The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-10-30
LETTER OF JUDGE BRrcE.


NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 1.
Dear Sir-In reply to your letter asking what
steps, if any, the Democratic State Central CON-
mittee have taken to secure the peace OF the city
and State during the present canvass, beg to say
that the subject has been under serious consider
alton for weeks past.
You are well acquainted with the proposed
measures OF the Republican Legislature to revo-
lutionize our entire system OF State government;
to restrict the elective franchise to restore the
odious power of search; to limit the benefit of
habeas corpus to overthrow our admirable plan
of education. both. public and private; to com.
msnd, under penalty, the social equality of all
persons witho ut regard to race, color or previous
condition !" to increase taxation to 81 per cent,
which, added to the federal tax, Ia tantamount to
gradual confscation to create militia exclu-
svely of negroes, and in fact, commit the cviza-
ton of the nineteenth century, with all its inter-
ests. social. religious, and political. to those who
never have shown their fitness for such a charge.
The spirit of this legislation is too obvious to be
4uestioned-pegro supremacy at the expense Of
the whites, with the design of provoking war Of
racee.
Our people are keenly alive to the calamities
which threaten them, and are naturally wrought
up TO high state Of mental excitement. 10 the
midst, too, of great political campaign all these
feelings are more or less intensified. We realized
in the face of all this the absolute importance of
preserving the peace of the State. For this pur-
pose, late in August, resolution was introduced
by member of the committee, requesting the
chairman to appoint committee Sin the interest
of peace and order" to confer with like number
from the opposite party.
A Joint committee thus constituted held two
sessions. The whole subject was then freely and
fully discussed. 1t was urged by the Democratic
members that the danger of disturbance arose
mainly, If not wholly, from the class legislation of
the Republican party in the State. This legisls-
ton, too, was in progress at a time when the
whole country was 10 the heat OF great political
e "a IL xlAl 4slt oft 81.
November election peace could be secured. We
inquired. therefore, if this could not be done
adding, il the opposite party were certain of sue
cess, the short delay could have no material in
fiuence on their plans Of State policy.
To all of which we received the prompt and
emphatic reply that 1t could not be done. We
reiterated the earnest wish to preserve the peace,
and on conviction that if the Republican party
would in good faith cooperate with Us it could be
secured. Up TO this point the conference had
been frank and characterized by good feeling,
and not entirely without hope of some benef
ciaI results, when Q leading member of the Re-
publican committee, gentleman OF position
aud education, expressed himself in substance as
follows:
1t is the interest of all to have peace; the pros
perity of the State depends upon 1t the ex.
stence of the Southern people depend upon it,
see no UooS sb Of tbs snrs pocy
the Republican party. believe, you. gentle
men Of the Democra party, are deceiving
yourselves with the idea that great revolution 10
public sentiment is going on throughout the
North, and that the November election will bring
party into power antagonistic to the Republican
policy of reconstruction. In all this you are fear
fully deceived. Two parties in the North are con-
tending for power-neither Of them in harmony
with your views. The whole North is embitered
against you to degree you do not seem to COM
preheDd. II Is time, however, that you should
realize your position. You have no friends there.
No change in public sentiment is taking place in
| your favor. The reconstruction measures are the
mildest terms for restoration the South can hope
| 10 receive from this or any future Congress, and
its only chance for the future is to aid 1.-THE Re-
| publicans) in carrying out those measures. Any
| other course must result in ruin.
The Republican party here are greatly ex-
| cted-the community standing over mine that
| a spark may at any moment explode. II col.
lision should take place ! fear you have not
| fully calculated the results. While the entire
| North is a unit in its hostility to the Southern
| people, it is equally pledged to protect and de-.
| fepd, at any cost, the colored race. Should,
therefore, the breach between the two races
them must go down. In that struggle the North
would rush as one man to arms. and uniting
with the colored race, make ii . war Of exter-
miDaton. The sword and the torch would go
hand in hand together. Southern fields, now
blossoming for the harvest, would be made a
wilderness and your cities smoldering ruins.
The Southern people, without regard to age or
sex, will have common grave.
Ny natural interests are in the South, and will
be promoted by peace and prosperity; besides,
i have no wish to become Hessian again yet,
| If such O conflict does come and ii seems al
most inevitable-I should not hesitate to join
the great North in this crusade.
These remarks were uttered In manner so cool
and deliberate as to satisfy OF the sincerity of
the speaker. and you may well imagine their effect
| upon the conference. II was evident that our
hopes of securing concert Of action in tbs interest
of peace and order were virtually ende L. I will
not attempt to describe the feelings 4 horror
awakened in our minds at the recital OF the fate
held in store for as whenever the negro can be
induc d TO take the initiative In, 1t may be, Q
carefully prepared scheme of vengeance.
In conclusion, may only add that We have
urged, in strong terms, the necessity for patience
and prudence on the part Of our people and thus
far in spite of all the efforts of designing men to
provoke an outbreak and collision, We have been
spared such calamity: Whatever may occur We