The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1867-03-02
Ian. ID. w. Voorhees, In Now Or

EtlttttC-i ho - Wv
Considcred-Largc and E~ntliusi-
astic Audience.
From the N. O. Crescent, 5ti.l
In response to IN announcement
made yesterday that the Hon, ID. w.
Voorhees,, Of Indiana, would last even
: ing address the people Of New Orleans
upon the prominent questions OF the
day, the Hall Of the House of Repre-
sentatives, in Mechanics Institute, was
crowded to Overlooking by an audience
of high intelligence, among whom were
many ladies and a large number Of the
members Of the State Legislature and
City Council, The distinguished speak
er was introduced by Hon. Duncan S.
Cage, Speaker Of the House, and was
welcomed by enthusiastic applause in
advancing to the front Of the platform.
We subjoin a synopsis Of his eloquent
remarks:
Ladies' and gentlemen md ,feNow Cit.
sens: ] feel somewhat embarrassed in
being presented to you tonight for the
first time in New Orleans. l came here
upon business of an entirely private
nature, but have felt obliged to consent
to the universal request of my many
friends to address the people Of New
Orleans.
At the present time public feeling i,
feverish. People now look forward to
comirg events the same as in the an
cent days Of Phillip Of Macedon, when
they were wont to ask, "What news ~
do not pretend to understand the flu
ture any more clearly than any one in
this audience, but il is certainly safe for
us to look forward and surmisc as to
what is before us. Tonight we stand
in a strange attitude. For the first time
we meet under the same flag, bound to-
gether by the will Of Providence. |
hope and trust We meet as brothers,
The skies look dark, and there are ma
ny difficulties to be overcome. The
Government at this time presents q
strange spectacle. Founded as q re,
public which should be governed by q
majority, the country is yet to day gov
erned by a minority. Congress repre-,
sents one section, but it does not rep,
resent the American people. 1t be.
comes the conservative element and the
mass of the Southern men to say wheth,
or the South shall be admitted to Con.
gress or not--whether they are or arc
not citizens. During the war Louisiana
was admitted to representation rs a
State. Upon sober second thought,
think it will be found that you have not
lost your citizenship.
The conservative portion ofthe North
polled over two millions Of votes at the
last election. Mighty army Of men
And in this connection arises the
thought--On what issue do we unite to,
night? l, coming from where the
northern waters Of the Mississippi rise,
with you down here where its waters
mingle with the Gulf. 1t is this: These
men declare 1T the ballot. box that Lou
isiana was arrayed in the imperial robes
ola State, and not in the garments o.
Territory; that as a State. she is or
an equality with every one from the SUI
rise of the Atlantic to the sunset OF the
Pacific. Let us see whether this issue
is, in itself, right orwrong. If it vii
not stand the :est Of time; If it will mo-
stand the test Of iu.mutable justice ant
right, let us abandon it at once. If, OF
the other the other band, it is what
there is that is left us ofthc Constitu'
ton bequeathed to us by our fathers
then, l say to the people of the South
let US abide by it at all hazards
through rain and storm, and whateve'
else may oppose us.
The question then is, Have States
been destroyed? Can States destro,
themselves? / know that these State
adhere to the Federal Government;
care not for what they have done il
the past. Let all that go, and let II
start from this stand point, that at tn
present time they acknowledge thci
allegiance to the Federal Government
Isay, then, that these States hav
existed as States all the time, like tn
lost Plead, although lost from sigh
for q time, they yetexist, and com
back to us in time in all their spler
dor. Ifthcy have not done 50, n
one can tell tonight Of what our Gov
eminent consists if not. no one ca
tell the sen Of d~cspotism i'll which W
shall be swallowed up.
Icontend that the majority Of til
people are, with me, imbued with hop
in the President and in the Constitl
ton. ! come to You from a region q
snow and ice as compared to this, "
from q people warm hearted and gel
erous, with assurances that they wis
no degraded States, no States shorn
their seals of honor. The tree biaste
by lightning forever bears its deadene
limbs as marks Of its weakness; bl
my people with you 70 bear no sue
lightning brands, but to receive you
States upon an equal footing-'
States who shall! be to them as eQu
sisters. From despair no flower CO
bloom, but from hope springs pro
perity. Let US see with what Prov
dence has favored us. A majority
the popular vote, the support and a
sistance Of the President, and above 9
that of the Supreme Court Of the ur
ted States. With these, why shou
we despair? You need not fear tt
Territorial scheme. Unsuccessful els
where, it cannot be sanctioned by t
Supreme Court. VIII the Preside
enforce it? Not so. If ] Know A
drew johnson, he will endeayorto pr
tCct you.
But, NY fellow citizens, there are
this connection other weiglty qu'
tons pressing themselves upon us.
III -