New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-04-05

I
Egyptian darkness in the past. Our genial
climate and broad fertile acres will induce
capital and immigration hither; instead OF
| seven hundred thousand, ten million inhab.
itants will number our population. our ma.
jestic cypress will be fashioned into tene
ments for their accommodation, our uu-
titled acres made to yield the rich fruits aud
great staples OF this semi-tropical climate,
the huge live oak built into ships, by our
own sxillful mechanics, will bear to the
markets of the world our superabundance
OF products; our beautiful prairies covered
with perennial growth of nutritious in
dlgenous grass will be spotted with vast
nerds and thousands of focks; our mild
cline, cheap food, abundance of fuel, great
variety of timber, immense mineral re.
sources, tine water power, aud superior
Iacllltles for transportation by land and
water will attract hither millions of money
ana thousands of operatives. (Great ap-
plause.) | look with pride to my native
Keystone Stdte,n aud count in a space of
ten miles on single stream over a hundred
manufacturing establishments, employing
ten thousand people and producing an
nually twenty-four millions of dollars.
such enterprise, wealth, and prosperity
Will come to our shores when our state has
been reconstructed and a loyal government
established. The future of our state is full
of promise. Who will stand in the way of
her progress? What man will permit pas.
sion and prejudice to obstruct the channels
of trade, and retard the restoration of peace.
progress, and happiness among our people'
Do the handful of rebels in our midst hope
to overcome twenty million people in this
country who have decreed that this nation
shall live, men shall be free uader it, that
peace and quiet shall be restored in the
Southern states, their resources developed
and made pay their tribute from year to
and gaDnrafiou 70 ian, ~
treasury of our common country, in order
to make good our plighted faith to the living
and dead defenders of the republic? (Great
applause.) Life is too short to fight our
battles over again. The issues of the pres,
ent struggle have been decided by the sword,
and for all time. Should the enemies OF
reconstruction win Bull Run in this DO.
litical campaign, Gettysburg and Appo.
mattoX will follow so certain as night fol-
lows day. Have men learned nothing by
the experience of the past? Is there any
thing in the history of reconstruction for
two years and half to inspire the hope of
better terms if this constitution is defeated?
l can see nothing. Bankruptcy, poverty,
and even starvation, confront us on every
hand. Will the enemies of reconstruction
never learn anything? Their past conduct
almost justifes the belief that they are not
capable OF learning anything.
But the idea Of carpet baggers ruling us is
intolerable. Horrible The old citizen
could manage the "niggers" daughter and
applause) if only the carpet baggers were
out Of the way. (Greatamerryment.) Now,
my friends, indulge me in a few words ON
this subject. As | claim the honor of be-
longing to that best abused" class, de-
sire to say word just to please the malig
nant rebel press of this city. daughter
and applause.)
Louisiana is my adopted state perhaps
am unfortunate in not being born here, but
think not; If had might have been a
rebel, and there are quite enough of that
numerous class to damn the state for several
generations. (Laughter.) How long since
1t became crime to be born out of Louisi-
ana? What code imposes the penalty? The
code that hung Union men in this country
before the war-the code that made it crime
to teach slaves to read the Bible-the code
that muzzled the press, and stihed free
speech-the code of honor, the code of
chivalry, the "blaCk code" (rhat's SOY
My fellow citizens, l came here with the
flag OF freedom, tremendous enthUsiasm),
ana God being willing | intend to liv3 and
die under its ripping folds in Louisiana.
(Great enthusiasm and applause.) Do these
arr CANT, presumptuous rebels suppose they
have guarantee deed of this beautiful city,
and the great national highway flowing past
it to the sea?
~ eAANg NihilAA W OWn anu IlOUOlbbliLG alA
the crawtish aud alligators, too? (Laugh-
ter) If carpet baggers don't come here
and rebuild the levees the crawish aud alli-
gators will soon take possession of the state
(Applause.) My friends, as well might you
attempt to shut out the light of the sun with
a cotton umbrella (laughter) as to try to
exclude the advancing civilization of the
age from this great state. Louisiana needs
population and capital; these 90 where
they are protected aud rewarded. Ample
protection will be afforded by the govern
ment we are about to establish, and our
great advantages will insure a rich reward
to capital and industry. The Inauguration
of loyal government will bring ten thou
sand carpet.baggers to Louisiana in a single
year, (applause), and their carpet-bags will
be filed with "greenbacks.n (Great ap.
plause.) The first carPet-baggers who came
TO Louisiana brought freedom, the next
brought ballots, and the last will bring
''greenbacks." tremendous applause.)
Carpet-baggers will regenerate Louisiana
and restore her to the great sisterhood of
states. They will rebuild her levees, re.
claim her overfowed districts, cultivate her
soil, build her railroads, open her
rivers, expand ner commerce, develop
all her resources, and make her the
greatest, wealthiest, most prosperous
and powerful state in the Union. prolonged
applause.) They will not stop there. They
will build her asylums and almshouses for
the maimed aud oppressed poor, her
for the Christianization of the un-
godly, her institutions OF learning for the
education and elevation of the rising gen
Grafton. While this grand work is being
accomplished many of Louisiana's fair
daughters will find good husbands among
the carpet-baggers, Qaughter), and rear
new stock that will make patent clocks
and wooden nutmegs to sell to their rebel
rOnniDG and I1Dglar Al. ,,1
laughter.) Now,m rebel friends, with this
promise are you not willing to permit US to
i've among you in peace? Are YOU not
wiling to receive our principles in order to
secure our energy, our capital, and our
brain? II not, az. least accord to us the
same rights tnat we concede to you-the
right OF our opinions freely expressed. NV
/ must not weary your pa.
tience longer with this flag OF truce TO the
enemy. | fear he is chained to his idols.
Let us go forward in the work of establish. |
ing free and just government In our state.
Let us ratify the constitution submitted by |
the convention and elect the ticket |
nominated by the people. It will |
then be questionable to be q rebel (ap- |
plause) if treason will not be made odious. |
Let the contest in which we are engaged |
result In triumphant victory f liberty, |
Justice, equality. Let the friends of these |
principles stand united, each with firm |
1etermination of doing his whole |
1utyi and our combined efforts will |
be crowned with glorious success,
and We will have established govern. |
nent in the keystone Staten of the South |
20 just, 50 humane, so impartial, that the |
poorest, the humblest of all mankind will |
IND equal protection with the richest, the |
looiest and most powerful of all our citi- |
sens. (Long and continued applause.)
t- -
Especial Correspondence Of the Republican |
nRn MEnr Nnnn ns.n