The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-07-22

when we had no national debt to crush the
energies of the people; when the tax gath
erer was unknown throughout the vast ex-
tent of the land when the credit of the
United States stood as high in the money
market OF the world as that ofany other
they will remember with a wise sorrow
that with the downfall of the Democratic
party in 1861, came that fearful war which
has brought mourning and desolation into
every household has cost the loss of
million OF citizens, and left us with ma
tionai debt the burden of which drains the
resources, cripples the industry and impov-
erishes the labor of the country. They
will remember that after the fraticidal strife
was over. when the bravery of our army
and navy, and the sacrifices of the people
had restored the Union, aud INDICATED
the supremacy of the law; when the victor
and vanquished were equally ready to bury
the past, and hold out the hand of brother
hood aud good will across the graves of
their fallen comrades. 1t was again the
defeat of the Democratic candidate in 1864
which prevented the consumIatiou so de-
voutly wished for by all. Instead of resto-
ring Southern States to their rights, in
stead of trying to wipe out the miseries of
the past by magpanimous policy, dictated
alike by humanity and grand statesman
ship, aud SO ardently prayed for by the
generous heart of the American people, the
Radicals in Congress, elected in an evil
hour, have placed the iron heel OF the con-
queror upon the South. Austria did not
dare to fasten upon vanquished Hungary,
nor Russia impose upon conquered Poland
the ruthless tyranny now imposed by Con-
gress upon the Southern States. Military
satraps are invested with dictatorial pow
er, overriding the decisions of the courts
and assume the functions of the civil au-
thorities. The whole populations are
DISTINGUISHED or forced to submit to test
oaths, alike revolving to justice aud civili-
cation, and debased and ignorant race
just emerged from servitude into power,
are intrusted with the destinies of that fair
portion of our common country These
men, elected to be legislators, are legisla-
tors only trampling the Constitution under
their feet; have usurped the functions of
the Executive and the Judiciary and it is
impossible to doubt after the events ofthe
past few months and the circumstances Of
the impeachment trial, that they win not
shrink from any attempt hereafter to sub
vert the Senate of the United States,
which alone stood between them and their
victim, and had virtue enough left not to
allow the American name to be utterly dis
eraced and justice to be dragged in the
dust. In order to carry this nesarious pro-
gramme out, the army and navy are kept
in time of profound peace on scale which
has involved yearly expenditure of from
one to two hundred millions, prevents thu
reduction of our national debt, and imposes
upon our people system of most exorbi-
tant and unequal taxation, with vicious,
irredeemabie and deprecated currency
And now the same party, which has
brought all these evils upon the country,
comes again before the American people
asking for their suffrages. And whom has
it chosen for it's candidate? The General
commanding the armies of the United
States. Can there be any doubt left as to
the designs of the Radicals? If they
should be able to keep their hold on the
reins of Government. they intend Congress
sional usurpation of the Government to be
enforced by the bayonets of military des-
potism. It is impossible that free and
intelligent people can long submit to such
a state of things. They will not calmly
see their liberties subverted, the prosperity
and greatness of their country undermined,
and the institutions bequeathed to them
by the fathers of the Repnblic wrested
from them. They must see that the con-
sentative and national principles of libe-
raj and progressive Democracy are the only
safeguards of the Republic.
Gentlemen of the Convention, your
country looks to you to stay this tide of
DISCRIMINATION, violence and despotism.-
Il will not look in vain when next Novem-
Der the roll shall be called. and when State
after State shall respond by rallying around
the broad banner of Democracy, on which,
in the future as in the past, will be inscrib-
ed our undylng motto-"The Union, the
Constitution and the Laws
He nominated for temporary Chairman,
Hon. Henry L. Palmer; Of Wisconsin,
which was agreed to.
An EGYpT1AN HERM1T.-A letter from