New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-10-22
JOINT POLITICAL DISCUSSION
ST. TAMMANY PARISH CORRECT
M'CkLEB AND WAGGAMAN SPEAK
REJOINDER OF GENERAL sYPHER
Vindieation of the Republican Party

By previous arrangement, n joint discus
sion between General Syphcr and IA portion
of his Democratic antagonists took place at
Covington, parish of st. Tammany, on
Thursday last.
The lake steamer Abita conveyed the
gentlemen of both parties from New Or
leans TO the scene of discussion, the boat
touching at the several stopping places en-
the route and taking on board accessions to
either party. Kelly's Republican band ;tc-
companied the Republicans Ind made music
for both parties.
Between twelve and one O'Clock the party,
or rather the parties, arrived at the old Gov
ington Landing, where carriages were wait
ing, and proceeded to the residence NJ that
staunch Republican, Judge Hiram Newell,
where the gentlemen from New Orleans,
both Democrats and Republicans, were en-
tcrtaired with abundlt hospitality.
The meeting WAS held on the old ground,
III the woods. the scene Of many former
political entertainment and festive occasion.
Several hundred people were assembled,
and ample preparations had been made for
the comfort and sustenance ol those VINO
had come from il distance.
A tew minutes after three O'clock the
meeting WAS called to ORDER and the follow
ing officers named: President, Il. &. Dcnney;
vice presidents, Judge A. Suhcrt. Hon.
Hiram Newell, A. Bosquc and ". Ii. Toy;
secretary. John w. Hutchinson.
| General Sypher now took the stand and
explained in brief the purpose for which
! the meeting wa called, and that owing TO
the absence OF Mr. Walker, the Democratic
nominee for Congress, his place would be
| supplied by two gentlemen who would
| speak in behalf of Mr. Walker, and do their
| best to prove the loveliness Of Dem
| ocracy. TO one of these gentlemen he would
now give place.
MI L. Howard McCaleb then took the
| stand and addressed the assembly III be-
| halt OF the Democratic party.
| ~Mr McCaleb commenced his address in a
way that showed he has genius for pubic
| speaking. He first put his audience III a
| good humor with themselves by little
battery, and engaged their good Will toward
| himself by sonic aprop0s pleasantly. Hav-
| ing thus creased the machinery, lie went on
| smooth enough, but not deep. lie told the
men before him not 10 look back like Lot 5
wife. The Chattanooga road is Il great beuc-
| tit to the State. but no benefit to taxpayers.
| Colonel Lowell had charged the Democrats
| in the last Legislature us corrupt, but I'VE
| have not renoninateG a man Of them. Mr..
| McCaleb spoke OF corruption III Congress;
! of B. F. Butler whom the speaker did not
| incline to acknowledge as a man and a
! brother; of offices and presents; OF official
reception of bribes; some little morallzlng
| about the thief and the receiver; OF the Re
| publican party having sold the state and
of the Governor being one of the salcsinen.
! "a voice in the crowd: "See heah, boss,
| did Governor Warmoth sell lis ri
Mr. MCCaleb. ives"
Voice. wen. gosh. dat's funny now
| Heah | is, goin about jissas please, and
allurs gits my money for my work since
Tse free; who is | sold to? Don't believe
dat story.')
Mr.. McCaieb went on to explain the way
in which the colOred man got his freedom.
What he said can easily be understood py
any one who has ever attended IA Demo
cratic lu;Iss meeting, or heard Il Democratic
speaker on this theme. He told his colored
hearers that God alone gave them thClC tree
dom.
Voice $50 he did, but man had hand
in it, God did it by means OF the hepubllcan
party
Mr. McCaleb then pitched into tayation
doing his best tG show the colored men that
they were not rich on account of high taxes.
Here the speaker was interrupted by voice
remarking that il wasn't taxation that kept
men poor, bnt whisky drinking.
Mr.. McCaleb concluded by an allusion to
Democratic purity during thirty years
Office holding, beginning with the maxim
ito the victor belong the spoils,' and end
ing with an attempt to disrupt the Union.
He exhorted his hearers to do their duty,
and then the beautiful tree of liberty would
grow aud flourish, and AL that sort Of thing.
Colonel Waggaman next mounted the
speakers stand.
The first portion of this gentleman 5
speech consisted OF those generalities III
which SPEAKERS sometimes indul &c, IL order
to gather wind and. perhaps, ideas. He wa
not there to tell them things they knew; did
not care for their votes; stood on ms own
bottom: don't attend to politics; feeds the
old folks the old times over; legal bond OF
master and slave dissolved but not kind
ness. etc. ITO whom. when slaves, did
YOU think it an honor if there i honor III
slavery, to belong To the Southern man,
or 10 yOur own color :. '+' Had We not
the ,ishti to hold you in bondage! We
bought you and paid for You. - Do yen
expect lis to remain your equals, and tor"go
our superiority ~ ''f - The Southern man
has claims upon you because he owned you:
Won should feel kindly toward him and vote
icr him. because, in the old time. his viii
was Your will The gentleman concluded
with dismal prognOstic about the late OF
the colored men, should political grief befall
the old masters.
Colonel Waggaman is, without doubt, a
gentleman Of more than ordinary ability,
and on the right side of any subject, would
excel as a logical and forcihle speaker. But
who can make anything out of the eHetc
aud limited repertoire Of Democracy, as 1t
now exists?
The two Democratic speakers having said
their say, the Republican candidate Tor
Congress, General j. II. Sypher, made the
concluding address. General Sypher said ::
Fellow w-citizens-Some days ago invited
the gentlemen who are the nominees Of the
Democratic party, as members OF Congress
from the First Congressional District OF
this State, TO meet me at various points,
and ut various times to discuss, IN the
presence of assembled voters, the issues,
political and otherwise, now pending be-
tween the Republican party and its oppo-
ncnt, the Democrats; which issues VIII be.
partially at least, pronounced upon by the
people of this State at the election to take
place on the seventh of November next
Upon the several appointed occasions,
although I was. with one exception, ready
on the ground at the appointed times and
places, Vet on one occasion only have had
the pleasure TO meet Mr.. " all1er. 8iy other
opponent, Mr. Louis st. Martin, have not
yet had the pleasure OF meeting.
| have listened with much attention to
what has been said upon the political ques-
tons before the people at this time. nave
heard what has been told you about the un-
seemliness of Republicanisn, and about the
Republican party deceiving you; about the
old kindly feeling existing between the Old
masters and the old slaves; about t.Io i'm
possibility of men whom you have known