The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-09-05

Unionists of Louisiana and Alabama.
1 The subjeinel petition from the loyal citi-
zens of New Orleans, asking protection from
Congress and the loyal citizens of the nation,
has been signed by nearly every Union man
in the City
~" We, the undersigned, Union men Of the
State of Louisiana, respectfully represent
that after foar years combating the armed
forces of the rebels and traitors, we are not
prepared nor yet willing, that these same
rebels and traitors should return among Us,
assume authority, maltreat with contunely
and contempt, or otherwise abuse US. The
facts are patent and beyond question, and it
Is well shown that the real Union men of
this State are in the minority. The returned
rebels and traitors have the balance of power
in their hands, and it is publicly ayowed
that the Confederate element must rule
Matters have assumed such phase that if
not strangled in the birth. we, the Union
men, will have no security for life, property,
or honor The returned rebels and traitors
are daily growing more powerful, and daily
insults and abuses are heaped upon US by
them. They no sooner fad return to power
| than they commence series OF abuse of u.s.
They lose no opportunity, but upon all occa-
! sions use vile epithets toward US. Our resi-
dences are marked, and attempts have been
made to fire the dwellings of some of us who
most conspicuous. We are told that we are
] spotted, and daily threats are heard against
rs. They not only abuse and curse US in
private, but publicly scorn and villify us
| Newspapers, OF which we have but two in
| our interest," cannot be bought on the streets,
but, like private papers during the days of
the lnquisition of old, are passed from hand
to hand. We would infinitely prefer to re-
| turn them their arms and fight them in the
! open field than thus to permit them, under
the protection of our Government, to assume
to dictateto us and govern u.s. Our Govern
ment, under misapplied mercy, grants to
prisoners of war, guilty of the highest crime
against the -treason-the privilege,
hitherto unknown, of debating to their con-
! may be permitted to live in the land of their
birth with unpardoned traitors, against all
OF which we protest. We protest against be-
ing termed rebels and traitors by those whose
hands are yet reeking with the blood of
Union men, and who boldly and with unsur-
passed eifrontery, not only in private, but
throughout the daily papers, term US rebels
and traitors, and style themselves the Union
men OF the South, and this, too, while they
are keeping up their Confederate organiza-
tions, and utterly ignoring that they are
| prisoners OF war to our Government. We
protest against being ruled by prisoners of
war under parole. We protest against being
abused by them. We protest against being
made to feel the vengeance of baffied trait
ors. We protest against being used as the
lamb of the sacrifice to conciliate rebels and
traitors. Knowing our shrift will be short,
ii once these assassins gain power, as they
have proved conclusively by their acts of
premeditated, coldblooded butchery of
Union men on Monday, the 18th of July, the
st. Bartholomew day of New Orleans, we
/ protest against being left to the tender mer-
cieS OF the ;tssassins, who use the knife and
| pistol. We protest most emphaticaly
| against being male the slaves. so to speak,
| OF these prisoners OF war, who hate us with
unnatural hate, who despies and curse US
Was it for this hundreds and thousands of
our Union soldiers perished2 Was it for this
! we waged war for the Union? Was it for
this we have imbrued our whole land in taxa
| ton Was it for this We spent millions of
treasurer Was it for this we have made in
valids and cripples of our thousands of
| Union menu Was it for this we elected
Andrew johnson to an Office from which i'll
starred events caused him to become Presi-
| dent. Was it for this we conquered? We
therefore call upon the conquerors and loyal
citizens of the nation to protect us. We not
only petition, but demand protection from
the Congress OF our country, as we are in
duty bound"