New Orleans Republican., 1873-03-26

We must not forget how deeply we are in.
| debted TO Mr.. E. C. Billings as citizens and
| clients. 1t is with grateful recollections
| that we remember how he placed himself
at the head of the Louisiana dele
| CATION to tue Philadelphia convention,
| and in the face OF violent and
| vitiated public sentiment, but in harmony
with the enlightened legislation of the nis
| ton, obtained recognition of civil rights,
| irrespective of color, upon public convey
ances and in public places. Shortly after.
his claims were submitted to the Baton
| Rouge convention, for gubernatOrial bonors
but the representatives OF the Republicans,
in their Judgment, desi gnated another to be
their standard bearer. Some of his fren Dis
were so mortified at his defeat that they
abiured their allegiance to the Republican
party but, like true man. he never
wavered in his political convictions, nor alb
solved himself from his partisan obliga-
tions. When the conspiracy for the over
throw of this State was almost eOnsum-
mated-Wheu the apOstacy of WarmUth
had signed. sealed, and was in the
act of delivering Louisiana into the
possession of our enemies; when the tur-
bulert elements of the Democracy, heliev-
ing they were coming into power, were
breathing threats against our ln0tl6nsive
people: when, in our despair, we were seri-
ousiy considering the propriety OF emigrat
ing from the State rather than again i'm
peril our liveE under the unrestrained
administration of those who had crimsoned
the streets of this city with our blood-it
was then that the hopes of the Republicans
were centered IN Mr.. Billings, and he, for
getting his real or fancied grievances, rose
to the dignity OF the occasion, and mate
rally contributed TO the overthrow of War
moth and his infamous compact with the
N2:tbnut hanu VI
much could be said of the able and inde-
fatioable services rendered by Mr.. j. 4.
B+ckwitb, who led the Judicial attack, but
| shall intrust our thanks for him to your
grateful hearts.
While to each Of these gentlemen we are
deepiy indebted for their fidelity in cham
pionship Of progressive legislation, we will
ever cherish sense OF profound gratitude
to Judge T. II Durell, through whose dis
cernment and impartiality the principles Of
general jHstice were applied to Louisiana.
We can not estimate too highly the recti-
tude of this learned Judge, who could not
be seduced by caresses nor cOeroed by
threats-ntexIble to the pressure of the
whites and unmoved By sympathy for the
blacks; who, under Just construction uf
the great charters of our liberty and citi-
zensbip, epj0ined the usurping bantlng,
fOuled by the incubations of WarmOth, and
strangled it with the majesty of the law
In recognition OF the judicial overthrow of
this conspiracy, and OF the triumph Of in
partial Justice. let US engrave the name of
f. H. Durell, the true patriot, the enlight-
ened statesman and the just Judge above
those Of our much endeared legal cham
pions, in characters of immortal light When
we remember from what a fearful calamity
we have been rescued; how the Outrages
upon the sanctity OF the ballot box have
beer rebuked: how force and fraud have
been defeated in their machinatiOns how
the swelling tide of reaction has been
turned from its alarming purpose into a
ludicrous channel: how the enlightened
legislation of the nation has been enforced
by an equitable and intlexible Judge in the
redemption of this State; how the princi-
piles OF distributive justice we're applied to
the litigants; how liberty has been preserved
and perpetGated; how the sovereign people,
the majesty of the law and the genius OF
free institutions triunphed over an unhOly
and IN blushing combinatiOu-when We in
dulge in such reflections and others which
rapidly suggest themselves 10 our mind, we
but express our grateful emotions when we
e1claim, God bless Hunt! God bless Bill
lings! God bless Beck with! and, il heaven
has any higher benediction with which i.
favors mortals. ie: it be conferred. upon
j Judge Durell.
No one acquainted with statistics, or the
political complexion of the State, doubts
for a moment that the Republicans have an
easy working majority OF the legitimate |
voters, but as our party is composed almost !
exclusively of cOlored men, the unrecon-
structed, rendered callous by protracted .
injustice TO US, consorted with apOstacy aud |
trlcksters to detraud Us out of our victory
at the ballot box. The regenerated con /
stitutiOu and laws, changing the spirit OF |
American civilization and establishing IL |
upon the basis OF universal liberty and i'm |
partial justice. found in the Judge OF the |
Circui. Court Of the United States a con- |
structive and equitable expounder. With !
out entering into the legal merits of the |
case. our odi0us position under ante |
bellum Interpretation, the defects which !
the progressive legislation proposes 10 |
remedye or the revolution which = |
now manifest IL moral and legal science, |
here predict tha; the day is not tar distant |
when the decision Of Judge Duren, il the /
case of William 2. Kellogg VS.. II. c. War |
moth ct ale.. with all of its sweeping or |
derR. viii be regarded as the trne exposi- |
ton of the genius o. reconstructed legi.la- |
tion.
We recognize i'll this famous decision Cha. |
the standard CT American Justice is ap- |
pr oaching iDpartiality; that the spirit OF |
slavery j. Io longer supreme, but that lib |
arty is the guiding star Of the nation.
Upon the revolution OF public sentiment, |
lpon the triumph o. municipal virtue, upon
the celebrated results accomplished with
)ut southern assistance and in contempt OF |
southern resistance, and upon the grand
.ranstornlat"; scene of political equality,
invoke The lGdicious reflection of our re
sctionaTy fellow citizens. The march of
reedom around the world, suickened
~ Il purer inspiration than any man
rsn lmpart, is hot only spectacle OF uni
Iel sal grandeur, but tends TO that higher
which conEecrates every cline
. righteousness. recognizes the manhood
# Gods image, whether bleauheG BY the
winds OF the North or darkened by
he sun o. ths South. and establishes
Institutions q: religion and learnI z for
he benefit OF humanity. regardless
# color or condition. / would sol
mnly invite the considerate attention
# our white fellow citizens to the progress
II equal rights all over the land, and espe-
la!ly amid the ruins of slavery, and ID
Iulre whether they propose to continue
heir irrational and ungodly hostility 10 /
manifest destiny. 1t is with earnest prayer (
or harmoniLlng the two races upon the
road basis Of equal and exact Justice, and
With the patriotic purpose of developing
he best interests of the State, that We ap-
eal t, them 10 observe the signs of the
lines and ."a!H wisdom by past expe-
fence.
This 'rsrtnrG scene, the circumstances
nder which We have assembled. the in
crest manifested by all CLASSES, and the
eaiizatlon OF what wo never dreamed
would happen n our day recalls 20 mind an
nodent which occurred or Carondele.
treet last Summer. the Wall street Of New
orleans. "hile passing through that
horoughfare. a: :. time when it was crowd
d, in company with Rev j. r. V. Thomas.
ne of our fnest-IO0king black men, whose
ross always corresponds with his facial
ttractlon', was little surprised at the
observation which we seemed to conoen-