New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-01-09
: SCATHING REBUKE.
PRESIDENT LINCOLN on Mr.. DURAyT.
A Radical Difference OF Views.


Thomas J. Durant, to Cuthbert Bullitt
complaining that General Butler refused
to deliver up runaway slaves to their own
ers. Also, that as Louisiana had never
seeded, her citizens were citizens of the
United states, and as such should enioy
the unrestricted right to travel out and in
the lines Of the army with such commodities
as they chose to deal in. The whole cor
resPondeDce was published in May, 1866.
in the Bidclc Republican, paper edited by
Rev. S. W. Rogers, patriotic colored citi-
zen. We may hereafter find it necessary
to publish Mr.. Durant's letter, but for the
present content ourselves with the admira-
BILE letter of the Great Man of the war:
"AsH1NeToN, D. O., July %, 1862.
| Cuthbert Buitt. Esq, New Orleans, La:
SlR-The copy Of q letter addressed to
| yourself by MIR. Thomas J. Durant has been
shown to me. The writer ppears to be an
able, dispassionate, and an entirely sincere
man. The first part of the letter is devoted
to an effort to show that the secession ordi.
nance Of Louisiana was adopted against the
will of the majority of the people. This is
| probably true, and in that fact may be found
some instruction. Why did they allow the
ordinance TO go into effect Why did they
not exert themselves? Why stand passive
and allow themselves to be trodden down
by a minority? Why did they not hold
popular meetings. and have convention of
their own to express aud enforce the true
sentiments Of the state? reorganization
was against them, then why not do this now
that the United States army is present to
protect them? The paralyzer-the dead
palsy-of the government in the whole
struggle is, that this class of men will do
nothing for the government-nothing for
themselves, except demanding that the gov.
erument shall not strike its enemies, lest
they be struck by accident.
Mr.. Durant complains that, in various
'odys the relation Of master and slaue is dis
turbed by the presence of our army; and
he considers it particularly vexatious that
this, in part, is done under cover of an act
| of congress, while constitutional guarantees
are superseded ON the plea of military ne.
and omitted about slaves is done and
omitted on the same military necessity.
1t is a military necessity to have men
and money; and we can not get either
in sufficient numbers or amounts if we keen
from or drive from our lines slaves coming
to them.
Mr.. Durant can not be ignorant of the
pressure in this direction, nor of my efforts
to hold it within bounds, till he and such
as he, shall have time to help themselves.
am not posted to speak understandingly
on the public regulations of which Mr..
Durant complains. If experience shows
any of them to be wrong, let them be set
right. think can perceive in the free
dom of trade which Mr.. Durant urges, that
he would relieve both friends and enemies
from the pressure of the blockade. BY this
he would serve the enemy more effectively
than the enemy is able to serve himself.
do not say or believe that to serve the
enemy is the purpose of Mr. Durant, or that
he is conscious of any purposes other than
national and patriotic ones. Still, if there
were class of men who, having no choice
of sides in the contest, were anxious only to
have quiet and comfort for themselves while
it RACES, and to fall in with the victorious
side at the end of it, without loss to them
selves, their ddUice as to the mode of con-
ducttng the contest eoould be precisely such as
has.
He speaks of no duty, apparently thinks of
none, resting upon Union men. He even
thinks it injurious to the Union cause that
they should be restrained in trade or passage,
without taking Sides They are to touch
neither sail nor pump-live merely pas
sengers ('dead-headsn at that)-to be car
ried snug and dry throughout the storm
and safely landed right side up. Nay, more
even mutineer is to go untouched, lest
these sacred passengers receive an acci.
dental wound.
OF course, the rebellion will never be sup
pressed in Louisiana if the professed Union
men there will neither help to do it nor FER
nit the government to do it without their
help.
Now, think the true remedy is very diff.
ferent from what is suggested by Mr.
Durant. 1t does not lie in rounding the
rough angles of the war, but in removing
the necessity for the war. The people of
Louisiana, who wish protection to person
and property, have but to reach forth their
hands and take it. Let them in good faith
reinaugurate the national authority and set
up state government conforming thereto
under the constitution. They know how to
do it, and can have the protection Of the
army while doing it. The army will ka
withdrawn so soon as such government can
dispense with its presence, and the people of
the state can then, upon the old terms,
govern themselves to their own liking.
This is very simple and easy.
II they will not do this, if they prefer to
hazard all for the sake of destroying the
government, it is for them to consider
whether it is probable will surrender the
government to save them from losing all.
If they decline what l suggest, you will
scarcely need to ask what will do.
What would you do in my position
Would you drop the war where it is, or
would you prosecute it in future with elder.
stalk squirts, charged with rose.water?
Would you deal lighter blows rather than
heavier ones? Would you give up the con.
test leaving every available means unap.
pliedY
am in no boastful mood. shall not do
more than ] can, but shall do all can to
save the government which is my sworn
duty as well as my personal inclination.
shall do nothing in malice. What 1 deal