The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-11-27
daily and rapidly decreasing.


But suppose every white man in the
South were to accept, and should vote, with
such convictions and purposes, for the mil.
itary bills, what good results could follow9
I tell yon, frankly, do not know a respect
able white man in the whole south who
approves the military bills as constitution.
al or right or just or desirable. Not one
I do not believe that General Pope knows
ofone. do not believe there is a single
one who will, even for the removal of his
disabilities, put himself on record as sup.
porting or defending these bills as in his
opinion constitutional or righteous. We
all know that very many OF those who ac-
cept the bills openly declare them uncon-
stitutional, unjust and oppressive. The
uncandid accept, the candid reject none
approve and all despise! How long can
government last which is, established
over people who universally feel that it
is illegal, ana accept it only as q hard tenn
porary policy /? How much good will can
it breed, and how much devotion can it in
spire9 Can such areconstruction furnish
a guarantee of future Union and peace ?
win it restore confidence, or happiness, OF
presperity9 VIII it pay the national debt
or preserve the national honor, or build
again the waste places? You may, with
the help offthe deceived negro, force this
plan. But force alone can do the work, for
it has no mans approval. If force alone
can establish this plan Of reconstruction,
how long will it last when that force shall
be withdrawn Ifforce alone gives it orr.
gin, must not force alone secure its contin-
nance ? And does not this make military
despotism permanent Is force the great
principles of government" OF which Gen.
Pope speaks s,l ,f4,l ss3 !.
Is this the problem by which ito perpet-
nate reconstruction in the spirit and on
the principles which can alone secure Tree
government r. On what destructive alb
surdity is this from the mouth Of a ruler in
land of written constitutions 49, m
think, General Pope says, that three
fourths of the negro vote will be for the
Convention, +" and to carry out the militia.
nv bills They do not know what the
Constitution is, OF what they are voting
for. But they are taught by emisaries and
low offiee-seekers, that the Radicals are
their only friends, and they must give such
votes to keep their friends in power. They
are also Taught that every white man who
votes against a Convention, is their enemy
The negroes alone in the South approve
these Military Bills, and they approve these
Military Bills, and they approve from false
teachings and in spirit of hatred to the
white race. Is any man, north or south
80 stupid as not to see to what this will
lead? Can even force prevent war OF
races under such government! viii the
Northern people press this fate upon ms
Will they longer sustain a party which
tramples this upon every principle of free
dom, every sentiment Of right, and every
sentiment Of right, and every guarantee Of
peace, to perpetuate its own criminal exls-
tence 2 will you, General, be the leader
of that party9 Will you be the nourish-
ing breeder of hatred between the races,
the willing instrument of oppression upon
q people who laid down their arms to you
on your assurance of protection 80 long as
they obeyed "the laws of the State in which
they lived ?" Will you be the grand exc
cutioner of liberty for the continent! For
1 tell yon no nation which forces despotlsm
upon ten millions ofpeople can itself re-
main free. Despotism for all, or despotism
for none, is as just as truth and inevitable
destiny. In the Constitution is liberty for
all and forever. Ont of the Constitution is
bloody anarchy and final despotism with
out hope. You won no victory in the war
il You lose the Constitution now. Ameri.
cans, from ocean to ocean and from the
iceburgs to orange groves, will remember,
with sorrow the scenes Of Appomatox
Court House, if you forget the Constitution
now. You led no armies for the Union if
you enforce these Military Bills for Radi-
Gals. The Constitution OF the Radical par
ty must perish. Fame invites you to live
with the first, and infamy wooes you to
lead the last.
Who saves his country saves himself
and all things, and oil things saved do
bless him. Who lets his country die, dies
himself ignobly, and all things dying curse
him \ Us - = 49,