New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-11-21
GREAT REPUBLICAN MEETING AT
BATON ROUGE.
Speech Of General George A. Sheridan,
of New Orleans.
THE MIRROR HELD UP TO THE BOILERS
Oasey's Measure Taken, Carriers sinuosi-
ties Traced, and Pitkin 1mpaled.
PRESIDENT GRANT RECEIVES
A GENTLE HINT.
Shall Ballots or BayOnets De-
eide Elections?

FELLOW CITIZENs-I am very happy this
evening to meet so many Of the good citi-
zens of this parish. l have ever regarded this
parish and those surrounding it as among
the most charming and productive sections
of Louisiana. and their people as industri-
GUS, thriving and law-abiding. l do not
wonder that the people who live here love
the parish and wish to see it prosperous
and happy. You have every reason to be
proud uf this beautiful country. Nature
has been very kind and used her hand I'M
sparingly for your benefit.
Hundreds who are listening to me now were
born here, have seen their children grow up
around them, or perhaps have followed
them with stricken hearts 20 the quiet of
the churchyard and laid them away to sleep
forever.
Many who are here to-day listened with
hushed breath and anxious hearts through
years that seemed amending to catch the
sound of the bells that rang solemnly the
death of human bondage. and felt their
souls grow strong when the knell was over
and the same bells filled the heavens and
earth with glorious music as they rang i'll
the days of freedom for the patient bonds
men. All things combine, my friends, to
make you love Louisiana. for here you have
passed through the shadows. and here You
have seen the cause OF truth and justice
prevail against the strong and mighty. l
have come here to-day to rejoice with you
that your night is over. and that yOur Zines
have fallen unto you in pleasant places" l
have come to take counsel with you as to
the best measures to be taken to preserve
not only your liberties, but the liberties of
the whole people. was not born in Louis
lana. but love her. and will raise my voice
or arm in her defense when her rights are
i'll L. 10
my voice to-day because her rights have
been invaded and the voice of her people
silenced by the intrusion Of armed forces
into their councils.
believe should he false to myself false
to all that is right and just if kept silence
when l see bad men attempting to crush
out free speech and control the delegates of
the people by armed troops. You have
heard the story of the recent convention: l
will not detail it at length: let me simply
group the facts concerning it. The picture
stands as follows:
A State restored to the Union, peace and
quiet reigning within all her borders. A
great political party calls a conventions:
delegates are elected; they repair to the
city Of New Orleans: they seek the place
designated for their meeting: they find the
building where they are to meet tiled with
soldiers, guarded with cannon, closed
Governor of the State demands admittance
for himself and near a hundred OF the
peoples delegates. Admission is refused.
He asks the reason for such refusal: for
answer he is pointed to a line of glitteIing
bayonets. When his voice is lifted up in
manly protest against such insult to the
people, the bugle sounds. the soldiers
stand to their guns, and his words
are drowned by the rattle of muskets:
hay in ha day fla. UaIa otaS nf no
people withdrew. The issue is made between
bayonets and the peoples rights. Through
ont the land the news is flashed that in
Louisiana a political convention has been
insulted by the presence Of United States
troops before its doors: without exception.
the Republican papers o; the country de-
nounce the outrage and demand the instant
punishment of the insrigators of the shame
tul wrong. Such briefly told, is the history
of the outrage we have suffered. Two
each claiming to be Repub
lican. ask your support The first held in
the United States CustOmhouse, behind a
line OF bayOnets. that excluded the people
OF their representatives from a voice in its
The other held quietly and
peacefully in building where the people
were free to come and go, as pleased them
best. The first denounced from one end of
the land to the other as promoter of dis
cord, as an advocate Of a return to bayonet
rule. as an assembly of sycophants crawl
ing in the dust to pay homage to the hand
that feeds or smites them. The other. hailed
throughout the country as the legal repre-
Of its party, the bold defender OF
the peoples liberties.
The leaders OF the military convention,
Iuailing before the storm they have raised.
seek to divert the attention of the people
from themselves and their high handed out
age by assailing Governor Warmoth per
,onally and politically. Their charges are
IT all kinds and characters. l propose to
Ook at some OF the charges made by the |
oiled and beaten enemies of the Governor.
They are boldly made up, and shall be as
boldly met.
The enemies of the Governor charge him
With receiving brides: but when put to the |
proof. as they have been time after time,
he charge falls to the ground.
They charge the Governor with stealing |
he public moneys, and lie answers by pro
lucing vouchers for every dollar of public |
unds that has ever passed through his |
lands.
The charge that the Governor was dis
missed from the army, and the Governor
nswers by producing the order restoring
lin to his position, and declaring that
his dismissal was uncalled for aud I'M
ust."
They charge the Governor with having
mbezzled the funds of the government in
'exas, and he answers by producing the
roofs that he honestly accounted for all
1oneys he had belonging to the United
tates.
They charge the Governor with classifying
be public records, aud he answers by sus
ending from office one of his defamers for
publishing as law that which had no legal
xistence.
They charge Governor Warmoth with
lundering the people by means of infamous
ills passed by his influence through the
legislature, and tor answer he points to his
undred vetOes OF bills he believed would
-ork injustice to the people OF Louisiana.
They charge the Governor with being in
,ague with the ku-klux, and for answer
ne Governor points to the north, the south,
} the east and the west of this great com
lOnwealth, and his detamers behold indus
~, peace and plenty.
They charge the Governor has not at
cart the education OF colored children, and
,r answer he points to the school houses
lat are rising in every parish OF this State,
nd sowing broadcast among the people
leir elevating and cnnobling influences.
The enemies of the Governor charge him
18th having appointed Democrats to office.
nd he replies by producing the written
ldOrsement OF nnquestlOned Republicans
pom the application OF nearly every Dem
:rat he ever appointed. He even produces
re Endorsement of that eminent Repub-
can, S. Il. Packard, president Of the mill
Try convention. to the application OF a
Democrat for appointment to office.
The Governor is charged with endeavOr-
lg to insult and degrade the people of this
tate by fostering hostility between its peo-
lie, and keeping alive the bitter memories
f the war. For answer he points to the
,peal OF the DISTINGUISHING clause of our