The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-09-09
Montgomery Blair.
SPEECH At ALEXANDRIA, VA, LAST TUESDAY

MUutSV0OAy OAesAs
SPEECH AT ALEXANDRIA, VA, LAsf TUESDAY.
FELLOW CITIZENS: take great pleas
ure in being among you on this occasion.
1 love to see the old Gag waving again in
Old Virginia, reared by her true soma
No people over whom it waves have done
more for its glory, or have better right
to an emblem star on its folds. Without
Virginia and her Washingtons, Jeffsrsons,
Henrys, Lees, and other illustrious chiefs,
and the brave and patriotic people Of
whom they were but representative men, it
may be doubted whether that flag would
have been known among the nations of
the earth. Nor have their sons degenera-
ted or forfeited their right rights in the
government they inherited. The late re-
bellion resulted from . cause for which
they were not responsible. This was pro-
claimed by the extreme radicals themselves
in the outset. So that II the patriotism
which sctuated your people in the late
struggle needed vindication, this admission
Of their adversaries attests it. have, as
you know, been determined opponent to
secession bat have been equally oppos-
ed to consolidation. In my view consoli-
dation and secession would result in the
same mischiefs. Washington declared that
the Union was the palladium Of our liber-
ties. Disunion led to the introduction Of
standing armies here, as in Europe, on the
pretext that they were required 70 prevent
foreign aggression, but really to support
the domestic power Of rulers and to sub
ject the people to them. Consolidation,
as we now see, comes directly to that point.
We have now the actual experience Of the
direct application Of the military power to
control elections, and We are therefore TO-
day living under . military despotism.-
Nothing but crazy partizanship can hide
this substantial fact from any mind. My
opposition to secession was the conviction
that it would result in this. That, howev-
er, was but an opinion while on the other
hand, If radicalism be maintained, We shall
have the continuance of an existing despot-
ism, which will be intensified by success
In that event many who, like myself, have
opposed secession and rebellion for the
sake of liberty and constitutional govern
meut, and fancied oursels Is wiser than the
rebels, if not more patriotic, will have to
confess our mistake. In the present a.
pect of affairs have to confess that it is
yet to be decided whether those who
fought for the Union, and in doing SO sad
died the country with q great debt, and
founded great mercenary interests and cor
rupting influences hostile to every form Of
freedom, have not blundered. but do
not believe it; I have a living faith in the
people, North and South, and see in the
elections Of this and last year that the peo>
pie are awakened to the dangers that SCR
round them. and that they cannot be de-
ceived by the cant Of loyalty to aequies-
cence in the usurpations Of the dictators
of the great caucus which rules Congress,
and which is now 10 alliance with the Gen
eral of the Army to make him master Of
the country BY the direct application Of
the military in the elections. It is this
cheering uprising Of the people Of an see-
tons Of the country which warns your
hearts again to the old Gag. I assure you
that it will be against the symbol Of con-
stitutional government. and not Of your
degradation and oppression. Rely upon il,
my friends, that the people Of the North
will take care Of your Eghts-if for no bet
ter reason than because it is necessary to
the preservation Of their own. But they
will do it for more honorable reason
They are pledged to it BY all the obliga-
tons Of honor and good faith, a. we'll q.
BY the requirements Of the Constitution
and their own best interests. Il would be
disgaceful to break their pledges to the
people Of the insurrectionAg States con.
tanned in the parole given at the surrende.
and in Ill the laws and resolves Of Con.
gress from the beginning TO the end Of the
rebellion. But It would be even mors
base for them to disregard their pledges "a
the Union men Of the border States. who
prevented the consolidation Of the South
in the conflict, which would have assured
it's success. II the people Of the NORTH
were to prove false TO these men it would
be betrayal Of allies more shameful thar
any recorded in history. True, one Of ths
pretexts for the usarpation is to afford pro
lection TO the loyal men Of the South
This 10 but fraudulent pretsnce. Thes,
so-called loyalists were not their allies II
the war, and are now but the instruments
The carpet-baggers who were in the arm,
were not there "A Southern men, and th,
negroes, for whose welfare they affect suci
interest, were all in the service of the re
bellion, faithfully planting the grain to feed