The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1867-04-10
Senator Williamson on the Situation.
UOuGIOI W 1lIldiIisUu Oh I1Io 1ltudt1Ul4
The following is senator George Williamsons letter
on the situation in response to call made on him by
many of our prominent citizens

oi tile sbudtiOH Ill response 10 can laue od hli "
many of our prominent citizens:
+ SHREVEPORT, La, April 9, 1867.
~, esnalsmen1l have the pleasure Of acknowedginE
day by the Hon. Roland Jones. You entitled tc
my thanks for the complimentary terms in which you
have chosen to speak Of my election to the United
States Senate. It affords me peculiar pleasure to be
invited by my old friends and neghbors to give an
opinion upon the impending crisis. Having been
reared among you my past and public opinions
are too well known to you to allow misunderstanding
You know have ever been State Rights man-an
earnest advocate of Southern Rights, consistent op
ponent of Northern dominaton-and that in my hum
BILE sphere did something in the late grand attempt
to preserve the liberties Of the South As do not ex
pect to be allowed to fill the high Office to which
the favor of your General Assembly elected me, and
have aspirations except to be useful in my day and
generation have come to my conclusions on the
present condition of things without the embarrass-
ments OF ambition 1t IS not difficult therefore tor me
to write frankly and solely with view to the public
good.
1 do not profess to be statesman, and try to be
plain and practical Pursuing this effort of my life
have attempted to sweep away all the preudices of ira
dition and lifetime and to inspect the present under
the light of calm reason guided by Gods blessed word
and his revelations in history The veil being taken
away from the face of events what do see? Before
is vast of fertile lands of magnificent lakes,
of grand rivers, of industrious populations-vng I'M
der republican form of government. In the north
section of this splendid spectacle the people
to be thrifty and prosperous In the southern section
desolate homesteads, deserted fields, stagnant
marts, anxious faces restless hearts, crippled men,
homeless and houseless widows and orphans and
of the blessings of peace and prosperity. Why the
difference? The Northern section has been the victor
and the Southern the vanqushed terrible struggle.
The Northern section in addition to the legitimate
hancement of the value of its property. has added
$500, 000 two billion and half to its capital in
the shape of bonds of the United States, which pay
none of the burdens of the Government, but which
drains the public Golfers to the extent of one hundred
and eighty millions year in coin to pay its interest
The Southern staked all on the contest for constitu-
iOSt n nav he
and sailor who stand guard over her. She feels
pride in the uniform they the flag they sus-
tain. And why? Because the uniform and the flag
have been denationalised by radical party, and
claimed as its peculiar property. This party is the
viHdictive enemy of the South usurper of the pow
of the Government-the DESTROYER of the Consttu
tion-the legislative despot at Washington City that
gloats the triumph of its ingenuity in overthrow
ing repubcanism while preserving its forms; in par
aysng the functions of the Executive and Judiciary
departments while keeping them in place. and in pre-
venting union and peace while protesting to reesab
them. Its malice has eliminated for the present in
the passage of the military bill and its supplement. In
these bills it pledges itself to certain conditions Can
not avail ourselves of these to assist in its destruc
ton? Is it not duty to ourseves-to the Northern
section, to repubcanlsm, to civil liberty, to justice,
to truth, to God to make effort to stay the hand of
this destroyer? | think it is. How this be done?
