New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-12-25

nANurAcrURueo rn1AsoN.

NEW OR4.EANS 4
MANUFACTURING Tn1As0N.
Rssers h Loo 9saassr nIeCreery-The
New Orleaas TiUes-l1esfeF from Hen.
H0orsen Beatley.
KDrroR RxPUBLIcAE:
Some years ago, ! remember to have a.
companied friend TO . place Of amuse-
ment, where We became interested with the
skill and ingenuity by which clever indi-
vidual reproduced in form and likeness
characters we'll known upon tho great stage
of life. With marvellous rapidity, and the
change of but a single garment, an unoouth
country pumpkin became celebrated hero.
Among other Representations wa Washing
ton, an image Of patriotism and firmness;
and Arnold, of inglorious fame. I observed
the audience glow with honest enthusiasm
when the patriot cage appeared, and Kissed
when Arnold came. 1t had salutary effect
in recalling familiar scenes of the great
struggle for human liberty. which secured
for America q government of inestimable
value, pride and glory amens men.
When I witness the vsrio1s attempts
Of Southern leaders and Northern abet-
tors of the enemies Of the govern
ment. to fan anew, fer partisan or
other purposes, the expiring embers OF
sectional hatred and grievances; and by
studied devices endesvoring to blunt plain
truths while ON their way to the hearts Of
the people, and prolonging the restoration
Of harmony, and that fsrgotfulness of
the past so necessary 10 the present peace
and the future development of our resources
and institutions, I am reminded Of the in
teresting scene have Just described.
One of the actors, leading in the perform
saee, is the New Orleans 1tsses, which is
recognized as favorite Of that class in the
South, which mourns the idols Leo defended,
and refuses to be eonferted. They are the
Sodomites who linger among the forbidden
pleasures that evil hours brought with
them, while Lot and his family, warned Of
their folly and danger. travel ACROSS the
plains to place Of safety. They dwell
among tho ruins Of slavery and their
stranded ark secession. While IOngstreet
bows submissively and nobly to tho logic Of
events, and wisely devots himself to tho
needs of to-day, the followers of Lee battle
against fate, build upon saad, and seek to
gather up the fragments Of yesterdays
defeat.
Ihaye witnessed the 1yssee ~ it appeared
in the cloak of Unionism and acclaimed it's
love for the constitution-and this was
Times the patriot; have scen it in the
uneouth garb of q street brawler. melting
its readers to deeds Of blood and revenge
and this was Iymey the ruffian; have seen
it with sober look appear a. defender OF
dignity and honor in tho several depart
ments of aforementioned this was Times
the Scion; l have seen it concealing the
truth. and threading out ingenious argu'
ments against officials and their private
reputation-and this was Times as common
seold and defamer; and have seen it as an
eulogist of Lee and the lost hopes-aRd this
when stripped Of the dress in which it per-
formed it's several parts, have seen it as a
very plain sailor in tho crew that longs for
o new rebeldom, and views with indiffer-
ence the national welfare.
Democratic Senator MeCrcery, Of the 81
mon pure Democratic State of Kentucky.
committed the climax of impudence, and
sadly b'undered in eulogizing the traitor
ch;eftain on the floor of the United States
Senate, and in offering resolution with q
view of restoring the Arliogton estate to
the widow of Lee; the removal of the ma
tional cemetery, and the general restitution
for any incumbrance placed there in interest
of the government" That body most honor
ably refused to allow the introduction of the
infamous proposal. Outside Of this measure
viewed az a partisan effort, said an honor
able Senator, "thls property had been for
feited and sold at public sale for the non
payment of taxes, and bought by the United
States" 1t is now the resting place Of men
who fell during times when NO patriot
doubted that Leo Wa . traitor and IN enc
my of his country. The 1swes with alaerisy
seizes its opportunity and strikes IN attitude
in its issue of December Is:
The impartial world saa mover be made
to believe that Robert E. Lee was traitor,
OF that his acts in reference to the war were
not consistent with the highest sentiments
Of honor, morality and patriotism. No
honest or good men, net blinded or mad
deped by partisan passion, can be brought
to believe that General Leo, in adhering to
his native State and sacrificing his oil in
the maintenance Of what he regarded her
honor and rights, acted from any other
conviction but that of duty and conscience.
That his course involved no act Of treason,
of technical treason, under tho Law,
has been abundanty proved by the
failure of the United States to insti-
tute any prosecutions for that high felony
against the parties engaged in the sO-called
rebellion; and by the still more distinct fact
that both the judicial and legislative
branches of the government have affirmed
that an indictment for treason would not
lie against such parties-that the law OF
treason did not reach their cases. In view
of these facts, it is q cOwardly libel to speak
Of tho men engaged in the war on the
Southern side as traitors. 1t is, by tho
Judgment of the very parties employing
such terms, false aad defamatory, and,
therefore, ibelous.
submit that this may - violation OF
common sense, ignorance Of law, or the
Times effort to manufacture treasOa-Or it
may include in toto all of those PROPOSE
tons.
To boldly defend the les. cause Of the
South. and to attempt TO emblazon her
leaders at this time can only create discon-
tent and weaken the power of government