New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-08-08

staff of Msjor General Warmoth command
ing the Grand Army of the Republicg
Sir, 1t seems to be the design and object
of the party over which Governor Warmoth
presides that they shall create political or
ganizations, that they shall stack buildings
with muskets and with pistols and with am
munition, and when they see peaceable po-
litieal organizations of the Democratic party
parading through the streets of New Or
leans with not q single INSTANCE of trouble,
and preserving order such as never before
known in any city of this Union, he sees fit
and proper to denounce these Democratic
organizations as armed and ready for the
fray. Sir, when he makes these statements
he states what is false, and he knows it.
Sir, the Governor has proclaimed himself
since his election not partisan Governor
from the gallery of building near the
crowd which recently assembled around the
Constitution Club. He addressed them i'll
words which reflected credit upon him, but,
sir, while credit has been 6ylven him for
those words, they emanated from his lips,
they emanated from his brains, but they did
not breathe the feelings of his heart; and sir,
he did not mean what he said, but spoke
under momentary impulse of fear, and
because he knew if this contest bean what
would be the result. Motives of personal
safety dictated to nim the,propriety and the
abs olute necessity of quelling all such dis.
turbaDces !; and why, ask, are these
efforts to prevent trouble? Because he
knows that as head and front of the party
which he represents, that ample and eutfi-
cient cause had been given to produce
trouble, riot, commotion, and bloodshed.
Now, sir, | do most solemnly protest
against the action of Governor WarmOth,
and his coursein writing such a letter as this
to the President of the United States.
The position which he occupies does not
Justify him in placing himself in this atti-
| tnHR Whpp ~ a lNOk hoal nd Es,A 81,
! manner in which he came to occupy his
positlon-that he was nominated by his
| own party through fraud and corruption
| over Ii colored man, whom say here freely
| and openly was his superior as a man and
as citizen that he was elected by po-
| litical demagogues and adventurers and
n1ountebanks, who made use of the coored
element for the accomplishment of their
| purposes. / say, sir, that he places him
| self in an attitude which he should not
occupy. Who does he represent? Does
ne represent the taX-paying portion of the
State of Louisiana? Does he represent the
white people of Louisiana? Sir, do not
believe that he received 500 white votes
in the entire State.
Aud, sir, ] say that the attitude which he
has assumed is not one which his position
justities.
The characteristics of this letter are only
/ in keeping with the previous character and
ItHuAdllpn VI NtNGIuOE h1TllOlu. L WAS
! inclined to believe from the start that even
if q partisan Governor he would do Justice
to all classes and people, but | fiud he is
carrying out the natural instincts which
have heretofore guided his political career
Expelled from Vicksburg by General
Grant for conduct unbecoming an officer
and gentleman; dismissed from the staff
of General Banks for non.observance of
truth. he now sets himself up as the grand
dictator of the State OF Louisiana and the
maligner of the best portion of our people.
And !, sir, as a Senator or Representa-
tive of that portion of the people, can never
tamely and quietly occupy my seat and see
such infamous ISLANDERS upon the people of
Louisiana as are contained in his letter to
President johnson. Complaint is made in
that letter of armed Organizations; the
Governor says nothing of the Grand Army
of the Republic, but we know that that
organization exists; that it is officered in
all its departments; that they have arms
stationed and ready for use; we know
that in the building opposite the
State House $500 stand of arms
are now stacked ready for use. Do you
suppose, sir, that the people of New Or
leans, or the people of Louisiana, will
quietly stand and see these efforts made
to enforce the peculiar doctrines OF the
Republican party without making some
effort to prevent and to counteract those
movements? We would be less than men.
And, sir, when l see man who is false 10
himself-false to his race-faIse to his coun-
Try, and even false to his God-putting
himself in advance of his party, |, sir, have
no respect-no consideration for any such
man. In my estimation he has placed him
self beyond all bounds of consideration,
and | for one am not willing to accord to
him one single iota.
Now, sir. we hear that drilling at night
takes place throughout the city of New Or
leans; that preparations are being made for
war. | know that the colored clubs are
drilled in the back streets of this city by
white men, and, sir, when we know that
these facts exist, even admitting that clubs
on the other side have been drilled-and
deny the fact-=I say that the example has
been set by the opposite party.
Now, sir, what Is the use of Federal troops
being sent here? Have the laws of this
Legislature been resisted? Have the peo-
pie refused to recognize the existing laws i?
Nothing of the kind. These troops are to be
senthere then for what? For the purpose of
maintaining the present party in its power.
strangers to the climate, they are to be kept
here suffering ali the tortnres of an active
campaign to maintain in power and secure
the safety OF the persons of those who
st rye but one purpose, and that is the an
Inhalation of the best portion of the COM
munity and the establishment of the isu-
premacy OF the cOl0red over the white
race.
That seems to be the object, sill, of bringing
from their foreign homes the Federal sol
diers to maintain these men in their
power.
the spirit of the President of the United
States sufficiently well to believe this appli.
cation will be rejected
When he turns to the Radical Republican
Senator elected by this Assembly for inform
alton upon this question of disorder and
trouble and disturbance existing from one,
end of the State to the other. what reply
does he receive from Senator Harris Sem
ator Harris tells him that SO fer as he knows
there are no such disturbances as have been
represented; that in some Of the interior
parishes some acts of violence have been
committed, but at the same time they are
such as may occur in any community, and
that he does net believe there is any or
ganized plan for resistance to the govern
ment or the laws or for the persecution of
What q commentary is this upon the letter
of Governor Warmothl
Now sir, another point. We have been
frequently told upon this floor that this
party herein the majority are largely in the
majority throughout the State, and if we
are to take the proportion of the Senate and
House Of Representatives as at present con-
stituted it ID the fact. Certainly as regards
their representation here, they are IN the
majority, and il SO, where is the necessity
of sending outside the State for assistance
to preserve order, and maintain peace, and
secure life and property to all of its people?
If they haye the majority, it is in their pow.
er to do whatever they may please; but as
have said on o previous occasion, they know
that when the appeal comes 10 that MAORI
ty, and when it comes to the other side,
may Cod grant that 1t NAV never cnnn-tha