BY accepting its terms and executing them in good |
faith. Can we do this without dshonor? think so,
for we have option but to be either the allies of this
party or its enemies. Mastery inactivity makes its
allies while active acceptance of its terms makes its
enemies wish to be understood as continuing my re-
marks to the Radical party. We have friends at the
North as we'll as enemies in the South. We have
trymen to help there we'll here. The largest por
ton of that great section has interests identical with
our own, and must some day other act with us. | |
speak therefore of the Radical party and not of the
Northern people; of the party founded on the Union
sentiment, but acting disunion knowing no East, nor
West, North South but legisating against the
South and Northwest for the benefit of New England
bondholders. party based upon national prin-
eiple of governmental policy; fussy, clustering, and
full Of bravado inimca to the interests of the major
ity of the people of the United States and subservent
only to the spos of office and the ''almghty dollar"
The has taught great respect for the Northern
people, while it has intensified my contempt for the
lnscarred veterans who play their fantastic tricks
he legislative stage at the capitol Like of
southern people, who were never in the army, these
usan heroes have only got mad since the surrender
GU will understand then that do not propose to act
1nder the military bill aud its supplement in a spirit
Of hostility to the Northern people, and that propose
no mental reservations in accepting the nauseating
iraught. 1place my hostility to the Radical party
lrst IN my argument in favor of acting under these
'llls, because do not wish to be misunderstood l
nave no expectation that this party will comply with
IS part OF the contract when ours is fulfilled 1t will
1eVer releve US from military rule, or restore the
southern States to the Union, unless bv falling to
wan ourselves OF the present allow its faction in
he South to control the destnies of the States Rnt
ne conservative party of the North will restore them
the Radicals be overhrown by our showing their
erhdy and destructiveness. We must therefore pre-
ent It's Southern faction from getting into power in
he States Ii we do not Louisiana will be nominaly
q the Uuion while as denied its benefits and will
re ruled by faction of whose bitterness and malice
ven Brownlow would be poor exponent How can |
re do this? By taking the most vigorous part in the
lection of delegates to the convention to be held bv
xerclsng over the enranchsed colored people ali the
lst influence to which long acquaintance and as
oclatons with them entities US. We owe this action |
our citizens who look US for protec
ION, and to the colored people whose lack of education
nd political experience claims from US the guidance of
ur superior intelligence. Our people must RECOGNISE
he fact that their late slaves votersthat they
re an element of political power and military strength
! q ht-r for
used by hostile influences for their destruction or
ur expatriation We did not develop this power,
ence we should feel no humiliation. We did not give
he negroes the ballot, and hence should not be +
Shamed to tell them how to use it. When we armed
lem during the war officers were not ashamed to
rlil them to knowledge of military tactics. Now Il
lat they are armed with be ballot to help degrade and
esroy u.s. why should we feel ashamed to advise them
2w to use this political weapon to help and them
Ives to peace and prosperity? Are they entitled
favorable consideration their own merits without !
terence to the political question? Have they not d
rong CLAIMS upon our gratitude and sense of justce
my OPINION they have. Their fidelity during the a
mr. which they knew was wageG the part Of the n
orth principally for their emancipation is the most
markable instance of the kind in history Their do
NY ana good conduct since the surrender have sur .
lsed everybody, and while it shows their good sense
the highest tribute to the benevolent workings of
institution OF slavery Gratitude, justice, and u
und policy require US to educate these people to the h
of the ballot They have the Intelligence and good Pc
ture to understand how their interests are identical
tn ours. Their ideas of long holiday, and 5
HutehauCe III luxury by their Northern friends "
accession OF Freedom have vanished with the rea pc
hon OF the stern reality that they make their II
eao by the sweat of their brows. Their enlarged
erty has inspired many of them with Just appreci-
on OF the advantages of education. Their contact pr
Ia the ankee adventures who swarmed and set Pc
upon our country just after the surrender has Cf
lgt them their Southern friends are more worthy B1
their confidence than their new acuuantances The PIX
It IS IN my opinion that these people, notwithsand
thelr former condition of slavery have been so i'm do
ssed by Southern civilization that their strong at Ne
hments for the South the place of their birth and
,r future homes be used for their ADVANTAGE VIC
ours IN the protection of the liberties of this sec Ca
n and the security of our lives and property lin
hey viii be true to US if we just aud honest with sh
IN: Let US then rise superior to the preudices of
lives and the antipathies of race and 90 to work Ca
ong these people, elevate them into useful citizens
ltoutng by their labor to the wealth of the coun 200
assisting by their brawny arms in maintaining it's Sh
hts ana helping us by the ballot to defeat the Rad
party which unjustly taxes them and US to put i
ney IN It's own pocket The more intelligent of them PIX
be made to understand how tax on cotton which &c
produce, and protective tariff on articles which
consume, Is money taken from them and given to
W England. five do intend to expatriate orr 10
yes, we must act and act at once with these peonle
consider the question is now practically presented Ba
is whether we, Yankee faction backed by de- lie
ed negroes shall be the dominant race in the South BIZ
We fail to act under these niquous bills our doni shs
ION as race ceases. If we act promptly wisely PIX
justly, we can defy the radical ntri@nar Cls
ana perhaps again become great and prosperons w