New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-06-18
TIE RIGHT TO BE HERE.

An essential principle of the Republican
party is the maintenance to the fullest ex
tent of the doctrine that every citizen o.
the United States has right to establish
his residence anywhere on its territory
and to freely speak, write, and publish his
sentiments on all subjects, being responsible
for the abuse of this liberty. This right is
disputed and contested by violence, iRtim
idation, and threats, and he who endeavors
to maintain it in most of the country dis.
tricts of the South, and in many cities, i'm
perils his life.
The revolver the bowie knife, or the
rife are the only arguments resorted to in
dispute of this plain assertion of an inalien
able right.
By this argument Sinclair, the Repub-
lican orator and candidate for State repre-
sentative, was silenced while on his way
from a Republican meeting which he had
addressed.
By this argument the voice Of Meadows,
the murdered delegate to the State Con-
vention, was silenced forever near his home
in Claiborne parish.
By this argument an attempt was made
to seal the lips of Honneus, the Republican
candidate for sheriff of Bienville parish,
whom Cowardly assassins pierced with
buckshot while he was standing at his
own gate.
By this argument Dostie's voice was
hushed in July, 1866, and his brutal assas-
sins are as yet unpublished by the law.
By this argument Henderson's life was
destroyed, the same brutal mob executing
on him their villainous work without
remorse and without mercy.
By this argument Horton, the minister of
God, was on the same day so terribly
beaten that bis eyes we're soon after closed
in an everlasting sleep.
By this argument scores of colored men
who had worn the Federal uniform and &C.
quilted themselves with honor on battle
fields of the Union were deprived of ex-
istence in the same terrible massacre.
By this argument the lives of other faith
full and earnest Republicans in this and
other Southern States have been sacrificed
to the evil passions of bad men incapable
of combating truths by the legiC of ideas
and words.
And yetnot one of these assassins has
been brought to justice with the single ex-
cepdOn OF Payne, the murderer of Sin
clair.
1t is quite time that unrep entant rebels
who endeavOr to destroy the government
of the United States should abandon their
opposition to the right of Northern men to
be here and express their sentiments, or
the right of every other loyal man, whether
he be white or colored, to "freely speak,
write, or publish his sentiments on all sub
iects." While slavery existed the tyranny
of public opinion forbade any man or
woman to utter, write, or publish a word
against it. Slavery is obliterated forever,
andwith it must perish the intolerance
which itcreated.
A little paper published in Bienville
parish, whose editor was member Of the
late rebel Legislature, abiding to the out
rage perpetrated on Mr.. Honneus by I'M
known parties, declares that when a man
has rendered himself obnoxious in com.
munity las the object Of that assault did
by performing his duty as a registrar, and
advocating the doctrines of the Republican
party, " it is almost impossible to ferret
out and bring the authors of such an act
to trial" This is an unworthy confession,
and the face Of its author should Jingle
with shame. But it sustains our assertion
that the argument of the rife is resorted to
for the purpose of depriving Republicans
Of their dearest rights as citizens Of the
United States. The Bienville editor grave
ly asserts that Mr.. Honneus was heard to
say while candidate for sheriff, that he
had rather be colonel Of negro
regiment than have any other
Office" as if this remark justified
bis assassination The same editor
parades the suspicion that Mr.. Honneus
advocated State militia, and adds:
"Whether he had any connection with the
recent attempts to organize negro troops
we are not able to say, but from his pre-
vious demeanoF and declarations 1t may
have been supposed be had"
The sooner the unrepentant rebels Of the
South understand that all the rights of
American citizens win not only be respect
fully asserted but iirmly maintained By in.
dividual members Of the Republican party,
whatever may have been their birthplace
or their previous condition, the sooner will
domestic strife and dissentfons cease, and
the blessings derived from The successful
prosecution Of agriculture, manufactures,
commerce, and the mechanic arts be DIFF
fused throughout the entire South.
Republicans invite no personal hostility
from thsir political opponents, nelther do
they invade the personal rights Of indirid
nails, But their purpose is and from that
purpose they viii no. be driveR--to prose-
cute polltlcal and social warfare for the
advaneaeant u political nd social Ideas,
the chief d which Il he principle embodied
in our nsv State constitution that every
citizen has lhe right 80 speak, writa, and
ppblish his aentim4nf "a All subjects,
hAl reapQnihle for ths ahuae of shis iih-