Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1873-06-06
Senator Carpenters New Orleans
Speech.


Senator Carpenters New Orleans
Speech.
That was a timely speech of the Hon.
Matt Carpenter, at New Orleans, on Tues
day night. Timely, because it told few
wholesome truths to an audience of men
not usually approachable by those differ
ing with them on political issues. Sena-
tor Carpenter was frequently cheered, and
| throughout his address there seemed to be
a general acquiescence in the sentiments
enunciated. We beg to assure our friends
of the Crescent City that Senator Carpen-
ter expressed, in the main, the sentiments
of the whole Republican party of the
| North. If they can cheer him for speak
ing such sentiments, therefore, they ought
at least to pardon US for holding them.
The secret of the courtesy and attention
extended to Senator Carpenter is in the
fact that he took decided ground, as a
member of the Committee on Privileges
and Elections, against Kellogg and Durell.
| He favored such action by Congress as
would compel new election in Louisiana,
a course which others thought an unwar-
rantable interference in the affairs of a
State. Left without action by Congress
in the matter, the President had but one
| course to pursue, and that to enforce the
| decision of the courts. As coming from
one whom the rebel Democratic press
| love to quote as authority for their denun-
citation of the President, the following
passage from Senator Carpenters speech
| is signficant
As the President must see that the laws are exc
| cuted he must, under the decree of the United
States courts, support the Kellogg government and
you cannot help yourselves, That Judge Durell's
conduct was outrageous have not doubt; but
President Grant must support him, under the law,
until Congress settles the matter and you must
keep the peace until this outrageous conduct of
Durell is set aside. 1t is not Kellogg that governs
the State; 1t is not Grant, but the law, and to il
you must submit
This is the ground we have constantly
occupied, and fact we have labored to
set before the insane people Of Louisiana
and their Northern advisers in so plain
a manner that the most bigoted partisan
might see it. The President must enfUrce
| the laws There is no alternative. "He
must as Senator Carpenter says, under
the decree of the United States courts,
support the Kellogg government" Why
| is it, then that while simply engaged in
discharging a duty imposed by the Con
stitutiOn he is villified and traduced by
every "independent" scribbler in the
land9 Why, except for the purpose we
have before indicated: of keeping alive
the dissatisfaction in the South, and urging
the people of that section on to fresh
deeds of violence?
Senator Carpenter visited Louisiana in
some degree the champion of the disaf-
fected element there He was naturally
received with much satisfaction by the
class supporting McEnerl and the thanks
and attention showered upon him by the
formers friends might have caused, in a
less able man, mOmentary forgetfulness
of the honest duty devolving upon him.
Senator Carpenter did not commit this
error. He told wholesome truth in way
that, if we had not about despaired of
ever having the Southern people walked
up to the necessities of their situation, we
might hope would arouse them to en-
lightened and sensible action. "Slavery
docs not exist here in your mouths" said
Senator Carpenter, but feel that in some
indefinite manner it does exist as it did
twenty years ago. | was interviewed yes
terday by a large number of colored men,
and learned there was a fear of the white
man-indefinite, yet eXisting-and they
said they wanted protection" The Sena-
tor went on to say that, under these laws
these men were protected as much as him
self, and that they had the right of self
protection as fully as any other citizen,
and they were justified in protecting
themselves by shooting down their op-
pressors, if such course became neces-
sary.
In regard to carpet-baggers Mr.. Carpen.
ter said to his New Orleans hearers, that
although some of those taking up homes
in the South were not very desirable ac
quaintances, yet the many should not be
| Judged by the few. 1--WE are all carpet
| baggers in Wisconsin," said the Senator
"and we have a good State. We have an
idea that it is good to have people come
and we don't care where they come from
| If Jefferson Davis or any one else comes
North we don't force him to leave because
he is opposed to us, but we help him on
Now, gentlemen, you have soil, climate
everything to back you, and the question
is, are you going to sit still and see every
Thing slipping away, or are you going tC
rise up, be enterprising, help yourselves
and be great?'
For one who had taken the position as
sumed by Senator Carpenter at the las
session of Congress this speech is emf
nently fair and candid, while the advice il
in every respect excellent. The allusion'
to the action of the Senate Com
mittee were not in the best taste
but much can be forgiven in an address
containing so many excellent points
We trust it may have the effect o
allaying the animosities existing in Louis
lana, and inducing quiet submission tC
the laws. There is hope from the manner
of its reception that this will be its ten
dency. The advice with which the ad
dress closed was pertinent and to tho
point;
Turn your attention. said the Senator, t.
| your trades and commercial enterprises. There Il
Mexico below you, teeming with wealth and opeI
before you. There are the West India Islands, al
for . II we do not allow England to steal our trade
| With these there is the North and the West i'm
| ploring you, for Gods sake, to do something WI
| don't you let politics alone, and attend 10 you
| busiHsssY The nation is waiting for you, and / i'm
plore you TO set your house in order that we ma!
| be with you"
Is there manliness and truthfulnesi
enough in the Democratic press of thu
North to echo this advice, and is there
wisdom enough left in the South to adop
and observe it?-OhicagO Inter ocean, Ma!
%,