The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-03-28
The President and the Convention,

! uO l. 4OoluOuU Cb1u bllO VUuVCuUlUus
The account of the interview between
President johnson and the Commissioners
sent to Washington by the General Assem-
bly, is deeply interesting. It seems that
the President received them cordially, and
manifested the greatest concern in the
efforts our State is making towards gaining
her lost rights. Our commissioners say
that Mr.. johnson is thoroughly acquainted
with the wants of Louisiana at this time
that he takes the deepest interest in every.
thing that concerns our welfare, and that he
is determined to persist in his efforts to re-
instate her-in all her privileges, in spite Of
the efforts of the Radicals to impose de-
grading conditions on her, preparatory to
her readmission into the Federal union. AS
these gentlemen represented tho majority Of
the General Assembly, who have been in
favor of calling Convention to frame q
Constitution for tile State, it was important
that they should understand the views of
the President on that subject. Mr., John.
son informed them that the calling of a
Convention at this time would seriously
embarrass his efforts in carrying out his re-
construction policy, would give handle to
the Radical party in their calumnious as
saults on our State, and requested that we
should proceed fora while at least under
our present organization. To show how
much disposed our people are to support
the policy of the President, and to avoid
everything like agitation, it is only necessa-
~ to mention that the General Assembly
on the Presidents views being made
known, Immediately ceased to agitate the
question of a Convention, aud evinced
every disposition to accede to the Presi-
dents wishes on the subject. This perfect
harmony between the President and our
legislators cannot fail to result in much
good to the State; a harmony which has ex-
listed all the time, but which had been mis-
represented to such an extent by the enc
mics of the State as to raise imputations Of
disloyalty against them. As the first advo.
cate in the State for the calling of Con-
vention, and the first opponent Of the
present State government, we freely admit
that we are willing to give up our prefe-
rences in Difference to those of the Presi-
dent, when he assures US that those prefe-
rences will tend to defeat the only ends
which we had hoped they would bring
about. We are convinced that the Presi-
dent is the only bulwark between us and the
fanaticism ofthe Radical party, which would
overwhelm us with ruin and degradation,
and we are perfectly willing to permit him
to work out his plans in his own way. In
his earnest endeavors in behalf of the rights
of the South, we bid him God speed, and we
doubt not that he is perfectly satisfied now
that the people Of Louisiana will lend him
all the support and encouragement in their
power.
Ia Now that Spring is upon US and
the trees and flowers are budding forth in
oil directions, we begin to feel sensibily the
loss of the shade trees which used to make
Alexandria such Q delightful little place IN
the Summer season. Our citizens should
set to work to repair this loss as far as pos.
sible. Those who have lots in town should
plant trees on the side walks opposite to
them, in order that they may have trees
whenever they should see fit to rebuild their
lost residences. The Court House square
should be enclosed and trees planted now,
instead of waiting number Of years until
the parish shall be able to build another
Court House. In this climate it takes
but few years to build up grove, and, by
proper attention, We may hope to see our
little town in short time embellished with
those shade trees which are such an orna-
ment to private residences in the summer
season.