New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-07-14
SPEECH OF HON. ]. P. NEWsHAM.
sr. FRANoIsvLLLE, West Feliciana,

! publican party OF tnls parish was held on
the fourth instant at the old barbecue
grounds.
From daylight until noon the roads were
thronged with people, represer ting every
age. color, and sex, vending their y to-
ward the place appointed tor the meeting.
At IL A. NJ. the procession was formed,
and after marching through the principal
streets of st. Francisville. with the star
spangled banner futtering joyfully in the
breeze, reached the grounds at P NJ.
The meeting was Immediately called to
order, and the Rev. Richmond Lewis elected
President and J. Lamont, Secretary, with
| the following list of vice.Presidents Henry
Brookhart, Robert Hewitt, Shelby Hender-
son, Solomon Lawson, Lewis Cromp George
Washington, William Davis, Leven Carter,
Henry Caldwell.
send you the speech of Hon. ]. P. New.
! sham in full, as it may serve for q good cam.
! paign document, being one of the noblest
efforts of that distinguished gentlemen
His powerful oratory on that occasion left
an impression which will be in full accord
with the "battlecry of freedom" at the com.
| ing election for Grant and Colfax.
The Rev. Richmond Lewis, and others,
whose remarks are omitted for want of
space, addressed the meeting. The follow.
ing is an extract from
Mr.. LewIS speech.
Ny FRIENDS AND Fellow CITIZENS: We
are assembled here today under the bless
ings of Divine Providence to celebrate the
anniversary OF the great Declaration of In
dependence, and 20 pledge our individual,
support to that party to whom We are IN
debted for giving us the right as free Amer.
lean citizens to assemble here. As party
we are poor, but it is because we are honest.
| The Democratic party are richer than we
but rather than DIN hands with such party
as that | would live in the swamps, and run
the risk OF perishing from hunger aud ex.
posure. Yet there are few among US who
not long ago wore the stocks, and suffered
every cruelty that the slave power could i'm
pose upon them-whOse backs still bear the
marks of the bull whip-who are ready to.
day to join the ranks of their former op.
pressors--who are ready to-day to be be.
trayed with kiss.
The Democrats promise to give YOU
twelve acres of land if you will Join their
party; but, my friends, let me tell you,
they have no land to give you, for if their
debts were paid they would not be worth a
dime.
Ours is the party of freedom aud of prog
ress. Solet US remain united; let us stand by
each other; let us fight our own battles, and
the God of battles will stand for us.
With Grant as President and Colfax as
Vice e.President we shall enjoy degree OF
happiness and prosperity never before
known even by the ricnest landowner in
the South.
Will now introduce TO you the Hon. J.
P Newsham, Member of Congress elect.
Speech of Hon. j. z. NewAham
MY FELLOW CITIzENs-Ladies and Gentle
men-Standing to-day before this vast con.
course of loyal people on this ninety.second
anniversary of American Independence, on
free soil cOnsecrated to liberty again bv the
blood of million patriots shedin the cause
of liberty aud Union; iu this remote State
of our national domain, short time since
the home of the slave, and now not an inch
of her productive soil pressed by the foot of
slave; standing here, protected BY the
folds of our national ensign, its lustre un.
sullied by the fearful ordeal through which
it has past, its brightness undimmed by any
blot or stain, being the meteor of liberty
wherever it floats kissing to-day the winds
of the four quarters of the globe, respected
and loved by all people, feared alone by
tyrants. To-day ninetytwo years ago a
nation WAS born. As the sturdy lberty.lOy.
ing American heard for the first time the
great truths of the declaration hurting
defiance at the crowned heads Of the old
world and creating republic on the shores
of a new continent he determined to trans
nit to his children what he himself might
not be permitted to enjoy. The first prin-
ciples of the republic were promulgated to
the world almost amid the smoke of bat
tie. Thirteen seagirt and rockbound col.
onies with handful Of people bade de.
hance, for the sake OF liberty, to the
accumulated strength OF ages of the old
world. The oppression and prosecutions of
tyranny could no longer be borne peaceably.
Trusting themselves to God and the track.
less ocean the prosecuted of the old world
sought home where they could worship
God according to the dictates of their
own consciences. That home was
America. The battles of the reyo
luton were fought, victory and lib.
erty, after a bloody and desperate war
achieved. The immortal truths of the dec
laration of independence were made patent.
that all men are created equal, endowed by
their creator with certain inalienable rights
among which are life, liberty, and the pur.
suit of happiness.
In the contemplation of our eyentful his.
tory what memories crowd upon US. What
a contrast between the thirteen original
American colonies then with uncultlvated
and unexplored territory of that day, com
pared 10 the extent, wealth, and population
OF the torty-two States and Territories OF
the Republic to-day. With her vast resour.
ces of soil, climate, and production the in
stitutions of the country are felt beyond
the st. Lawrence, and bearing to the south
their influence is recognized across the val
ley of Mexico, while the Sandwich Islands
and lowlands of Holland culver under the
tnvigorating effects of a power which to
taenI is portentous. Our institutions
have invaded the sunny plains of France,
| made the ascent of the Andes, scented the
winds Of the two oceans, and reminded
Greece of the lessons of her freer days
The constantly increasing boundaries of our
national domain has been no more marked
upon the atlas of the world than has been
| the wonderful development of the general
intelligence OF the American people, The
republic, separated from any formidable foe
by the oceans, has reached greater pitch
of pride and power than the experience of
history cites in the same space of time
Nature first consecrated her to freedom and
prosperity. But she needs no eulogy from
me. Her-past is gone into-history. Her
future is radiant with promise. Bat pleas
ing as Is thls theme, am compelled to leave
/ it. to consider the things which more nearly
concern our present duties and the obliga-
tions depending upon US. The Southern
sunny Countrywide land we einhabit-famed
in story, in war, and in song this garden
| spot OF America, an integral portion of the
Union, with her rich alluvial soils, her wales
watered by the Mississippi, her hsrbors un-
surpassed by any section of the Union or
any country in the world; aud IouisiauA
the queen of the States, a natural agricul--
tural and commercial centre, sitting at the
mouth OF the Gull, like queen upon
her throne, remained a third rate
state OF the National Union. Need
tell you the reason of this? Your own
I lgnpFinnRn mill Fall