The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-02-16

I
John her oerson, A Esgr, Frank Gusner.
AIGIERs
Jno. Brovnlee, JnO ormond, N Trepagnier.
Ociave Y, lieite Jno Mauoaey, - GsrATd,
q. n. Irwin, T. Is. Camus
rRETARIES.
,a'i. Ssnt B:l n stS s1Frn s. Marx gfDSy .gn.n
" EySyn, HI. a Baker, W. Pope Noble,
Jotn Lane.
The orchestra, at the conclusion Of the reading
Of this lengthy list, Occupying sspace of twenty
minutes } struck up Hail Columbia" and as the
once familiar strains echoed through the hopse,
tie music seemed like the daWning Of q new po-
litical day.
Judge Lea, upon taking the chair, spoke as fol
lows:
Fe7OlD citizens-I beg leave 10 return thanks to
the Democratic Central Executive Committee for
tie conn piiment they have tebdered In making me
their choice as the presiding officer OF so large
and 80 respectable meeting Of my telloW-citl-
Zens. Ii has been announced that this Was TO be
d conservative meeting. | see here this evening
many old friends who IN past times were opposed
20 NE in pOtlCa-maDy who, formerly, honestly
and earnestly placed themselves in opposition TO
the Democracy. But this night, in the name OF
cOnsiitu tional liberty, baptIze every man good
DemOcrat-eveTy man who Is opposed to convert
ing our government into cUncentrsIed despOt-
i'm, governed by military desp1ts.
We have often been told, iellOw'citiZens that
the Democratic party was dead Many, it is true,
have isbed that it were. But tell you tonight
hat i, lives vet in tie hearts Of the American
people Of those who live among the icicles OF the
White mountains among the purple prslries OF
he West, or still further to the westward upon
the coast of the Pacific, all Of whom Are now raj
iyiDg under the glorious old standard Of the De-
mocTacy. The time has now come when every
man must declare his sentiments and take his pO-
sitiCn upon one side the other 1t will be better
that our country be oyergrown with iuterminab'e
forests, as of old. and given up 70 the painted
ssvsgos, to the wolves and bears, rather thau to
civilization covered over with the slime OF fanati
cism.
The Democratic party, planted in the Old days
Of the republic, was fOstered and has grown up
with her. 1t has encountered terrible shocks,
hit these have only served TO make its roots
strike deeper its top rse higher into the heavens,
and it's shade grow broader aud denser, so that
IL may now find shelter and protection under its
shsdoW.
And now, my fellow citizens, what is our duty
toward this party? We were once, some years
ago, invited TO join hands with it in fighting this
great battle in the Union. We did not accept.
Let US now, cOnfessing our past errors. strike
hands with the Democracy OF the whole country
TO build up this great fabric OF Union-let US be
forever brothers, one and insepsrable, now and
forever.
The president having closed bis address, the
band played 1.-The Red, White and Blue"
The Hon. J. 3. Eustis, representing the COM
mittee on resolutions Of the State executive COM
nittee, then read the following resolutions:
WHEREAS, The people Of Louisiana are imme.
diateIy threatened with the cOnsummaton of q
policy involving their degradation snd ruin, pro.
mising the destruction Of their material interests
intending the overthrow Of all constitutional safe
quad aiming at the peTversiOn of every social
educational and governmental institution, and OBJ
hteIaung every yesuge of American civilization
in this state for the notorious purpose OF recuper
| atiLg the waning fortunes and maintaining the
supremacy Of distrusted, ambitious and vim
| olctive party; and
WnEkEAs, It is the duty Of every citizen to lend
bis energy and influence to every effort, and bis
| voice 10 every protest against tue imminent con
| summation of scheme 70 audaciOus, Revolutionary
aud destructive, The lncpleDJ consequences OF
| which have been beggary, wretchedness and
| starvation, and the fOmentiDg Of bitter aumO-l
lies, and The mstured results OF which will be de
basing deEpOism, OF licentlOus anarchy, disgrace
tUl 10 the country which tOieTates, and Tunous tC
| tIe people who endure it; therefore be 1t
| ResOiCtd, That We, the people OF New Orleans
| in mass meeting assembled, recognize an imme
date and pressing necessity for an effective pOlit
cal organization, which, whilst 1t shall unite al
| the Snu-Ihdlcal and conservative eemeuts OF pub
| hc opinion in an effort to thwart the destructive
purposes Of the dominant party, will, at the same
| time, eject an alliance with that powerful ant
| growing organization which il now conducting 50
| vigorous a contest in behalf Of constitutional lib
| tlty snd the rights Of tins people Gnd of these
| states.
| Res0red, That the more effectively to consum.
| mste this purpose, We entTeat all conservative
| cItizeI s. regardless of past political attachment
| OF differences, to unite IN be movement to or
| gaDiZe the National Democratic party In thi
| otste, ard throuf hoUt the south; that we cor
| daily approve the views promulgated in the al
| dIess OF The Democratic State CeBual Committee
| and rstiiy The Gail for state Democratic COnVen
tiOn. 10 be held Oh the IA OF March next, for th
| purpose Cf choosing delegates tO the Nations
| Democratic Convention.
Tesotrei, That we recommend to all consetva
tive citizens the pTOpTiety Oh immediately iniuA
! uIg thorough organization 10 al the parishes o.
the State and the wards of this city, preparatory
70 6ny electoral or pOlucal contest In which they
| may be called on to take part.
| HeSOlUed, That We cannot refrain from express
| ing our gratitude 10 the Democratic party Of tn
| NtTth Tor their Jealous, earnest and DeTsisten
vindicatOn Of constitutional freedom and pers lns
liberty; that although uuder the fatal inhuehc
of The reconstruction laws, we witness the declin
of commerce, the decay of Agricultural iudustr
and the psTslysis Of enterprise; and, although
ia the success Of the reconstruction policy Of th
Dc miDsnt party, we can anticipate only couhl
nation OF these sad results, and the final lapse o
Caucasian civilization into AfrIc Al barbarian, ye
we hopefully declare TO our Democratic friend
and brethren Of the North, that the spirit Of th
people Of this State has been revived Dy the lat
cheering and suspciOus Democratic successes; an
that, upon these successes, We base an abldln
confidence in the wisdom end patriotism OF IN
American people, and 10 their firm determinttlo
10 preserve the guarantees of constitutions
UniUn and the safeguard of public liberty.
1.-The great audience were silent listeners to th
impressive reading of Mr. Eustis, until be came
the passage Of the last resolution where it is sal
that 1.-The spirit of the people of this State h
been revived by the late cheering and suspcic'
Democratic successes" Then the whole meetin
ss If animated by one impulse gave cheer aft
cheer, end the house fairly shook with the ou
turst Of applausel
ReSoired Thai 10 President johnson, VII