Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1866-09-13
9olitiGAl.
SPEECH OF THOMAS J. DURANT,
of Ne,U Orleans.

An immense gathering of people assem-
bel in front of the headquarters of thu
Union League, in Philadelphia, on Friday
evening 3lst ult, to welcome the southern
] 5yaIists attending the Convention. The
assembage was called to order by Hon
4 ". D. KELLEY, who after some appropriate
remarks introduced THOMAS j. DURANT, ESQ
Of New Orleans, whose appearance was
welcomed by cheer upon cheer. When or
der had been partially restored, he said:
Before this powerful gathering of loyal
I and patriotic men, rise, citizens, with the
deepest emotion to express the overpower-
ing sense of gratitude | feel for the warm
A reception you have given me on this occa-
sion l would be doing injustice to myself
did not now, in the outset, express the
gratitude feel to those gentlemen who
have awarded me with SO much kindness
the great privilege Of addressing on this
night so respectable an assemblage Of my
fellow citizens Of the State Of Pennsylva-
MA To you, too, tender the acknowledge
mcnt of my warmest thanks for the greet
ing you have given me and know well
that am by no means to attribute it to
any humble merits which l may have ap-
peared to possess, but that | am to attri-
butte it to that noble cause of Unionism in
the South which for the moment finds in
me most unworthy representative. Ap-
4 plause. A great statesman of Pennsyl-
vania-one who illustrated the walks both
Of politics and science-one whom Penn.
4 .rly-anIa caO+ 70 tho ('optiDop%n1
to aid the immortal jefferson in framing
that Declaration which has become char
ter Of human rights-that illustrious Penn
ylyanian once said, Where liberty dwells
there is my country" Great cheering. l.
and now, escaping from cold and averted
A books to meet with warm greetings, fleeing
A Gym the assassin's knife, which was placed
/ at my throat and that Of every Union man,
] ! too, come to the shore of the Delaware
AMd say with that illustrious statesman,
A Here liberty dwells, and here is my coun-
Huy' Cheers. You must not, assure
A?ou citizens, expect to be entertained in
4 lie mode in which you might hope to be
.0m the llattering introduction | have re-
Glyed this evening from my learned friend
1 Who has just addressed you. propose, on
4 the invitation of these conspicuous citizens
A Pennsylvania, who have so kindly hon
4 red me, to say something this evening on
tie subject they have indicated in their in
1tation to say something of that dire
went which darkened the 30th of July in
New Orleans, and to say something of the
cause that produced that horrid result, and
u the remedy, which, in my judgment,
! ought eprovided to prevent the repetition.
n the current of my discourse, it is quite
possible may say things that perhaps
4 LAY be unaccustomed to your ears, and it
-ay fall to my lot to make some remarks
-at yOu may not think altogether correct
H. my ieIlow-citzens, | implore your in
.I5ence III advance, for | assure you that
'-ateTer | do say will be but in obedience
the conscientious dictates Of my heart
Id Judgment.
Ihe events which preceded the 30th of
.y III Louisiana have passed into the do
--1 Of history, and no doubt are familiar
You all. When, in 1862, that gallant old
alg Of the modern seas who lately pass
the spot where | am now standing,
ought his fleet before the rebel forts that
Was vainly thought protected New Or
ans, and laid it across the Crescent City
as to bring that rebellious population
-4er his guns, when that was achieved
10 the flag of the Union once more greet
Tue longing gaze of the Union men of
'e| Orleans, we hailed it as the harbinger
safety, as the flag of freedom, as the
Iy4bol Of the restoration of our rights.
'1e passed on and the military chieftain
% had been appointed by the late lament
resident to superintend the affairs of
at department was removed, and another
ostituted in his place, to whom it seemed
9d, under authority vested in him at
ashington, to call together a convention
mat portion of the people Louisiana
88eIllng in New Orleans and the parishes
-,4edlately surrounding it, for the purpose
!orming constitution and frame of gov
ment under which it was hoped that
aisiana might ultimately be admitted to
Il original position as sister State of
-s Union. This movement citizens, did
Ut fully meet the appreciation of men who
-.L in New Orleans were denounced, and
&c still treated as Radicals and the main
ection to the movement was that it was
emanation of Executive will, and that
nd not flow from an act of Congress, for
use men said at that time the recOnstruc-
.a Of the Union and the restoration of the
>lrectionary States is the business of
y legislative Department Of the General
'.venment, and not of the Executive.
.'' their opinions were overruled. The
4nanding general of the department, by
'ue Of the military authority which he
>eSsed to govern the people inhabiting
o'dered, as l have said, the convention.
Poceeded to its labors it framed con-
'.1Ion, which was submitted to that por-
u oi the people who were within the
roA lines, was proclaimed as having been
'P'ed, and the officers elected Il refer to
executive officers )--the officers who
,s elected to administer that government
'ea upon the discharge of their func-
T; ~; When that convention adjourned,
~ 50 with a resolution authorizing it's
present president, under circumstances