New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-04-21

years since had the pleasure Of addressing
an audience in the city Of New York. We
were then just sentering upon what wai
known as the Fremont campaign. The
question then before the country wa:
whether slavery should be spread into the
free Territories of the United States. Many
people thought that the government of the
United States, then controlled by the slave
holding power, was oppressive and unjust
and party was then organized which did
DOT succeed in that election. but whose seed
was then scattered, which bore fruit in 1860
in the election of Abraham Lincoln to the
Presidency of the United States. (Cheers. /
The slaveholding power, in its arrogance
and folly, refused to submit to an ad-
mlnistration which should be governed
BY the friends of freedom, though
it was well understood that there
was no intention on the part of the
right to interfere with slavery in the States
where it existed. But the slaveholding
power, unwilling to retain slavery where it
was, undertook to dismember the Union
and set up . government in one-haf OF it
which should rest upon slavery as its corner
stone. Then followed the great war, car
ried on for the purpose of the maintenance
OF the Union, and slavery went down never
more to rise forever. (Cheers.] In that
SFc1t struggle mhuy poIAAoe Acii, 0AU
many more are seen among us, on their per-
sons wounds received In freedoms cause,
and grateful country will ever cherish the
memory of the heroes who fell, and provide
amply by pensions for the widows and or
phans who remain among us. The war
closed, the armies were dishanded, and
slavery forever prohibited by constitutional
amendment. Then the equal rights of all
were established throughout the land Pro.
vision was made for the debt incurred in
the maintenance of the Union, that for
the PAYMENT Of the boupties and pensions
of soldiers should be forever sacred, and
that the debt of the rebels and payment for
slaves should never be made. Since then
provision has been made by which the debt
incurred is in gradual extinction to-day. All
the States are restored to their former rela-
lions in the Union, and what now is there
to disturb the happiness and peace of the
people3 1.-THE pressure to gain admission
had now become 80 great that the chairman
announced to the police officers who were
endeav0ring to keep back the throng that
there was no objection to permitting the
filling up of the aisles. The Senator then
resumed was about to inquire. when
this interruption took place, what it was
that gave disquietude and uneasiness
throughout the country There are several
causes for the dissatisfaction of the people,
which can only briefly allude to upon the
present occasion, and. shall not touch upon
many which ought to be discussed before
the people at large. But one cause of COM
plant which produces alienation in
the late insurrecti0nary States, and keeps
alive the hates and animosities engendered
by the war, is the continuance Of political
disabilities after the occasion for them has
passed away. In consequence of this con-
tinuance the governments in the late insur
rectionary States have fallen into the hands
of inexperienced, and, in many instances,
of corrupt adventurers, who have plundered
the people Of these States scarcely less than
plundered by your former city government.
[ Applause Why are these disabilities con-
tinued Why are they not removed, and all
the people enfranchisedf / think there are
two causes, and two alone, which prevent
it-one mercenary and the other political.
Applause. The mercenary one, that these
should exclude from the offices
in all the States the former leading men
that reside there of large experience and
capacity; and although they were traitors
Turing the war, they were not thieves nor
plunderers. loud cheering.] Their ex-
,lusion has thrown these governments into
The hands of men who have used their |
power to plumber the people over whom
they rule, and the debts of the Southern
States have been swollen in some instances
twenty fold from what they were before the |
war began. The debt of Alabama was less |
han 10000, 900 in 1860, and at the present |
lime its contingent and absolute debt is |
hear $4,000, 900. The debt Of Florida, |
nent of the war, has been swollen to $751;
100 900; that Of Georgia from %. 00O, 600 to |
sI4, 900, 900, and they don't even have what |
7ou had in the city of New York to show |
or the money expended, for l believe you |
lad some carpets and some furniture for |
your money. These people have very little |
o show for these vast debts which have |
,een incurred and put upon the people
Another reason for continuing these politi. |
al disabilities is, as | have said, of parti-
an character. The men in authority !
se the political disability as so much cant.
tai upon which to trade. To illustrate what |
mean will refer to what took place in the |
tate of Georgia few years ago, when a
nan named Bullock was Governor. When
he Legislature of that State was about to
70 organized it was understood that GER
ain persons had been elected who were
aboring under political disabilities. They
7ere given to understand that those of
hem who would sustain the government
ould have their political disabilities re-
moved, and those who would not could not
e permitted to take their seats in the Leg
stature; and the result was that the poll
cal disabilities were removed from such |
s acted with the Governor, and the others
Tere excluded; and he had control of that |
legislature and succeeded in fastening
pom the State a debt, the discovery Of
Thich of late caused him to flee the State
, escape punishment which would have
,llowed the frauds committed. So it is
18th members of Congress elected from
2fof l
,move their political disabilities from ad-
erents, and they are always ready to do
where they can gain favor.
Three cheers were here heartily given
II Horace Greeley, who was espied on the
atform.]
Senator Trumbull-I am glad to hear
lch cheers here in honor of the first cham
on, l believe, in the country-and he pro-
aimed it bOldly-of universal amnesty.
Renewed cheers. One great measure,
len, which is demanded in the name of
onesty, in the name of peace and the best
terests Of all, is the passage Of general |
II removing political disabilities. Great
leering.] Another cause of complaint
nong the people is the one in which the
atronage of this government is used
ections; not in the interest of a party,
7en-it does not rise to that high dignity
ut in the interest of faction of party. |
5reat applause.] 1t is notorious-you all
now it in the city of New York, for it has
'cently been disclosed by an investigating
'mmittee which sat in this city
lat your customhouse here is filed
ltn men who, instead Of
aving received their appointments
consequence of their fidelity, of their
oility, and of their capacity to discharge
re duties of their Offices for the best inter ,
IT'S OF the country, are appointed because ! !
the influence it Is supposed they can ex-
t at some primary election or State CON
sntion, or in teaching you-the people
HON to vote for at the polls, ILanrhter I ,