New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-01-17
THE HOW. rmomAs >. DuRAEr.

THE HON. TAOMAS u. OURANT.
A desire to do Justice to this highly es-
teemed friend whose position on the guber-
Material question has been greatly mis-
understood, induces us to publish the fol-
lowing letter from him. Mr.. Durant's own
action in this matter has been that of a
patriotic and dignified gentleman:
WASHINGTON. D. c., January 5, 1868.
DR.. NJ. A Southworth, New Orleans, La.
DEAR SIR have just received from the
postOfice ;o-day-Sunday--your letter OF
the 3lst of December, inclosing two slips,
one from the OpeloHsas Progress. and the
other from the New Orleans Tribune of the
3lst OF December.
With regard 10 the paragraph quoted
from letter purportng to have been ire
Gently addressed to the editor of the New
Orleans Tribune, by me, and upon which you
ask me eff my positions is incorrectly
stated" beg leave to say that on the 3lst
Of October last, letter was written to me
by DR.. L. @. RoudaneZ, which received
cary in November. That letter was not
addressed TO me az FROM an editor, but as
from one friend writing IN another, and
was, as little as the ansW or to it, apparently
designed for publication. have, however,
said that any and all letters written by me
to persons in Louisiana, on the subject OF
my relations to Office might be published if
the persons 10 whom they were addressed
thought ht. But / will remark that single
paragraph from letter all devoted to one
subject, does not impart the best view
the writer's opinion, and when he has writ
ten subsequent letters modifying former
positions, such extracts may have the effect
Of creating an erroneous impression of his
wishes.
The letter Of 3lst October from DR.. Rou-
danez made very earnest appeal to my
personal sympathies for the rights of the
people of African descent, to consent to
run for the Office of governor, to be fol-
lowed by my being returned to the United
States senate by the first legislature. was
very much touched by this appeal re-
piled to the letter early in November,
stating my extreme reluctance to run for
the Office Of governor, aRd that the attitude
l had always occupied with regard TO it
justified others in believing that would
not become candidate but if it was uni
yersally believed that my being a candidate
was indispensable to the party, might ae-
cept. have not q copy of the letter, but
no doubt the paragraph quoted is contained
in it. The contingency alluded to has not
in my judgment arisen it is not indispsn-
sable to the welfare of the state that
should become G candidate do not sup
pose it ever could be and the circum-
stances have greatly changed from the be-
ginning oil November. At that time have
information here, which l believed to be
correct, that General Hancock would ad-
minister the ilith military district in a man.
ner agreeable to the radicals, and in such
wise as would mot render 1t disagreeable or
hnmiliating, it may be for 9 radical to hold
once under him, which now, to me at least,
ii would be most completely.
heard nothing more about the govern
orship until the l4th Of December, when
l received the New Orleans Tribune with
my name ct the head for the place, and at
the same time letter signed by Hons. A.
Bertonneau and Rufus NAPLES with thir-
teen Others asking me 10 run for governor
and stating that my letter above REFER ed
to, addressed to Dr. R0udanez, had been
read 70 them By that Gentleman. replied
Immediately in letter addressed to Hon.
A. Bertonnean. That reply was in the
negative, and was fully understood to be
such by DIR. ROudanez. stated to those
gentlemen that as they must have seen from
my letter to DR.. ROudanez that was not
willing to be candidate for governor; that
reflection had convinced me that to run for
governor with the idtS Of only making il a
shipping stone for he office Of United
States senator would be uncandid, and
therefore would not do ii.
pointed out the change in the circum.
stances growing out of the misunderstood
ing of the character OF General Hancock
which would render it oHshsiue and in
tolerable 10 me TO hold civil OFF : nndeE
him even for day whereas, If elected,
would have to hold it from the day Of elec.
tiOn until the admission Of the state by CON
gress as General Hancock's subordinate,
ahd that hoped they wsuld not, BY COO
tinuing 10 put me forward as a candidate,
force me TO appear ungrateful by dat and
peremptory refusal. Shortly after this I
received letter from Mr.. J. M Davis, with
the resolutions Of the Third Ward Radical
club favOring my R0minatian. To this,
replied BY refusing 10 the sane way. Soon
alter | received letter asking me to run
for governor signed by A. Chassaignae aud
some three hundred OtheFs, amOng whom ]
was informed appeared the lanes Of ma
ioFity Of the members Of the constitutional
convention; to this / replied by = similar
refusal.
No inference can be drawn frOF7 the iA4i
stated VI me in the editorial Of the Tribune
" that be has allowed his name to be placed
for four weeks at the head OF our columns
] did not allow 1t in advance, tor did not
know that 1t was about to be done, and as
soon as il was doae begged, in the letter
above described, to Hon. A. Bertonneau
and others--one OF whom was DR.. r. himself
that ny name might not be put forward.
Ireeret that these whom esteeln as my
friends should have acted Ia 4 manner SO
contrary 10 my wisees, and trust that the
action Of ibe convention will have resulted
10 such choice As will promote the true
interests Of freedom and human equality In
Louisiana.
am with Rrrai respect,
Yonf obadirnk servant,
mrTf.nFaa MN 4 Ann