The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1872-07-27
A Synopsis of Senator Black-
MANS Speech.
DELIVERED AT A MASS MEETING OF TIE
LIBERALPARTY, IN ALEXANDRIA, JUNE
90. 1879.

LIBERALPARTT, IN ALEXANDRIA, JUNE
90, 1872.
After fully endorsing the Cincinnati
Platform and the nomination of Greeley
and Brown, MI. Blackman said: As it
is now almost a certainty that the Con-
ventlOn at Baltimore, on the 9th of July,
will endorse the Liberal movement, the
great question with uSin Louisiana, will
be how to secure the Electoral vote of
the State for Greeley and Brown. The
Democratic party of this State, united,
is too weak of itself to obtain a majority
vote, and without the assistance of all
political elements in opposition to Grant.
we cannot succeed. The Republican,
party is divided. The Liberal element
has planted itself on the Liberal plat
form, and is Willingto unite with us and
all other parties in opposition to Grant.
Shall we unite Withit, and thereby make
success 4 certainty? [Cries of "Yes,
yes.Hl How, then, can this union be
made satisfactory to all? The public
press OF the country has informed Won of
the action of the late Democratic CON-
ventiOn that assembled in New Orleans,
how itrefnSed tOfOlm any alliance what
ever with the Liberal Republicans. al
though the delegates representing over
One-half the parishes of the State were
i'll favor OF It; how it severed its alliance
with the Reform party by denomination
Of a straight Democratic ticket. with one
exception A.; how the Reform Convention
refused to ratify and endorse the ticket
NOMINATED, and adjourned its C0nypn-
tior. My position in the Convention is.
| presume, well known, as did not hest
tate to say that it was my belief. based
o1statlstical facts, that the Democratic
party, unaided, could not obtain posses
son OF the State Government and was,
therefore, with the minority of the com
p1ttGe OF conference, decidedly in favor
q submitting propositions to the Liberal
Republlcans, with a hope thatan honor
kDle alliance could have been made,
fIhls the Convention refused to do. I'm
der ordinary circumstances | should re-
Train from speaking Of the action OF the
convention, and quietly submit to it's
decision, and use every effort inmypower
to secure the success of the ticket nom
mated. Let me here add that the ticket
dominated is composed Of l~igh-toned.
honest and capable men, worthy in every
way of the support of the people of the
State. But as | believe the people of
the country are disappointed and dissat-
listed at the action Of the Democratic
Convention, which is certainly the case
here, as evidenced by this large and en-
tiluSllstlc meeting, and as | believe that
me people OF Louisiana are cOntcnding
tor something greater than the mere
triumph OF Il party name and 0rganiza-
ton, and beingmOre thoroughly cOnyin-
ced than even that our party WithOutas-
slstance will meet with certain defeat, T
do not feel myself bound by the action of
the Democratic Convention. [Applause.7
In view of the complications that have
arisen, | believe the call for a Liberal
Convention to assemble on the first Mon
day n August next, the only reasonable
solution of the difficulty, and | hereby
endorse the action Of the people of Ra-
pidesinresponding tOthe call [applausel,
and hope that every parish in the State
will do the same thing. Much was said
III Your late Convention denOuncing any
coalition with the Liberal Republican
party OF the State because Gov. WarmOth
was its chief. But | do not understand
the Liberal movement to- be an uncOn-
ditiOnal surrender Of our people to the
dictatiOn of any individual or party or
ganization. On the contrary, itisa gen.
erOuS surrender of the claims of individ-
uals and parties for the common good of
all. The Convention, composed Of the
representatives, Of every party in this
State, will be sovereign to nominate its
best and most available men for every
position, and tdOes not even necessarily
follow that Gov. Warmoth or any of his
political friends will be placed at the
head of the ticket. lam ready and will
ing to cOalesce with any political organ
that avOws the same political
principles that I do; and that can and is
ready to assist in the redemption of Lou
lslana, without any reference whatever
to the individuals who compose it.
[Cheers.] Gov. WarmOtll's utilization
with the Liberal movement, both in the
nation and the State, Will not deter ne
from giving it my support, but, on the
contrary, we should be glad of his assist
ance; for, under the circumstances, it is
absolutely necessary to make it a sue
cess. [Applause.l = ....,.
FellOw-citiZens, | am not the Govern
Or's supporter nor his %ap0lOgist. hut we
should not, rs the political enemies of
his W party have attempted to do,
him the scape-goatfOr all the evils
we have suffered for the last four
years. We should not blind our eyes to
fact that the Legislature, which is Il
separate branch of the Government, is
responsible for all legislative enactments
be they good or bad. While | have
an ~unrelenting warfare against
the State Administration for the past
four years, and cannot excuse many of
the acts Of the present Executive, vet
legislative record exhibits the fact
that he has vetoed almost a hundred
bills, extravagant and partisan in their
character, a large number of which re-
celved the requisite twO-thirds vote in
the Legislature to pass them, his veto to
the contrary Notwithstanding. NOtOnly
80, but many Of the obnoxious measures
IT which the people now complain, were
by tw0-thirds and often three
vote Of both Houses originally,
and the wisest and best executive could
not have prevented them becoming laws.
'The legislative record will exhibit
fact, that many of the most ex-
5ravagant and obnoxious measures, in
the election and registration
avs, originated with, and were passed
BY some of the present leaders of the
3rant party in this State, and the same
OF men are trying to get possession
II your State government again, and
successful, the Legislature for the next
.Ours years will be q second edition of the
)Ody that adjourned in March last.
/ mention these facts not for the Dur-
bose of relieving Gov. WarmOth of his
ust share of the responsibility of a rad
cal administration, bat to say that the
legislative department of the govern
nent is by far the most important, and
he people of Louisiana need not look
or retrenchment and reform and an
and economical administration
10 long as the Legislature does not rep
'esent the intelligence, honesty and
wealth Of the State. A Legislative body
composed of intelligent, patriotic and
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