New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-10-08
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fyVSGre there mo msrs power tslssf &s.'
the officer of the law in the performance o.
his dnty, Law ia nnllity. And in the oh
the South, it's place must be supplied will
forc@ S1hiSis theewh6le question. =
AMNESTY.
desire to make few plain suggestionf
to my Republican friends upon another
question Of vital importance to our country
am about to speak in behalf of generous
ssd magnAnilAous policy toward. the. South
with full and complete amnesty for all acts
| done in aid of the rebellion speak from q
close observation ON this subject, and with
full sense OF my responsibility as repre-
sentative of Southern constituency, be.
lieve such policy to be eminently wise and
just. The political disabilities imposed BY the
fourteenth amendment we're not inflicted
as punishment for treason, but as . means
Of safety until the Union had been fully re-
stored and the results of the war secured.
These are now firmly fortified in the amend
ments to the constitution. No principle for
which our loyal battalions commended is in
jeopardy. Now let every man in the land
who bears the OnerOus duties Of citizenship
enjoy all its corresdonding rights and privi-
leges. Restrictive measures adopted out OF
necessity, as means of safety, should not
be prolonged beyond the time when the
danger shall have been removed.
Our government is the guardian and pro-
tector of all its citizens, and it is strong
only for the reason that the people cOntide
in its justice. Let ours be "a government
Of the people. by the people, for the peo-
pie" [Applause Examine the records OF
the two political parties, and then chose
which deserves your ballot.
The Republican party requires no eulo-
gist save its own actions. written in letters
Of light imperishable while time shall last,
and which challenge the admiration of the
nation and the apraluse Of the world. 1t
had its origin in no principles of selfish pol
icy: it was organized with no motives of
unhallowed ambition, nor has it been inn
PEELED in its course by the lust Of power
which has demOralized, corrupted and de-
strOyed the parties that preceded it. 1t was
the offspring Of necessity-the necessity OF
the republic; and amid Interpretations.
rev:lings and prosecutions it arose an irwin
chile barrier to the OmniDOtence Of slavery.
[Great applause.1
1t bore US triumphantly through terrible
war and preserved the life of the nation: it
abolished slavery and gave liberty to all
sections Of the land: it established univer-
sal suffrage and guaranteed equal, civil and
political sights to all our citizens. defeated
credit of the nation at home and abroad; it
reduced taxation and protected the indus
tries of the country: it gave us peace and
prosperity. and made us the finest, happiest
and most powerful people on the earth.
Tremendous applause.
Let US look at the history Of the Demo
cratic party for the last ten years. We find
that party inaugurated a rebellion to per-
petuate slavery; proclaimed State rights,
n1
cree a rebelliOus State; denounced as un-
constitutional the acts Of Congress author
izing enlistments, and raising money to
carry on the war: sympathlzed with the
rebellion: declared the war q failure; op-
posed universal suffrage, civil rights; op-
position to the amendments Of the consti-
tuition; prosecuted the colored people of the
South: advocating reputation low wages
and free trade.
record of treason and blood at the South,
and Of obstruction and mali2nity at the
North. At the South, its members hurled
armed legions against flag which had
never waved over them save in protection
and kindness. Applause. At the North
they discouraged enlistments, resisted
drafts. and deprecated our credit and de-
manded peace even at the price Of national
ACKNOWLEDGMENT.
III tut udllOu cOulU nave Detu preserved
without coercing the South; if the flag could
have been triumphant without invading the
sacred soil: if freedom could have been in
sured without emancipating slave; if the
treasury could have been replenished with
out levying tax: if armies could have been
recruited without men, and victories won
without battles. then, perhaps, would Dem
ocratic policy have made us as great. as
united, as free, as powerful and as vic
torious as we are to-day. But the Dem
Ocratic party made its own record, and from
it there is no escape, even by post mortem
repentance and loud voiced prOtestatiOns
Of innocence after judgment. Loud ap-
plause.
word more and l have done. You have
q strong Republican majority on the West
ern Reserve. Let me beseech of you not to
fritter away that majority by side issues.
Other sections Of the country. not too
strong. need the moral force of your major.
ity. and you have no right to deprive them
of it.
Thanking you for your courtesy, bid you
good night. Great applause.
Three cheers were then given for the
speakers.