The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-05-06

ISIANA, WEDN
And yet this monstrous wrong, this out
rage upon all the essential principles Of the
Republic, is to be forced, at the point Of
[the bayonet, upon free people by the men
who pirate longest and loudest Of freedom,
liberty, and popular rights. In this day Of
progress, of advancing civilization; in the
nineteenth century; in this Gland Of the
free and home of the brave" in this Re-
public, composed of sovereign, coequal
States, united by and Under the Constitu-
ton, the matchless work of Washington,
Madison, and their noble compeers, one OF
those States upon which the Federal I'm
ion rests, of which it is formed, is to be
dismantied, robbed of the constitution
made by its people, and to have forced up
on it and it's million of Inhabitants q con-
stitution Of government dictated to it by
Congress, and approved by only seventy
thousand uneducated negroes-ignorant,
squalid, degraded nsgroes! Do the annals
of the world present an instance Of such
stupendous folly, absurdity, and wicked
ness? ltcan be justified by no man not
/ filled with Internal hatred Of our form OF
government, and DESTROYS of its overthrow
1t must, it can only end in blood. No man
in his senses can expect anything else.-
The white man, the white race in the his
tory of the world has never been the ser
want Of the bla ok. The madness or folly
Of Congress can never compel him to sub.
NIT to African domination or government.
Sir, the gentleman from Pennsylvania
(Mr. stevens) tells the country, by way,
suppose, Of reconciling the people.to this
horrid work, that 1--WE are not now merely
expounding Government; we are build.
ing one; we are making a nation" And
the committee, reporting this bill in SINH
lar language, tell us we are building a
mighty nation" They say: "But while
this free people are rebuilding a mighty
nation, in which there must be no faint o.
despotism or injustice, they have examined
carefully all the provisions of i le Constitu'
ton, and as precedent .whidl they hope
will never be departed from, but which be-
comes necessary by the injustice Of the sis.
ter States, they have determined that no
State shall ever be admitted into the Union
where the right to universal suffrage shall
not be made permanent and impossible Of
violation They have determiued-the
committee have determined-that no State
shall ever be admitted into ''this mighty
nation where the right of universal snf
! frage shall not be made permanent. What
is to be done with New York, Pennsylya
MIA, Maryland, Kentucky, and the Other
States which have not yet made universal
suffrage permanent? They are never tc
be admitted into this new nation till they
bow to negro domination. Not expound
| inc Government" but making a ma
tion,n rebuilding a mighty nation, ii
which there must be no faint Of despotisn
or injustice!" Was there ever such lmpu
dence, such folly, such absurdity, sucf
treason? This Reconstruction Committee
those who support this bill, members o
Congress, not expounding the Constitu
ton, not legislating according to its pro
visions for the Udiou, but building la
ton, mighty nation" Who commits
stoned Congress Where did it get tb'
power9 Who can read these bold, TN
Iblushing avowals, these foul utterances 9
treason to the Union, that the purpose j
not to maintain this Republic of States
but to build a Government, d mighty ne
/ ton, in it's stead, and not stand aghast a
| the declaration! But there is to be IN
faint Of despotism " in this new, thi
mighty nation| Oh no; there is no de-
potism in forcing a constitution upon
!. people against its will. No despotism j
forcing half a million white, intelligen
educated, refined men, women, and chi
dten to live under the domination Of sey
enty thousand negroes. There is no tail
of despotism or injnstice in forcing ii
people Of sovereign State to surrendt
their constitution of government, and a
|, cept one made by negroes Or, can an
thing on earth be more cruel, arbitrar
unjust, and despotic thau such q COVER
ment so enforcedg ..gi8. i
I am glad this committee and the gent
man from Pennsylvania have had Il
hardihood to proclaim their revolutions
purpose There need be no longer al
!. cayil or dispute. They would build go
] eminent; they would make mighty n
q ton on the ruins of the old Union. L
the people Of the States that deny univt
Q sal negro suffrage take heed and undo
stand that no State shall ever be admitt
into this mighty nation which this rev
lutionary party is now making, "wheret
: right Of universal suffrage shall not
!, made permanent and impossible Of viol
ton" This has become necessary by t
|, injustice of sister States" These are =
d solemn utterances of the representatives
d a great party--the party that is buildi
s q mighty nation" They are the oftic
t declarations of members of Congress, Of
! committee of the House Of Represent
I tives, while in the very act OF violating
i declared principles. They are the openi
! up of the revolutionary schemes Of the p
ty now controlling the destinies Of the ]
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