The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-07-07
A LESSON FOR wARMoTH, DUNN AND
THE REST.

The New York Tribune is moved by the
recommendation of Gov. Scott to the South
Carolina legislature that all political disabili-
ties be abolished, SO that every citizen may
vote and hold Office, no matter what relation
he held to the late wal, to pronounce the mes
sage in which it occurs "model of wise and
generous craftsmanship. Such policy,
remarks the Tribune, " is the dictate of naked
good sense, but of that good sense true cour-
age is vital ingredient This opinion OF
the foremost and ablest radical organ in the
North is, by plain inference, an emphatic
reprobation of the spirit evinced by the new
government of Louisiana during its weeks
existence. But the Tribune gives it direct as
well as inferential application to this govern
ment, by observing that " Louisiana starts OFF
less hopefully" than South Carolina; and
that Lieut.. Gov. Dunn might learn whole
some lesson from Gov. Scott, if he is not
above being taught by white man."
The CRESCENT has not minced phrases, as
our readers are well aware, in commenting on
the temper exhibited by the carpet-baggers
and their adherents who have commenced
to play the part of Louisiana Legislators in the
Mechanics Institute. But we must confess
that the CRESCENT is surpassed by the Tribune
in singing commentary on the vindictive and
tyrannical propensities expressed by that
faction in its legislative projects as thus far
developed. If the advice of Governor Scott,
of South Carolina, to abolish all political dis
abilities, is "model of wise and generous
craftsmanship, the dictate of ''naked good
sense" of which ''true courage is vital in
grediant," the counsels prevailing up to this
time, in the Mechanics Institute assembly,
counsels which have been the exact antithesis
of the advice thus applauded by the Tribune,
can not be less than superlatively ungenerous,
superlatively unstatesmanlike, and superla-
lively cowardly.
And if South Carolina is, as the Tribune
asserts, "fairly on the high road to lasting
peace" because of the contemplated aboli-
ton of political disabilities in that State,
then Louisiana must be on the high road to
| chronic trouble and distraction, because of
| the evident purpose of the men who are now
acting as her legislators to perpetuate politi-
cal disabilities, and, by every possible eype-
dent, to widen the scope and intensity the
bitterness of political prescription. The
| Tribune says that " for this the fair start
| given to South Carolina in the direction of
lasting peace" much credit is due to Gov.
Scott, though he is 'carpet-bagger. We
heartily concede all the merit that is here
claimed for the new governor of South Caro-
lima; but we do not accord it to him in the
character of a carpet-bagger. Carpet-baggery
consists not in the mere fact that man has
come from the North and sought or obtained
public Office and emolument in the South.
The phrase is simply succint definition of a
class of political vagabonds and gipsies whose
sole thought is to prosper through the misfor-
tunes and miseries OF the communities into
which they come, and with the interests of
/ which they have no more idea of identifying
their own than the burglar has of identifying
his interests with those of the merchant
whose goods he plumbers. Whatever Gov.
Scott may have been before, he is no carpet
Dagger when he urges the South Carolina
legislature to enact universal amnesty and
restore to their political rights several thou
sand of the best. citizens of the State. In
taking this position he repudiates the spirit of
usurpation and prescription, and espouses
the cause of the peace, the dignity, and the
permanent welfare of the State. When the
Tribune said, "we insist that Lieutenant
Governor Dunn might learn useful lesson
from Gov. Scott, did it take for granted that
Gov. Warmoth would, without insistance on
its part, emulate the example of the South
Carolina governor, and. likewise, earn ''much
credit by assisting to put Louisiana fairly
on the high road to lasting peace" 1t is for
him to determine whether he will take this
course, or another which the principal organ
Of his own party will have denounced in adj
vance as utterly destitute of craftsmanship, OF
generosity and of true courage. 1t is for him
to choose between gratitude and detestation-
to make his name forever odious, or to asso-
ciate it with the Inauguration of a new era Of
peace, and good will, and prosperity. Gov
Warmoth is a young man, and, it may be, has
aspirations that reach far beyond the present
disjointed and troublous condition of affairs
Memory is long, and justice is imperishable
but the reign Of carpet-baggery, at the long
est, must be comparatively short, and the
saturnalia which vindictive and rapacious ma
lures are now holding will at length vanish
like the visions of horrid dream.
The OPPOSITION TO Ex MAYOR MONROE AT
HAvANA'-The Havana correspondent of the New
York Times says:
h.,