New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-05-04
NEW ORLEANS, WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 1870

elected and sustained him in his course,
been carried out, in what condition would
our country have been now? Instead of
one great government, founded on the equal
rights OF all, free from the institutions OF
| slavery we would have had at least two,
possibly more, petty governments. discor-
dant and hostile to each other, one at least
of which would have attempted to perpetu-
ate the institution OF slavery; but the good
| sense and the patriotism of the country
| prevailed, the Democratic policy of Sc
cessiOn was repudiated, and the Union policy
OF the Republican party was sustained and
trlumphantly carried the country through
the war, and has since confirmed, by con-
stitutional eDactments, the legitimate re-
suits of the war, in the thirteenth, four
teenth and fifteenth constitutional amend
ments.
The government OF the United States, and
of more than two-thirds of the States, is in
the hands of the Republican party. The
patriotic citizens OF the country have sus-
tanned that party through all the trials of
the war, and since; and to-day this great
party has as strong hold on the country
as at any former period. Its achieve
ments in behalf of free govern
ment will constitute an epoch in the
history of our country, that will be looked
the most wonderful in the history OF clvillZa'
ton. Had the Democratic policy of seces-
sion succeeded, We would not have been
here to-day celebrating the final consumma-
ton of the equal civil, political and public
rights of all citizens. Where would we have
been in that event? l leave each one to
conjecture for himself.
These constitutional amendments will
stand as long as free government lasts.
How strange it appears, yet it is true. that
in 1861 the war was commenced to extend
and perpetuate slavery; it originated with
and was precipitated by the Democratic
party. The thirteenth, fourteenth and tif-
teenth constitutional amendments, which
first abolished slavery, then made the freed.
men citizens, and lastly and finally, gave
them equal political rights, were each per-
sistently opposed by the Democratic party;
yet now few, if any, can be found wlo
| would admit that they desired to see the
Institution Of slavery re-established or the
freedmen deprived Of their equal civil rights;
and venture the prediction that that party
will at the next canvass as earnestly protest
that they are in favor of the POLITICAL
rights of the freedmen, conferred by
the thirteenth amendment, as the Re
publican party. 1t is true their
sincerity in this particular may well be
questioned, but that such will be the case l
have little doubt. Could there be any better
vindication of the acts of the Republican
party or any stronger condemnation OF the
pOiICy VI tHc btulOCIdliC pdILy tudu tuls.
The National Republican party has fully
secured the fruits Of the war to the coun-
try. all the States that were in rebellion,
have been reconstructed on the basis OF full
and equal CIVIL, political and public rights
to all the citizens, and are now working in
harmony with the national government,
this has all been done under the most de-
cided opposition of the Democratic party.
All that is wanted now to make the country
as prosperous and harmonious as any on
earth can be, is for those who have been
disappointed in the changed condition of
affairs to accept the situation and assist 10
the enforcement of the laws.
Our State government is in full accord
with the national government, every de-
partment of the S ate government is in the
hands and under the control of the Republi-
can party. The party in this State has adopt
ed al the amendments to the constitution
which / have referred to, and has, under a
constitution framed according to the prin-
clples OF these amendments, put into opera.
tion State government with all the legisla.
tive enactments necessary for good govern
Hent.
n party has ever accomplished greater
results under such opposition and difficult
ties; but the country is now safe, our free
Institutions are placed on their proper
foundations, and have the support and full
sympathy of the country, and the event we
celebrate to-day is the crowning act of ALL !
Hon. T. W. Conway then made short |
and pithy speech upon the uses to be made
of the privileges conferred by the recent
amendments to the constitution, after |
which the meeting adjourned.