New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-05-15
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that law should prevail. Third, he favored
the legislation against which the Soutl
complains. Fourth, he favored the policy
of allowing the President to preserve tn,
peace at public elections in New York ant
pennsylvania with federal troops. Fifth
he was in favor of the right of revolution
and had suggested that if the South was
determined to secede she should be toll
Grated in that act. Sixth, that he per
sistently urged the government to march
upon Richmond with all the force of his
great newspaper influence; and seventh,
that he favored confscation, and urged
the authorities to pursue it with greater
vigor. These are the reasons that induce
Mr.. Voorhees, to halt and hesitate about
supporting Mr.. Greeley, and as the friends
of the present federal administration will
take advantage of them, as they have
already done, in the ensuing campaign, it
is just as well to meet the matter at the
outset and clear away the force of state
ments which have no relation to the crisis
IN which the country is involved.
In the first place, then, the present can
vass is not to be contested on what has
been, but what is and what is to be. The
position which Mr.. Greeley occupied ten
years ago is not one of the merits of the
pending controversy. If it was, where
would MIR. Voorhees, and the Democracy
stand? We do not understand that because
Mr.. Greeley declared, in 1860, that the
right of revolution was one that belonged
to the people Of the South, we are to find
fault with him for such an opinion, for it
is principle that is as full Of truth now
as it was then, and what is more, it is Just
as indestructible as popular thought.
Neither do we understand that because he
declared such sentiment that that bound
him to maintain it when the sections were
already at war. The North having deter
mined to maintain the Union by force of
arms, Mr.. Greeley upheld the arms Of the
government to which he had declared his
allegiance with all the power that was in
him, as Mr. Voorhees, says he did when he
goes before the people Of Indiana for Of
fee. Either Mr.. Voorhees, must consent
to forget the past or he must accept of
that condemnation which the results of
ten years have pronounced against him.
Mr.. Greeley favored the reconstruction
laws, and he also supported the enactment
Of the civil rights bill passed by the Re
publicans, in order to preserve the peace
of the South, and protect the colored peo-
pie in their rights under the constitutional
These are things of the |
past about which there is but little dis |
cussion at present. because the country
has consented to accept of them, and be- |
the evils which were foretold of them
have not occurred. Even the friends of |
Mr.. Voorhees, do not propose to repeal
these statutes, which is convincing argu-
ment in favor Of their propriety. If, then,
there is no party that declares its design to
abolish these laws, where is the sense or
honesty in abusing the authors thereof?
The position which Mr.. Greeley as
5umed in regard to the ''on to Richmond"
movement can not be urged against him
because the attempt resulted in failure.
The march was right, but the defeat was
wrong. Mr.. Greeley supposed that the
national forces had been put in such
condition Of excellence during the time
If their encampment about Washington.
IS all viii admit that they should have
'een, as to insure them success in a
march upon Richmond. They had had
he same advantages with the confeder-
ties, they were superior in point of force
nd armament, and they had the advantage
f selecting their own battlefield. With {
hese points in their favor, under capable
andling, they should have marched in 7
triumph to the confederate cap a
5al, instead Of retreating, beaten and |
Allied, to Washington. And if such '
esult had been achieved what an i'm c
lense saving Of life and treasure might q
ave been effected for the entire country. c
If Mr.. Greeley favored the use of fed h
al soldiers in preserving order at the b
lllot box when respectable and honest b
en- were being driven from their electo- Z
j rights by hired rowdies, we can not t
ld it in our conscience to condemn him, r
hatever Mr.. Voorhees, may do. There
e occasions when the turbulent and dis I,
'nest must be met with stronger argu- !,
ents than mere rhetorical persuasiveness, q
I'd it is a knowledge of this important !,
ct that induces the people to consent to is
Le tax that goes to pay thirty millions of O
ollars in support Of the army. Besides, y
II. Greeley was not responsible if this >,
w was abused, as Mr.. Voorhees, says it =
as, because the President was authorized 6.
use his discretion in the matter, and if =.
did not do So, the blame rests upon :,
m, and not upon those who merely Z,
ated salutary principle. :.
And lastly, concerning the tariff. Mr.. az
reeley has consented to regulate his indi- ~
dual action in that regard according 70 -
G judgment Of the people. If the coun- ~
= desires free trade or a mere rev. 81
.ue tariff, Mr.. Greeley promises to re- a.
ect that desire. He has no policy in or
position to the will Of the people in that h
spect What more can the people ask? ct
We have thus gone through the entire m
stating the unfavorable sug- wi