New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-03-08
tate. The Democrats were too weak to

DrlnS out CANDIDATE Tor governor, anu
were forced to accept Of Mr.. Brown, one
of the Republican candidates. Through
out the election the fifteenth amendment
was Endorsed by all parties and accepted
by all the candidates that ran for Office.
McClurg favored it as an act Of wisdom
that forever settled one of the most dis
turbing causes Of political excitement.
Mr.. Brown Endorsed it as conclusive vic
tory over a question that allowed the
greatest demagogUes to veX the people
to their ruin. Senators Drake and Schurz
congratulated the country that the adop-
ton Of the amendment had formed .
brdge over which the country might
pass to peace and quietude. The people
everywhere accepted these, fluctuations.
and joined IN the enthusiastic support
which was given by the press and the
stump 70 the amendment. No voice Of
opposition was raised against the settle
ment that had been effected, and when
the Democrats we've charged with a dispo-
sition to undo this great work Of the Re
publican party, they made haste 10 de-
clare tina. they had no such design or
thought. but that the amendment was a
part OF the constitution, and they were
incapable OF moving it thence. More
than that, they admitted that il was right
because i. settled the only dispute that
had been left from the war.
No man knew this condition Of affairs
Oh the fifteenth OF February better than
Mr.. Blair. and yet, in the face OF his own
knowledge, and without considering his
own argument he deliberately essayed 70
assail the fifteenth amendment as a piece
Of fraud. and proceeded TO deneunce the
men who had supported it as traitors TO
the people, because. by implication, it
could be assumed that the popular voice
had taken issue with part OF the measure.
Not stopping to ask himself i there We're
not many reasons why the people might
decline 20 extend that franchise in their
midst which was desired elsewhere. not
stopping 10 inquire if the amendment was
not a broader question than a mere local
issue as to negro suffrage. not stopping 10
discover if measure which was proposed
as universal might not be better than one OF
limited and particular operation. he ven
tured upon the beginning % q speech
which was designed to have no other
effec. than 20 unsettle matter whieh has
been laid al rest. and to precipitate the
people quo on angry ana tumul.uous con-
test abou. color and caste after they had
deliberately decided to lay the matter O.:
caste and color at rest.
VIA: position IS this INTO which the
Senator has thrust himself; i the Leg
islature tia. ratified the fifteenth amend
ment committed an act OF gl2ring peGfdv
by so doing because the people had passed
an implied negative upon the measure
what Hust be the degree OF perfdy which
he committed on the fifteenth OF Febr,.-
arv, when ne denounced as .r@udulen.
the very act which his own State had CON-
mitted. and which the people mad suh-e-
quently ratified ana appl-uded: H.
own friends and par:is"ns. and ali his Pc
itical enemies had ratified the amend
nent in $50. and Vet. in 1877. we ind
this Senator denourcing the settlement,
which he says was made in .ravd. :. i
was wrong for tie Legislature l. DO al
act il opposition 70 the public viii. what
is i for Senator to do the same thing
and then 70 stand il his high place and
d4nounce the very deed which lie was
then and there committing:
lir. Senator Blair has pronounced his
own conviction as a glazing political
.r.=d.