New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-08-13
THE MEETING OF FRIDAY NIGHT.

THE MEETING 0F FRIDAY NIGHT.
The mass meeting Of last Friday night
held in Mechanics Institute, and presided
over by United States Senator West, was
one of the most significant gatherings
that has ever assembled in this city.
That portion of the institute known as
the House of Representatives, was filled
to its utmost capacity, with most intel
ligent and orderly body of men, anxious
to hear an expression of public feeling in
regard to the important events that have
recently transpired in our midst. These
events are all important, because, if the
acts that have been perpetrated by federal
officials are not denounced by the people,
and the men held responsible for their
abuse. of power, they may be repeated
with impunity, until the very founda-
tons of American liberty are effectu-
ally sapped and our free insti-
tutions turned into a government of
oppression. Let such things go unno-
ticed by the people, and the men who
could find a pretext for holding politi-
cal meeting in United States custom
house, in the presence of United States
soldiers, brought there to assist federal
officers in the consummation of their po
htical schemes, would not be long in
finding pretext for the use Of federal
bayonets to prevent the people from las
sembling to protest against such outrages.
The federal official who has no better
sense of right, as understood in this free
country, than to invoke the aid of the
military to further his personal interest in
a civil election, can not be worthy SER
want of the people. Such man can not
be faithful to those noble principles Of
rational liberty that inspired the founders
Of republican government in America.
The meeting oeFriday night was held
in accordance with resolution adopted
by the Republican State Convention, for
the purpose of having public expression
Of the popular feeling in regard to the
conduct of those federal officials who have
been concerned IN the attempt to foist
themselves upon the people by military
force. The action of these men has
plainly indicated that, clothed with. the
power, they stood ready to violate most
principle of Republican gov
srnment, as understood and recognized
BY the American people. Tkat principle
S that the military shall be subordinate
% the civil power. When Messrs. Casey,
Lowell and Carter conspired
against this sacred principle and brought
he military to the assistance of their
political schemes, they struck vital blow
It the liberties of the people-a blow that
las fully aroused and caused them to feel
hat it was necessary to strike down the
men who could thus misuse the power of
he government.
Many able speeches were made on
Friday night, denouncing that portion of
he late State Central Committee who
nave been guilty of using federal bayonets
md the Customhouse to further their own
political advancement. Each speaker
vas attentively listened to and repeatedly
lpplauded, as salient points were made,
md the applause so enthusiastically given
IS to be convincing proof Of the peoples
% rn actnacc tn ha understood II, a mo ttar
n which they are SO deeply interested.
The resolutions passed at this meeting
we're also fully expressive of the wrongs
hat have been perpetrated by men
lothed with federal authority. They in
lorse the administration of President |
1rant, and the State administration of |
Governor Warmoth /; and I while |
'reathing a loyal, patriotic and
arrest feeling for American liberty, are |
most decided in their condemnation of |
hose officials, whose conduct the people |
we're called together to condemn as '.anti-
epubhcan in character and insulting to |
he true genius of our institutions and
itizenship of the republic.
If this meeting could have been wit
lessed by President Grant it would have
impressed him with the indig-
alton that has been aroused against those
ederal representatives who, to further
heir own ends, have abused a public |
rust