The Opelousas courier., 1870-08-27
0pelousas Parish of st. Landry La August g. 1870.

ger, bat filled their hearts with the spirit
of retributive justice towards those who
have made merchandise of their loyalty,
and betrayed their trusts. Dishon esty
and d-incompetency have controlled and
perverted national affairs until those
words have become but convertible terms
for the very name Of the Republican par
ty. Oregon has responded to Connect
cut, and New York has spoken through
a victory of more than $4,000 majority,
not that radicalism must be, but is over
thrown. ~
Whilst it is not our purpose to dwell
upon national politics, 1t may be we'll to
note the unmistakable evidences of dis
satisfaction manifested in every section
against the present Federal Administra-
tion. To the people ofthe United States
Capitalization is synonymous with des-
potism, and the rapid strides in that di-
rection made by Congress have justly a.
larmed the entire country. With nc de-
centrespect for the rights of the governed,
States have been subjugated, represen-
! tation to Congress denied, the voice of
| overwhelming majorities disregarded ;
and, as if to crown all these acts Of in
fanny and usurpation, Congress has laid
its polluted hands on the Supreme Court
itself. Under the domination of the "a
dical party, bribery and corruption have
grown respectable, and systematic plum
dering of the national treasury an hon
orable profession; taxation tearfully in
creased in the interest of an Ollons sys-
! tenn of espionage adopted in it's collect
ion; grinding monopolies created that
oppress labor; and under the f1imsy dis
guise of "gifts" the Offices of the nation
! al government are sold to the highest
bidder, or bestowed in obedience to an
unblushing system of nepotism.
| If such and similar evils of corrupt
party have awakened the people of other
States to q sense of the dangers that bid
fair to engulf them, shall it be said that
! the people of Louisiana are. less keeniy
alive to the abuses that have grown up
in their State government under the three
long years of radical misrule, and which
if continued, must inevitably drive labor
and capital from the State and bring ruin
to every household!
! 1t will not be disputed that our last
legislature was areproach to civilization
and civil liberty. 1t trampled upon every
virtue that should adorn the character OF
honorable men, and elevated every crime
it should have sought to repress. Ignor'
anee, brazen impudence and vice were
qualifications necessary to seat on the
Radical side of that body; and VIII en- The
treasury was robbed, the people pillageG
and legislative acts sold to the highes
bidder for greeubacks, these me mbers
did but reflect credit on the trinity thai
brought them into official existenc ce.
The length designed for this address
will not permit your Committee to ente1
into q detail of all the infamous act
passed by that Radical Legislatur Re will
Executive approval. The public deb
under Radical hands has grown from l.
millions to eighteen millions of dollars
taxes have increased to Sd per centum
touching the limits of contiscation; indiv
iduals and corporations have been grant
ed extraordinary and exclusive privi
tleges at war with free labog and free ca
pltal: enormous sums have been grante'
to individuals from suffering treasury
for trivial and unnecessary services, AM
useless and oppressive Offices have bee'
created to make places for wandering
mendicants of the party who obtai thel
living by extorting money from ever
species of honest industry. .
In the hope ofperpetuating themselve
i'm power, the Legislature passed the re
gistration, election and militia laws, eac
receiving Executive sanction, and which
perhaps, are the most odious, unjust an
Oppressive measures that ever disgrace
the statute books of any State. In thei
folly and malignity they passed laws t
enforce the social equality, not only c
different races of men, but of the ba
| with the honest, and Of the licentiou
; and abandoned with the pure and uI
I right. In like folly they passed laws
, reorgar,ize our once magnificent systes
4 of public school instruction, with n
3 higher motive than to degrade, as the
D thought, the white people of the Stat
" and create q breach between them an
9 our colored population: all these mea'
: ures. adopted under the preten ce of n
Q gulating commerce, trade, the publ
r schools and the amusements Of the pei
. pie, being really intended to pave tn
: way to miscegenation. In short, the L
!. pisIation Of 1868, 1863 and 1870 can
: condensed and summed up In four word
Q IGNORANCE, vENALrTY, MoEoP OILY an
= OPPRESSION II 49,
That it may not be said these concl'
!. sions are but the Judgment Of the en-
= mics Of Radicalism, we propose to col
Wet that party of ell these grave offens
lin we'll chosen words uttered by its ov
champions and defenders. There is !
brighter light in the ranks Of that par
Elm this State than Thomas j. Durant, al
in 90 far 40 he may be more candid thi
bis political friends is his testimony Il
more conclusive of the truth OF what
have said. In his letter dated june
1870, and addressed to MI. J.. 8. soud
speaking of the Radical leader rs in I'll
State, he Says "
There must be an absolute separate
d from the dishonest and Incompetent no
= who have ruled since 1867 Z"
r This is strong language, yet It is 81
d.. passed in severity by . Republican
.es dress lust issnei with the endorsement
ID the Republican State Central Comm1tt'
Of That address eays: ~ ...-:.
..Citizens and Republicans After
- experienes.of two years, erthe iead'
III shin of tia ssoet dishonest GRd corrupt
:. sfpslitiesana tkat hare erer disgraced
y = petiAsal lstofy at eny q The States cf =
g, eloriosa Uaioss, you are cow called up