The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-03-07
THE DEMOCRATIC cc.sYENrloN.


The action OF the ~ ,nocratic convention
yesterday. in nominal .ne an electoral ticket,
was the fitting AMI logical sequence of the
appointment OF df ,legates to the National DEM
ocratic Conve.nt alton. The theory on which
delegates a-.e chosen to represent the State in
the natio'hal convention, is that these States
are really States, in the constitutional meaning
of the term; that they are not out of the Union,
but in the Union; and that they are entitled
TO exercise all of their constitutional preroga-
tives in spite of a constraint which is uncon-
stitutionally exercised. This is the theory of
the Democratic party. 1t is theory which
it is the interest-of these States to accept,
because only by the success Of that theory
can they be saved from the tyranny Of a Sec
tional faction, and the horrors of negro
supremacy
Acting on this assumption, the Democracy
Of the North invite the representatives of the
South to meet them in convention, for the
purpose of nominating candidate for the
Presidency. In that convention the represen-
tatives of the Southern States will stand on
an equality with the representatives of the
Northern States; just as if they were voting
in the. electoral college, on the model of which
the convention is constituted. But it would
be both intrusive and impertinent on the part
Of the Southern States to participate in the
nomination of Democrats candidate for the
Presidency, unless they intended TO aid in his
election to the extent of their ability 1t is
very tue that their votes may not be counted.
Itisvery true that the party which has excluded
theirrepresentatiyes from Congress- may, like
wise, exclude their votes from the electoral
college. But this is no reason for not casting
the votes That rights will be denied is no
reason for declining the effort to exercise
them. All functions become impaired by dis
use. Rights are lost by remittimg their prac-
tice. The assertion of right, even when its
practical enforcement is impossible, is yalu-
able to the extent that it preserves that love
of liberty and regard for law which, other
wise, would soon become extinct. 1t is, there
fore, clearly the duty of the people of this
State to vote for presidential electors next
November, and to transmit their electoral
vote to Washington, in order to strengthen the
hands of that great party on which we rely
for salvation from the perils which now sur
round us. We should pay no heed to the
fraudulent Constitution which radical tyranny
may seek to impose on us. We should not
recognize, or tolerate it, except so far as we
are compelled to do SO. The Republicans
rely on the negro vote of the South to keep
them in power The Democrats rely on the
white race-the only constitutional political
community existing within the limits of
these States. 1t is for us to give them the
opportunity to profit by an alliance which
must be of far more benefit to us than to
them. We repeat, therefore, that the nominal
ton of an electoral ticket was an eminently
proper and consistent act.
The resolutions are the same in tone and
spirit as those which were adopted by the
meeting at the st. Charles Theater. They
are temperate, but firm and emphatic, and
fairly express the views of the people of Lou
isiana. The appointment of State Central
Committee is now to be effected by the presi-
dent of the convention, and, when this is ac-
complished, we shall be ready to enter on
vigorous campaign against the infamous Con-
stitution prepared by the Dryades street as
semblage.