Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1873-06-03
ELOQUENT UTTERANCEs.

Carpenter, Of Wisconsin-Gen. George A..
Sheridan, an xeFederal officer and promi-
nent Conservative Republican, delivered a
most'eloquenta and impressive speech, of which
the annexed in "a synopsis:
In common with all who are gathered here.
/ regard it as great privilege and high honor
to meet the distinguished gentleman who is
cur guest tonight. Our pleasure in meeting
him is unalloyed, save by the fact that We can
not present. louisiana to him as we would
wish ITO.
Sir, w. would like to show you this great
city of the South, filled with happy people !;
its streets thronged with the votaries of COM
merce the fagsof oil the nations float ing from
the masts of countless SLIPS in the placid
crescent of yonder river. It would please us
to fill your ears with the music that swefls
ever up from the marts of trade, telling of
prosperity and Joy. All this we can not do :;
we can only point to a-population borne.do
by oppression; toa harbor with only here and
there a wanderer Of the sea, with white wings
folded, rocking in listless idleness to shrine
of commerce almost deserted. We can
greet your ear only with the sad music that
swells the hearts Of people that are sore
distressed.
1t would be, sir, to US a matter Of pride n
we could point out to you thousands of broad
acres where corn, and cane, and cotton, were
gathering with invisible fingers che sunlight
Of these summer days. and weaving with it in
natures great laboratory the harvests that
make glad the autumn fields. This we can
not DO; we only show here and there
spot where the 'toilers are at work only at
intervals homes that are filed that give
promise of golden harvest in the days when
the rcaper's sickle shall shine among them.
We would like, sir. to. to show you people
in possession of and enjoying tho same po-
litical freedom, the same liberty, that is Justly
the pride of the great State from which you
come. We would like to point out to YOU
men in high position, the choice of the peo-
pie, adorning the places to which the voice of
the commonwealth had called them, working
with unquestioncd purpose and unchallenged
integrity for the welfare of the State. In
stead of snch condition of affairs, we pre-
sent you chief magistrate abhorred by the
great mass of our white citizens, whose miss
fortunes he has taken advantage of; despised
by our coored citizens. whose misfort,1nes he
has taken advantage of; despised by our coll
ored citizens, whose confidence he has be-
trayed. A man to whose heart integrity is
stranger; whose religion is immortality;
whose daily walk and life is such that in ali
this great State he knows not where to lay his
hand upon n single man and trnthfully saw
"this is my friend" Side nv side with him
within the portals of our capital, guarded by
soldiers, are to be found cit npanions for his
infamy, holding, like him, their position by
the force of bayonets rather than tho voice of
the peopls.
We can not, sir, show you courts where ius>
tice sits enthorned, where the poorest and
the meauest in the land find equal favor with
the rich and powerful We are compelled to
point to courts from which Justice, wrapping
her robes around her, Shas fed in haste where
liberty sits bound and helpless courts where
passion, prejudices arc tho authorities to
which judges refer where questions of life and
death, right or wrong, slavery or freedom are
at issue.
In brief. sir. it would be onr pride and ioy
to present Louisiana to vou with radiant face
and brow hound round about with garIands
woven from the wealth of tropic flowers. We
cannot do this; wa present her as she is. clad
in som5re robes, her people almost destitute
of hope feeling the bonds of such oppression
as of old Israel endured when her sons and
daughters chung their harms uron the willows
and sat down in grief beside the streatas of
Babylon" We arc in this unfortunate cons
has been overthrown by the unreasonine
power of bayonets. and their voice silencod
by the government that should listen to their
cry for justice.
We hail your presence, sir, in our State, as
an omen of good. 1t is to us an evidence
that the heart of the mighty northwest ie
beating in unison with the hearts that are
struggling here for liberty. We ONLY ask, at
your hands, fair investigation of the meas
ures that have resulted in binding n great
State helpless at the feet of political iugylers.
nc only ask if, after an impartial investiga-
ton OF our affairs, you forced to the con-
cluslon that wrong has been done to rcpub-
lican liberty, your voice and power shall be
exerted to right that wrong. Many of us, sir.
belong to the great political party tina. now
rules the land. Many of us wers soldiers of
the army of the North, whose great achieves
ments are to US sacred memories. Living as
we do among the people of the South, we are
able to understand tho people. able to conspro-
bend how it is possible for them to keen in
perpetual and holy memory, the names and
deeds of the heroes who on thousand BATTLE
fields, gave renown to the arms of the South.
and at the same time hold true faith and al
lcg!ance to the government, whose flag now
floats above them. Though Republicans. we
cry oat, "Shame, forever! !" to the nation or
people, who after successful war demand the
conquered shall ALLURE their manhood, and
confers by ingratitude to the defenders of
their soil, their own unworthiness TO wear the
garments of freedom
We try to remember, sir, that MS there are
countless graves in the land hallowed to the
people of the North, SO there are unnumbered
ones dear to the people of this Southern
land, as there are names written in the armies
of the North that will never perish, so there
are names recorded in the armies of the South
that cannot die. Though Republicans. we
hold the memories and love of people
should be sacred
Take with you sir to your home. beside the
great lake, the assurance that Louisiana bears
no hatred, no malice, no disloyalty, to the