The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-01-29
Radical Reconstruction,
SPEECH or URrEL WRIGHT, ESQ, AT A DEMO-
CRATIC MASs MEETING.
From the st. Louis Renublican.l

ffotH Tue OF. LOUIS Repubttcan.t
The following is the complete text of
Major Wright's speech at Democratic
mass meeting held in St. Louis recently.
A more finished or beautiful plea for the
re-establishment in power Of the Demo-
cratic party,a more whitening or effective
indictment of the Jacobia organization
which usurps power, could not have been
presented in the same space. Orator, as
its author is admitted to be, it is surpass-
ed by no previous effort of his own even,
and will be admitted wherever read:
Mr.. PRESIDENT The call on me for a
speech, fear is Inappropriate doubt its
expediency. am an outsider; / have no
country, and cannot call you by the endear-
ing title OF iellow-citizens.
Marshall and Story, Kent and Pendle-
ton, Hamilton and Madison, Clay and
Webster, have taught ME that no man can
be citizen of the United States who is
not citizen of a State. I live in what
was ONCE the State Of Virginia-but the
Constitution declares that every State in
the Union shall be entitled to equal repre-
sentation in the Senate of the United States
and that instrument shall never be so
changed as to deny this rlght-but to Viz
ginia it is denied and therefore, Virginia,
cannot be State. BY the Constitution
and the law, each Territory ofthe United
States is entitled to delegates in Congress
but Virginia is not permitted any dele
gate in Congress and therefore, Virginia
cannot be a Territory of the United States.
What else can she be? A Colony?--
an American colony? This can hardly be,
Mr.. President, for we have never had an
American colony which would consent to
be taxed without being represented. The
blood Of our ancestors was shed on that
issue: but Virginia is taxed, and not rep
resented, and therefore, Virginia is not a
colony. | know no other political desig-
nation which can be applied to her.
] live in District No. 1.-THE first born
of Despotism in North America. General
Schofeld is my master. Stripped Of every
constitutional immunity. I hold every
personal right by the frail tenure of his
will. He can deprive me of my property,
Danish me from home, separate me from
my children, threw me into prison, and
there is not civil judicial tribunal in Dis
trict No. l to which | can appeal for re-
dress. He can do everything with me but
take my life, and he can do that with the
consent of Andrew Johnson.
He is now my master, and on my return
to the Valley Of the Shenandoah, before
the buds shall put out again, he may turn
me over to be dealt with by the backa-
moors of the DISTRICT.
You see therefore, Mr.. President. that !
am not the man who has the right to
speak in this assembly. The privilege be-
longs to those who have voice in the al.
fairs of the country. I am powerless, and
having no country--I have 10 voice. !
have ceased to be an American citizen, a
title of which | was once very proud.
Whether | shall ever again own the title,
or be proud of it, will depend upon the &C.
ton of those who have power to shape the
.destinies of the land.
But, Mr. President, there are few. so
wretched as to be deprived of all soIace
/ have no country; | live in no State,
Territory or Colony Of the United States,
but | 60 out in my Punishment in goodly
company.
Within half days ride Of the spot
where first l saw the light ofRle sun, there
is grave. The stone says that the dust
beneath it was once animated by the soul
Of Thomas Jefferson, "anthor of the De
claration of American Independence, and
founder of the University" to which you
Democrats have added. 1.-THE Apostle Of
Democracy" Coming still nearer my in.
FAINT home, there is another grave, holding
all that was mortal of James Madison
"the Father of the Constitution"
Quitting the mountains and travelling
towards the tide-water, we stop at another
tomb, in which lie the remains Of John
Marshall" The Father Of the Judiciary,
And crossing the Peninsula on the mar.
gin of the Potomac, in full view of the
Capitol, we pause in reverence before the
vault which, contains the ashes of George
Washington the Father of his Coun-
try"
Why, Mr.. President, do I carry you in
imagination to these graves? Be assured
it is not to crafty the pride ofa Yireinian,
but to remind you that Radical logic and
law have pushed all of this sacred dust out
ofthe United States. Monticello, Mont
pelier, Mount Vernon are not in the Union,
if Radical logic be correct.
And this is reconstruction !
Mr. President, and you men ofMissouri
have met here to exult over the voices that
come from Ohio and Pennsylvania, and
from the distant smoot sea, minghng in the
affairs of the country with a voice to give.
Lido not wonder that you see in this light,
beaming from east to west, gliding to the
dark cloud which has so long hung in
blackness over the land. You have the
stimulus which the possession of power
never fails to give. You have country,
you are American citizens. My position
is different. Would you know my feelings
Think Of lost traveller in the wilderness,
and storm and darkness, catching ray Of
light from q farmers cabin. No that is
not it. Think of the ship-wrecked marin
er, who lashed to frail raft, in trembling
sea, sees, or thinks he sees, white sail
Guttering in the distance. You men Of
Missouri, you American citizens, have
power--political power--and may God
help you to use it right.
GREAT CONSERVATIVE MEETING IN New
III .,Innr1rnn A ittlatnn N III \ Die