New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-03-03
THE MEMBsRs OF THE CONVENTION,

more determined to do their whole dusy
than the convention that is about to ad-
jOurn. Assembling under the most us
advantageous circumstances, with large
majority of its menbers Wholly un"'-
quainted with Legislation, with debate, OF
even with parliamentary usage IL mas
steadily and firmly progressed WIN ~
| labors. until it is about to submit to the
people OF Louisiana a constitution en-
bracing those great principles of civil anu
political equality which must hereafter I'M
derlie the government Of the state
Receiving from its first session the I'M
Just criticisms and vulgar abase oil the
rebel press of this state and Of the whole
country, denounced as the "black and TAM
the bones and banjo" convention, and
by every other opprobriOus epithet that
rebel mslignity could devise, it has main
tanned its equanimity and its dignity, and
has won the respect and gratitude oil all
the loyal people OF this state, and OF the
whole country.
reality and not myth, where men can
vote and be voted for without danger from
the sssassin's knife or numbering
mObs, can not fully appreciate the
circumstances under which many OF
the members were elected. The vile
abuse to which they have been sub
jected, and the daily peril of their lives
has indeed tried them as by fire; and even
now the abuse is not suspended, nor the
peril passed, for several have been warned
not to return to their homes. In many
parishes Of Louisiana the officers of the
" civil law" do not arrest rebels for killing
Union men, and the community would
rejoice at the death of member Of the
"black and tan convention But, never
theless, the members l9iR return to their
homes, and lgnl canvass their localities,
and the constitution aoa5 be ratified, and
civil law 7" made by loyal men will be
enforced, and murderers agiI be hanged by
the neck until they are dead.
The abuse and dangers to which the
members have been exposed have given
sObriety and dignity and earnestness to the
convention which it might not have ether
wise possessed, and which have materially
assisted its deliberations, and given char
Acter to its proceedings.
One who attended its earlier sessions, and
who visits it now, can not fail to be i'm
pressed with a remarkable change. Now
a Crawford, Wickliffe, or a Cooley finds
no insignificant competitor in 3 member
who then knew nothing OF parliamentary
usage, and one whose life has been passed
in making and interpreting laws has often
to succumb to enc who never before sat in
q deliberative body. The better taeticians
and the more earnest and able debaters
are not among " the old and experienced
members"
This knowledge and experience will
hereafter be Of incalculable benefit to the
state. The members of the convention are
now prepared to take their places in the
halls Of legislation, and 10 ingrait int the
civil law the fundamental principles Of the
new constitution.
The pluck, energy, and determination Of
Underwood, MAssicOt, Antoine, Kelso,
Hampstead, Cromwell, McLeran, Douglass,
Moses, Leroy, Bertonnesu, Lange, and
twenty others equally eminent for these
qualities, the eloquence of Ingraham, vi
dial, PiRchbeck, JOnes, Newshsm, Duplessis,
Reagan, Bonseigueur, Burrel, aud a host of
others, and the calm Judgment and great
ability Of NAPLES, Murrel, Myers, Isabelle
Gardiner, Blackburn, Packard, Lewis,
Harris, Vslfroit, and very many others now
in the convention will hereafter have an en-
larged scope and field of action. Men
like Belden, and Landers, and SRaer, and
Deslond, and Twitchell and BlaRdin, and
Meadows, and Marie, and Wilson, and others
Just as COED and just as true, will hereafter
have great and noble wsrk to do. They
and men like them, gaen like the members
Of the eonYentieH, must hereafter make and
enforce the laws of Louisiana, and repre-
seat her in positions of hSner and profit.
NeMhers Of the convention and men like
them must hereafter be our members of
congress, our governors, our judges, legis-
lators, mayors, and sherias; and this not
for their individual interests, but because
Of the great principles they represent.
Members Of the constitutional con
yentiOn aud men like them have
inaugnrated and must now perfect new
social and political era in Louisiana an
era in which will be practically acknowl-
edged the civil and political equality of all
men, and in which men viii be judged by
what they are rather than by the skin OF
condition Of their ancestors.
The work before them is worthy Of and
may well demand the greatest ability and
the most earnest zeal. The contest has
commenced, and the whole countryexpects
each nan to do his qDhole duty.
MISSION OF THE REPUBLI0AN PARTY.
The Republican party Of the United
States had, upon the election Of Abraham
LineoIn to the presidency, high and i'm.
porlant mission 10 perform. That mission