The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-08-12

unanimous vote they adopted declaration
ofprinciples, fidelity to the Uniop, fidelity
to the rights of the citizen, fidelity to the
principles Of civil liberty, fidelity to that
policy in matters of finance and taxation
which, by paying the public debt in legal
tender notes, will lift from the shoulders OF
labor the burdens which Cypress it and by
tightening the measure offaxation will Sc
cure to it thejust rewards of a, cheerful and
contcnted industry. (Cheers.) The speaker
then referred in many eulogistic terms to
The nominees of the Democratic Conven-
tion, and said if anything more were needed
to fire their heart with enthusiasm, let it be
drawn from the contrasts the country to-
day presented. The republican party had
been in absolute power for eight years.
Where was The constitution they swore to
uphold? where was the Union they swore
to maintain? After briefly dilatipg on the
course pursued by the republican party
since the war, more particularly with res
pect to the reconstruction of States, he
went on TO state that Congress had usurped
to itself all power over the State govern
ments of the South, and had, in fact, des-
troyed them. Adverting to the military
government, Mr.. Pendleton continued
II is reproducing in our country tho les
sons of all history. The despotism Of the
legislative assembly is the worst despotism
iu the world. It is the most cruel, the
most audGcious and the most short lived.
Tt ends in anarchy, and, this is speedily
followed by the calm repose of the order o.
the sword. Recall the history Of the Ro-
man Senate and the Emperors. Recall
The history of the Long Parliament and the
tyranny Of the commonwealth. Recall the
history OF the Legislative Assembly o.
France and Of the consulate and the empire
and read in them the certain prophecy of
the fate of This government If Conersssion-
al usurpation shall run it's course. Have
we not already part fulfllment,? Con-
gress has despoiled the President Of the
just powers of his Office and has vested
them in the General. It has despoiled the
States of their right of civil government
and vested them, too, in the same officer.
l, has given him power over all the military
commanders, and to his decision it has re-
ferred every question of interruption and
execution OF the Reconstruction laws.
(Cheers.) And this same officer, welding
this enormous power, backed by the army,
sustained by all the military organizations
ly whatever name they may be known, APP
paaling to the fervor which yet remains
after the struggles of terrible war, de-
mands that he shall be elected President
Of the United States. And this party
which supports him declares that If they
cannot do it by votes at the North, it will
elect him by the votes of the negroes and
carpet baggers in the reconstructed States
of the South. Gentleman do you see no
danger here? When, years ago, we predic-
ted this result and warned against the first
step in revolutionary progress, the republic
cans laughed at our fears and called us
copperheads and traitors. (Applause.
When Napoleon was called on, young, I'M
known to his countrymen, never having
had command even of a regiment, to quell
The revolt of the Sections, he did it effectu-
ally. In four years he was First Consul
and master of the French people. How
grand the theory which the Democratic
party opposes to this whole system of the
Republicans ] read from the declaration
principles
: First Immediate restoration Of all the
States to their rights in the Union and au-
der the Constitution and of civil govern
ment to American people.
Second-Amnesty of all past political
offences and the regulation of the elective
franchise in the States by their citizens.
The Republican party is the party of
usurpation. 1t is also the party of corrup.
ton. Read the report Of the Commissioner
of Revenue. Count the number Of clerks
who are seeking ilf vain to discover the
amount Of speculation in tho Treasury De-
partment. Go to the War Department
and see the mutilated archives, and ask
why they were destroyed. Visit the peni-
tentiaries and count the public plunderars
who are confined there. (Hear, hear.)
He reviewed the expenditures of the Tedc
raj government from July l, 1865, to- July
l, 1868, showing that the Democratic ad-
ministrations had been much more econom-
ical. Moreover, he would ask why was it
that The amount realized from taxes for
1869 would be less than the amount real
lied in 1866, considering that the rate of
taxation was substantially the same. 1t is
time that this Republican Congress had di-
minished in part or in whole the tax on
the manufactures in New England, or on
whiskey; but they would not materially
change the aggregate. Payment was more
difficult than previously. Labor found no
occupation. energy and enterprise were par
slyzad, and all because Republican al
ministration CENTRALIZED the currency. distri-