The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-09-01
Majority for rejection
Unionists of Louisiana and Alabama.

UniOnists of Louisiana and Alabama.
The subjoined 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:
eve, the undersigned Union men of the
State of Louisiana, respectfully represent
that after four Years combating the armed
forces of the rebels and traitors, we are not
prepared nor yet willing that these slme
rebels and traitors should return among us,
assume authority, maltreat with contumely
and contempt, or otherwise abuse us. The
facts 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 aVowed
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 find return to power
than they commence a series of abuse of us.
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
us. They not only abuse and curse us in
private, but publicly scorn and villify U.S.
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 Inquisition 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 dictate to US and govern us. Our Govern
ment, under q misapplied mercy, grants to
prisoners Of war, guilty OF the highest crime
against the State-treason-the privilege,
hitherto unknown, of debating to their CON
querors the terms upon which the conquerors
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 effrontery, 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 baffled 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, cold blooded 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 mcr-
cies of the assassins, who use the knife and
pistol. We protest most emphatically
against being male the slaves, so to speak,
of these prisoners of war, who hate as with
unnatural hate, who despies and curse u.s.
Was it for this hundreds and thousands of
our Union soldiers persisted? Was it for this
we Waged war for the Union ? Was it for
TINS We have imbrued our whole land in taxa
I1onE Was it for this we spent millions of
treasure? Was it for this We have made in
Yai!ds and cripples of our thousands of
Union men2 Was it for this we elected
Andrew johnson to an office from which i'll