The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-03-07

The following, BY Mr.. Theineman, Of Orleans
Resolred, that the thanks of this convention
are smnsnsly ally due and are hereby rendered to the
| Committee Of the Democracy Of New Orleans for
having infused new life into the Democratic party
Of Louisiana, which has resulted to-day In the as.
semblng Of this convention.
Mr.. Backman, OF Claiborne, desirous Of testing
the sense Of the convention upon the question OF
nominating State ticket. made motion to that
effect, and asked that Ex-Gov. Wickiine would give
his views thereupsn. -. e.rsfs ~
Gov. Wickliffe thought that there was a good
deal to be said on both sides of the question, and
it would be, therefore, better to leave il alone.
Hon. N. ID. Coleman, of Madison, took q
similar view OF the question. The matter was
dropped. ~
A motion was made looking to the reorpaniza-
tion of the State Central Executive Committee
authorizing the chair TO appoint the members of
that committee the same to consist CT twenty i've
city members, and two from each of the other
parishes. The city delegation to consist of two
from each ward, and three at large. The pres-
cent of the convention was, on motion. added to
the committee. Nine members will constitute q
quorum Of the committee. - 81
The question of nominating State ticket was
brought up again for discussion. Jas. III. Muse,
Esq, Of West Feliciana, taking the broad ground
that Louisiana is State and capable Of self gov.
ernment, favored 10 powerful speech the propo-
sition, eliciting as times a perfect whirlwind of
manner, by Hon. b. +. Jonas, and very elo-
quenfly by Hon. J. B. Eustis, both of whom op.
posed the nomination of any State ticket under
the reconstruction acts. The convention then ad-
jo1rned to P. NJ.
Evening Session.
The Convention reassembled at few minutes
after seven. Mr.. sandidge presiding.
A resolution offered by Mr.. Cronan, Just before
adjournment. at the morning session, was an
nounced - the business before the convention.
This resolution declared Ii to be inexpedient in
tie present aspect of affairs, for the convention
TO nominate State officers to be elected under the
Constitution being framed at the Mechanics In
stitute and provided that the authority Of making
nominations should be delegated to the State
Central Committee, 10 be exercised or not, 10 the
discretion Of that body.
Motion Was made to lay the resolution on the
table and the motion prevailed By large maj ority.
Mr.. Blackman, of Claiborne, addressed the con-
vention ia favor OF ticket being nominated by it.
No one was more opposed than he was to the
Constitution of the convention at the State House,
nor would any one 60 farther than he would to
defeat IT, but ii behooved this convention to antic-
ipate the worst. II was in the range of possible
events that the Constitution would be forced upon
the people of Louisiana, and we should provide
for such q contingency by having wise and honest
men TO administer the laws under it. He moved
that the convention proceed to nominate State
ticket.
Colonel MeEnery opposed the proposition. The
if not an express Endorsement OF the reconstruc
tion acts of Congress, the principles of which are
attempted TO be imposed upon Us by the BLACK and
Tan Convention" as the rule of government of
the State. Colonel McEnery warmly appealed to
members TO let no side issues distract their atten-
ton from the great work Incumbent upon con-
servative citizens the work of defeating the
Constitution. Their minds should be directed ex-
clasiyey to the Accomplishment Of that; to main
tain the ascendancy Of the Caucasian race in the
State. The convention had done all that il was
assembled for-the organization of the Demo-
cratic party in the State, and the election n dele
gates TO the national convention. What respect
able citizen would they ask to allow his name to
be used as nominee TO compete with the Repub-
licans or radicals now In nomination, in scramble
for Office under Constitution 1--WE abhor we
spurn, we spit upon" (Great applause.y Let
no gentleman be afronted by asking such use
Of his name. BE was confident no member
of the convention would take nomination under
such circumstances, and why ask others to accept
that which we take as an indigniiy ourselves! He
did not believe that a respectable man could be
that Constitution. For his part he would sign his
own death warrant first, and il the Constitution
should become the organic law Of the State, he
would take his wife and children and turn his back
upon his country. (Applanse.) He repeated
there should be but one object the defeat Of that
instrument. a.
Ties sense of tie convention being taken. on
Mr.. Blackman's motion ii was laid on the table.
II. OHtrtQ
"should it be deemed necessary hereafter and
at any time to nominate State ticket, in no case
whatever shall the state central committee be en-
powered to make such nominations.
" ResolUed. That the committee shall have
power to call convention, when necessary, to
assemble and select said candidates"
Mr.. Mills, representing the parish Of Assump-
tion, as proxy, spoke at considerable length,
advocating as we understood his argument the
policy of leaving the question Of nominating q
ticket with the central committee, as proposed In
Mr.. Bozonier's resolution. Mr.. Mills was going
on to canvass the respective merits Of the two
radical ticketsin In the fied and was in the act of
giving reasons why he preferred the Taiaferro
ticket, when the chair called him to order, OBJ.
serving that the discussion Of the merits of tickets
nominated by other conventions was not
pertinent 70 the matter before this conven-
tion. Mr.. Mills replied that he would
endeavor TO keep within the ruling of the chair,
and was about TO proceed with his speech, when
house so vociferous aud continuous that his
voice was drowned, and he resumed his seat.
While be was being heard, he suggested that II
might be polite to make no nominations, as there
was split in the radical party, which was daily
becoming wider. but II Democratic ticket was
put in the field, the difference would be recon.
ciled and the factions would unite.
Mr.. Brigham, of Morehouse, argued strenuously
in favor OF nominations by the convention.
Mr.. Muse, of East Felicana took the same side,
contendng that TO defeat the Constitution,
ticket for officers under the Constitution was nee
essary; that the nominees would be the nucleus
Of an active oTeanizst0n that would take the field
in every part of the State to sEield the people
from the rule Of q servile race. Mr.. Muse was Of
opinion that the nomination of ticket was the
important measure to be adopted to secure the
great object in view, the defeat Of the Constitu-
ton. All that had been done by the convention
was as dust In the scales" to achieve its defeat
If ticket Was not nominated.
Mr.. Race, Of Orleans, opposed nominations, and
put his argument substantially thus: IL the Con-
stitution Is adopted. IL will be adopted by radical
votes alone, and II they have votes enough to
carry the Constitution they have votes sufficient
TO carry THEN ticket. Therefore. IL the COnstitu-
ton is adopted the defeat of q Democratic ticket
Is certain. Moreover II nominations are made for
State officers nominations will be made in every
parish for local Offices, and, instead of having the
conservative citizens Of the State arrayed as one
man, we will have Office seekers, hopeful OF sue
cess whose personal interests would be benefited
by the adoption Of the Constitution.
Mr.. Races brief speech was warmly cheered.
Mr.. Eusts denounced the effort TO induce the
convention to nominate a ticket as an attempt to
create mutiny in the Democratic camp. As had
been observed by Mr.. Race, if STATE ticket was
o4nA ffct fr1A - a.