Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-08-04
Incendiary Radical Speeches.
The Radicals Expect the Blacks
to Rule the Whites Offhe South.
The Radicals Alone Responsible for the
BIOOdshed.


zied acts Of a mob. These having been sub
stantially given in our columns, we omi
them, in order to place before the reader the
steps by which this unfortunate result wal
reached, and 10 fix the criminal rcsponsi.
bility upon the truly guilty p8Hies. We
have heretofore given briffimenopsis o.
these events; and now preseH1i,. NJ details
"a seem conclusive on the subject
lst The Legislature Of Louisiana is "con-
servatiye' lt is opposed 10 granting the
negroes the right Of suffrage al the present
time. IL is also opposed to the ratification
Of the proposed amendmet 10 the Federal
Constitution. On the contrary the few radi-
calls in the State are in favor Of both, but
are in a hopeless minority To accomplish
their aims, which are TO give the negro the
ballot, and to ratify the proposed amend
ment, IL was found indispensable 10 over
throw the existing Legislature. For this
purpose they demanded the assembling of
the Convention Of lSG4-which framed the
Constitution under which the Legislature
was elected The President Of the Couven-
ton refused 10 call it together, and a few of
its members assembled and deposed him and
set up another obedient 10 their will. The
purpose vas TO overthrow the existing gov
ernment and set up a new one, and one How
ELL, the pretended Pre- dent issued call
for the Convention 10 meet on the Both of
July.
2nd. Soon thereafter, Judge ABELL, in
the regular functions of his Office charged
the Grand Jury, that the proposed convoca-
ton was unlawful and revolutionary, and
subject 10 Indictment and punishment. The
jury desired cXpliu, instructions on the sub
iect, which the Judge, who was himself a
member Of the Convention, gave as follows:
GENTLErEN OF THE GRAND jury: You
ask me for more specific instructions relative
20 your powers 10 suppress unlawful assem-
bIages, dangerous to the peace and good Of
the State, such as is advertised 10 take place
on the Both inst. Every thing is compre-
hcnded in the instructions already given.
The Constitution Of 1864 is the funda-
mental Jaw of the State, and furnishes ample
protection for It's supremacy, and can only
be altered or amended i'm accordance with
the provisions contained in the instrument
itself The oath required to support a Con-
stitution by officers Of State who are in
trusted with It's administration, is one of the
guarantees that it will not be betrayed. In
some governments a violation Of that oath
would not only be perjury, but treason,
which being higher grade Of felony, per
jury is merged in it.
Under the Constitution Of this State, a vio-
lation Of oath of Office would be perjury, and
no more. /, and every officer Of the State
of Louisiana, have sworn 10 support the
Constitution, and substantially made oath
that it shall not be altered many other man
ner than is provided in the lI7th article Of
that instrument.
/ now charge you that a violation Of that
oath is perjury in the officer or officers who
violate it and subornation Of perjury in
all who procure it to be done.
The l47th article of the Constitution of
1864, made by the late convention, clearly
points out the mode Of amending it. 1t
reads ANY amendment or amendments to
the Constitution may be proposed in the
Senate or House Of Repre- cseatatives, and II
the same shall be agreed TO by a majority Of
the members elected 30 each House, such
proposed amendment or amendments shall
be entered on their journals, with the yeas
and nays taken thereon. Such proposed
amendment or amendments shall be sub
mtted 10 the people at an election 10 be or
dercd by tie said Legislature, and held
within ninety days after adjournment of the
same, and after thirty days publication ac-
copling 90 law; and If a majority Of the
voters al said election shall approve and rati-
iy such amendment or amendments the
same shall become a part Of this Constitu-
ton. IL more than one amendment is sub
mitted az a time, they shall be submitted in
such a manner and form that the people
may vote for or against each amendment
separately
This, gentlemen, is the only mode pointed
out by the Constitution, and, 1t being fully
ratified 10y the people, il can only be alter
ed by their own consent, expressed at the
ballot-box or by the Legislature
BY the second clause OF article l49, it is
declared that " An laws in force at the time
Of the adoption of this Constitution, and not
inconsistent Herewith, shall continue as if
the same had not been adopted
These laws furnished ample yindication
for the integrity Of the Constitution.
Among the laws thus adopted by the Con-
vention itself are several sections against
breaches of the peace, misdemeanors in Of
fee, unlawful assemblies, vagrancy, perjury,
and subomatiou of perjury. And it is my
duty, as one of the conservatives of the
peace and Judge Of the Criminal Court, and
YOU as grand inquest of the parish of Or
leans, and Of all other peace officers, to use
all lawful means 90 prevent any unlawful
assembly or assemblies, and such as would
have a natural tendency to create a breach
of the public peace.
This is an uumcrited implication against
the arms Of the country the mere vapor of
disappointed men. The profession Of arms
Is one Of the most honorable in this or any
other Government, filled bv the best men of
the country, and guarded by them with an
eve of jealousy. Il Is not TO be supposed
profession 80 honorable would lend itself to
the aid of these disappointed men, so utterly
at variance with republican principles, illc-
gal and unconstitutional. The military have
in all cases refused 60 interfere with the civil
government of this State, even when called
upon by the late Attorney General.
ANY attempt 20 alter the Constitution Of
the State in defiance Of its provisions by any
body of men. unauthorized bv the provisions
of the Constitution, OF emsnating directly
from the people through the ballot-hox, is
illegal and unconstitutional and punishable
boy law.
The members OF the late Convention claim
90 be loyal men; this | Conccde. With
a few honorable exceptions, they were LOYAL
90 the Couiederacv under apprcut prosper
ity-loyal 20 the United States, while they
could get ten dollars a day as members Of
the Convention And ailer the division Of
offices among them they became so exceed
ingly patriotic that they declared the Con-
stitution Of 1864 the best ever made. Some
of these men were deserters frOm the Con-
fedcrate army; others held office under the
Conlederacy, civil and military; and others
raised guards for It's defense. And vet, gen
tlcmen Of the grand jury, these men claim
TO be Of and represent the loyal people Of
the State If Louisiana and boldly asscr; that
thev are 10 receive the aid of the arms Of
the United STATS 20 assist them In usurping
the right 10 alter the fundamental law Of
the State uf Louisiana, and that in direct
violation of the Constitution they have
made and the laws they have adopted.
do not hesitate 20 say that the military
will no, interfere with the civil government
of the State With government organized
under thc Constitution of 1865, regularly
and efficiently administering the laws not
withstanding the conflicting elements incl
dental 10 the close Of the late war, is guar
aniec that IL viii be competent 70 guard its
Constitution and vindicate It's laws.
Gentlemen, some Of the members OF the
late Convention predicatcd their hopes OF
success on the preamble and resolution Of
fercd by Mr.. TERRY on the 9Th Of May, 1864,
debates Of the Convention, p. l75; Journal
Of the Convention, p. ca Il reads;
WHEREAS large sums Of money have, du-
ring the past year, been RENTED 20 this State
for the purpose Of free State government IN
Louisiana, and il is now a fitting time thS'