The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-05-13
A SPLENDID SPEECH.


A few days since, says the Augusta
u,a.) Constitutionalist, we published the
concluding passages Of ex-Gov. Thomas
II. seymour's speech delivered at st.
James Hotel, New York, on the anniyer-
sary Of Thomas Jefferson. On the same
occasion, the Hon. Mr.. Ake-s. Of Missouri,
formerly member of Congress from that
State, but for some years a resident OF
Gotham, spoke with beauty and elo-
ouenee Of idea, warmth of imagery and
pony of purple words, not easily equalled
in this material age. Apart from its SEN
timents, which will be rapturously received
by Southern men, it has high literary
merit seldom evinced by the politicians OF
our epoch. A distinguished Georgian, to
whom we are indebted for copy OF this
noble utterance, informs us that the audi
tors were men of fine intellect and enlarged
information, leading and illustrious per-
sons who still adhere to the fundamental
principles of State Rights and Strict Con-
struction. The speech of Mr. Akers was
listened to with profound attention, ire
quent pIaudits and marked enthusiasm
We give it a conspicuous place in these
columns as brave answer to the Macedo-
Man cry Of the South.
In the progress of after-dinner ceremo-
MES, the subjoned toast was read:
The Somh-The birthplace OF the great
est statesmen, orators and heroes of the
revolution, desolated by the military rule
: Of strangers and tyrants-may she arise
like Phoenix from her ashes and beatow
again the inestimable blessings of peace
and liberty upon her people.
To which the Hon. Thomas P. Akers
responded as follows:
Mr.. President and Gentlemen II BEG
to assure you, and do it without afecta.
ton, and not as cold formality, that
respond to the sentiment announced from
the bottom of my heart. The South
though not my birthplace, was the home
Of my youth and early manhood, and !
frankly confess that | feel tonight, as ]
trust always shall feel, profound re-
spect for her great statesmen, heroes and
orators" and lively sympathy for hel
suffering psople; and my heart yearns
with an ardor too deep for utterance, to
see her arise like Phoenix from heI
ashes and bestow again the inestimable
blessings Of peace and liberty on her PEG.
pie"
One would suppose that the devastation
and ruin of the South, occasioned by the
late war, had been sufficiently complete and
comprehensive to satisfy the hate of hel
bitterest and most relentless oppressors.
War, in its mildest form, when waged
by one nation against another, and soften
ed by rigid observance of all the rules o.
civilized warfare, is terrible minister o.
ruin. But sectional war, such as thai
which wrought the ruin of the South
draws alter it, of necessity, train of hor
rors that no words can adequately de
scribe.
The conflict Of arms between the Nortl
and South had scarcely commenced, wher
the tone Of public morals, on both sides
began to relax. As it progressed, al
the bad passions of human nature were
aroused The ties of family-tbat sacred
shrine Of the pure and holy affection, thai
yerdant spot in lfe's dreary waste, arount
which memory fingers, whose strong cords
hold back the maynard youth and draw
him out of the vortex of crime when th'
last strand Of every other cable has partet
were rudely snapped asunder. Men
uVIu vi btlS sduiS mObutf atliu ISultu dJ VII
same hearthstone--were suddenly trans
formed into demons, as if by some terribl
enchantment, and thirsted for each other
blood. Religion, itself, which had ALVEY
been bright pole-star to light and guild
the erring footsteps of felow-man, fell frot
its high and holy place, like that star 9
evil omen spoken of in the Book of tn
Apocalypse, which fell from heaven on til
fountains and rivers, and changed the,
into NORWOOD.
It is not unnatural perhaps, that ser
tlonal war, born Of fadaticism, and draw
ing the means of its malignant progress
from the fierce passions Of sectional jea
oasy, and hatred, and revense--shoul
harness the Furies to its car, and drive til
country to destruction. But whether Iii
taral or unnatural, such was the sad histo
ry Of the sanguinary. strife between til
North and South. Both sections hay
suffered greatly; but it is at the Soul