana is not entitled TO recog
nitisn, neither is Arkansas.
do not believe for | have no reason 10 be-
| lieve, that the constitution and the government
OF Louisiana seeking recognition here, are the free
! act of the people of Louisiana in any constitu-
| tionai or even moral sense of that term. / can
not profess TO speak from thorough knowledge
nor dogmatically on this question; but the are
few facts and figures bearing upon II, which are
conclusive to my mind, aside from what / have
said of the amnesty proclamation and General
Banks order. gather them, in part, from Q
pamphlet by Mr.. Thomas ]. Durant Of New
Orleans, addressed TO member of the House
Mr. Henry Winter Davis which has doubtless
received the attention of many members.
The government and the constitution we are
asked TO recognize, are assumed TO be the gov
ernment and constitution of the state of Louisi
ana. The territory of that state is 46, 43l square
miles i'll area, and its population according to
the census of 1850, was 7Os ,Oo2 persons. and IL
total vote in the presidential election OF that veal
was 50, $40.
Now it appears that At the election of the first
Monday of September last. upon the adopting OF
rejecting of the proposed constitution OF the Apr
convention but twenty out Of forty-eight parishe,
of Louisiana voted on the question; that these
twenty parishes, comprising an area of but 10,
S04 square miles. or about One-third of the sta C
cast 1886 votes for the constitution and ! see
votes against 1t, making total of S,402 votes
when 20 634 votes were cast in the same parishes
in 1860; that of these 54O2 votes, 5,45i were
cast in the city of New Orleans alone, and thai
that city therefore cast a majority OF the votes
given for the constitution The consequence i.
that the new constitution and government o.
Louisiana were made by the CITY of New Orleans
alone, and woud have been so made had every
vote outside of the city been unanimously cas-
against the constitution l. il nor an ab,urdit
to call such vote a vote Of the state of Loui>i
ana-6 $50 votes 10 make state government
and organic law for 100000 people of state
\ government thus made, deserve. to be called
on Oligarchy rather than democracy or re
public.
We all know that since New Orleans was
opened up to northen men by General Butler
the cotton specuator, the sugar speculator, and
the cormorants of all vocations from New Eng
land and other sections, have rushed to New
Orleans as to an FL Dorado for fortune hunting
men. To them - LOYALTY has been great gain
and | believe il will be found that these are the
men who have been molding the state of Lou
isiana into its present shape before this House
Their money and influence have been potent in
the work of reconstruction. The plan of repeo-
ping the conquered rebel states is already show
inc its fruits.
For Que, sir, when / cast my vote, fever to
welcome Louisiana again among the states freely
and fairly represented upon this floor. do not
intend 10 welcome some other state or its inStru
ments under the borrowed or stolen gsrb of Lou
isiana. Massac husetts and New England have
power enough in this congress and in ,his union
already, In their own proper Representatives
without taking the name and constitutional func-
tions of Louisiana. L will not. sir. for any cause
disfranchise the free born white men of LOuis
ana, native there and TO tine manner born" in
order TO enffanchise and place in power the al
veniurers who, following in the wake of federal
military power. have bounced upon New Orlean-
and the desola.ed plantations OF Louisiana as the
vulture plungeS upon the slain of the battlefield
l am not in favor of the plan Of devastation, ex
termination aud repeopling advocated by some
men. / will rather wait the coming of the au =
pcious, aud I'hope not distant day, when the
people of Louisiana. the real sons the state
weary and sick at heart OF the wild pursuit OF
the ieRIs jofaHs of secession. shall of their own
accord return TO the union as our fathers made il
and their fathers accepted it; when LOUISIANA
once an alien 10 the union, became bone Of oui
bone and flesh of our flesh.
On these grounds then, sir. first, because il
was initiated and built up BY federal military
power, exaeting an unconstitutional and oppres
sive test oath as basis or condition of suffrage
and creating a quasi dureSS over the people OF
Louisiana; and secondly, because nave no evi
dencc that 1t Is the act of the people Of Loui,i
ana in any proper legal sense. 1 am opposed t.