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


and liberty that the of the soldier ia not 10
consistent with the moderation and ssgacity OF
he Statesman: and 90 those eminent chieftains OF
the Democratic and Conservative parties who
have struggled so manfully TO protect the Consu
tuticp, and 10 avert the threatened ruin of this
people we owe q debt Of gratitude which far ex'
c eds our means Of Tequital. but which IL IS our
duty 10 recognize, in the fullest and most effective
manner.
1.-THE name of President johnson had scarcely
dropped from the lips of Mr.. E1stis, when he was
interrupted by q simultaneous burst of applause,
in which every man in the immense gathering
seemed to join his voice. al think" said NJ.
Eustis after the applause had subsded, 81 wll have
to read that over again, whereupon the cheering
vas renewed. Mr.. Eusts commenced the resolu'
ton anew. Twice more he was interrupted in
reading this resolution by enthusiastic plaudits,
" hen he read the declaration that 'tke renOwn of
he soldier is not inconsistent with the moderation
and the ssgscty of the statesman" and again when
il was enuncisted that to those eminent chief.
tains Of the Democratic and conservative parties,
who have struggled" etc.l
Resolred That the vice-presidents who are de.
signsted irom the respective wards, are charged
with The organization of the party la their several
wards and are requested to organize Democratic
clubs therein without delay.
The resolutions having been read, the president
asked all who were in favor OF them TO signify it.
ard a simultaneous "sye" came from every part
OF the house.
The chair then introduced Ex-Governor John B.
Weller, late Of California, and previously of Ohio,
as one Of the orators of the occasion, and the gov
erDor Was greeted cordially by the whole audi.
ence. At so late an hour, we can only give an
abstract Of his address and Of the speeches of
lose who followed him.
Governor Weller remarked, in substance, that
he participated in any political demonstration
with reluctance as be had settled here 70 follow
his profession and enjoy the pleasures Of a
private lite, but he found H impossible
! 70 resist the call that bad been made upon him at
this imminent crisis lie had been member OF
Congress thirty years ago. He had his full share
| Of public honOrs, and he had hoped that the time
hsd come for him TO enjoy those sOciai pleasures
which almost unknown 10 the public man, but
there occasions when no man, hOwever hum
bic or however exalted, can remain in retirement
When he entered the Congress of the United
States there were giants in IL. There were Clay,
a Webster, a McDuly, a Calhoun, then in the
councils OF the country. The Senate was then
the most Intellectual legislative body in the world
| (Applause) How is nov? Those great men
| are all gone, and, trust, to a beiter world We
| lad then but two parties, who were both con.
tent with the Constitution their fathers gave IL to
| them they were content % struggle with one an
| other for the happiness and prosperity OF the
people under that Constitution They differed only
IN Questions Of polili al economy, on the nstonal
| bark question, and on the tariff question. But
| now how utterly insignificant are these ques'
| lions Now we are called upon TO strive for the
perpetuation of constitutional liberty on this con.
| tnent, TO save ourselves from becoming the
| slaves of military dtspoGsm. | do not feel my
| self free man here tonight. | am here con-
| sceus that a military commander can place a
squad of soldiers st the door Of this house to pre-
| vent me from speaking, or you from hearing what
| ] have to say. | ain speaking by su1erance OF a
L vNFraga dor nit
/ thori'y.
What is the condition of your State govern
| ment? That government consists OF three
| trenches, the executive, the Legislative, and the
| judicial. Where is your governor! He Is out
| bt cause he was considered an impedment to re-
| construction. military sppOlntee fills his place
| Your legislature is among the things that were
| but is not But a single branch of your Judiciary
! remains untouched by military su hOrity. The
| Supreme Court is the only branch of that depart
ment the military hand has not impressed itself
| upon, and | am pleased 10 say that the presiding
| Judge of that tribunal is one with whom am on
iIitndly social relations for be is man, such as
am my self, who does not permit his political differ
ences TO interfere with his private friendships.
The people Of Louisiana, the people Of many
other States, equally unfortunate, have but one
right left-the right to be hung-and the govern
nent that gives them this privilege is the first and
best government on earth! Under this arbitrary
rule il is our good fortune to have over us a mill
taIy commander VINO forbears TO exercise the
| QespOuC power ne HlgUL 6AeFClse, ana WHOSE
| respect for constitutional right and civil govern
| ment has been so admirably illustrated in hi,
| temperate and wise administration. Let US give
three cheers for General Hancock. Three vocf
| erous cheers were given in response TO the
spesker, and the audience demanded " tiger, ,
ard again the house was filed with shouts o.
applause.l
Tie war, continued the governor, has changed
the relations Of some of our States TO the fedora
| government. What we want TO do il to re-estab
! llsb those relations as nearly as we can as theI
| were before the " ar. The radicals have but on'
! object--tO degrade and to punish the people 0
the South. To counteTaet their purpose 1t Is no
ia this or that party we ere to lOOk-it Is 70 tn
| great American people we are to appeal. II TIT
| Conciliaiory and msgnanimous policy of Presiden
johnson had prevailed when the war had closed
| he South to day, am satisfied from my own obser
| walton, would have been found the truest uphO' de
| of American power and the integrity THE UnOn
| The speaker next referred to the action Of Con
gress in regard TO the presidential office, and De
IouUced their attempts 10 destroy the executIv
| authority Y. The Senate had said 10 the president
You shall take into your confidence an Opei
| enemy" There was no parallel to this in history
IL was a blessing to the country that the chic
| ma tgistIsCy was filled by citizen who 20 nOb
| eeisted The assaults made upon the COnsttuti /,
~ Congress, but be is powerless against the f c
ton opposed 20 him, unless The people are a
LIS back. and IL is such demOnstraf lions as thi
ne etDg that will uphold hm ia maintaining Ou
| Constitution and our liberties.
policy ui the radical part,, ssid thar Uncle SAN D
II lie had had many troubles. Ten States hs
| ried 10 separate from the Union and set up a
independent government. He would not say
WIS uHpTovoked. II all the blood shed in TIA
contest were gathered in one reservoir il Eoul
fust tle largest ship 10 the world, aud why shoul
a discor6 be continued that might end Ia anothe
saDgUmsIy sea. There were ten daughters wiilin
20 come back willing 20 obey the laws. tn
other sisters ssy they cannot come back to tn
cid house without sacrificing hat their properly
| The South has made that sacrifice, and yet th
South cannot be in the Union. Their slaves hsv
been emancipsted, and vet the Southern peopl
must not participate IN the government. la N,
| ven Der next, however, all the family are
assemble and if then justice is denied the FREUD
ot liberty everywhere will weep, for tree govern
ment viii have passed away on this continent
But let Us not despond. | think | see a gle
ricus day dawning. There are thousands 10 th
| North who fought you in the field VINO are not
| srrayUg themselves q maintain the Constitution
| General Seedman is here. Be bears upon h
, body the scars of battle. He Will tell 20
| that be fought for the Union, not fc
, nesro supremacy great applau-e). and he
| a tyIe oi the thousands Of whom nave sDoksI
OHIO is my native state. It is good STATE 20 li'
| in aa well as good State t. emIgtate frOn