New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-03-06
Civil Rights.
Informal Reunion at the Governor. Man
sion-Addresses by Gov. Powers Hons. ~
&. Carter. and A. X. Davis.

ston-Addresses by Gov. Powers Hons. n
! {. Garter. and A. X. Davis.
An informal meeting of the members of the
Legislature and state officials took place al
the Governors Mansion, last Friday night
and was finally resolved into 4 convention oi
generalization upon the final passage and
signing by the Governor Of the civil rights
bill.
After some appropriate preparations >eua-
tor Warner proposed the sentiment: Tho
Republican party" and it was greeted with
/ applause, and Gov. Powers was loudly called
/ for.
/ SPEECH OF GOV. POWERS.
/ The following is a brief outline of his re-
marks, which were delivered with great
/ earncstness and interrupted BY frequent ap-
! plause:
/ GENTLEMEN: The sentiment to which |
am called to respond involves a very COM
| prchensive subject. | cannot hope to ex-
haust 1t in single speech; nor would l at
! tempt to tax your patience by giving more
than an outline of what its importance I'M
! plies. full response to this proposed sem
| timent would involve the origin and history
| OF the Republican party, what it has done
| and suffered, and what it proposes still to do
FIFTY speeches would be inadequate 20 this
task, and a dozen volumes would not contain
t''Nii'' W AZ oDlN it!ilJIh la4it TIE truthful
historian. in completing the record Of the
party, will be forced to the conclusion that it
had its origin in the patriotic devotion which
the American people have felt toward this
great nation. The handspring and watch
word of the party have always been devotion
to the Union, to justice, and to freedom.
First put on trial when mpious treason
clutched the pillars of the Government. and
proianc voices Knocked the power, and soiled
hands rent the flag that made US great PEG
pie, it accepted the terrible gage of fratrcilal
war, and pursued it until victory crowned the
national arms, and freedom was established
upon deeper and more enduring basis.
1t was not alone the patriotic and lust
principles of the Republican party that puri-
fled and elevated the Government under the
| fiery ordeal of war, but party success was in
a great degree due to the efforts Of the great
| and good men who were its leading spirits.
and through whose integrity. ability. and de-
votlOn the victory was won. The immortal
Lincoln was the grand central figure. Pure
and lofty IN character, sound in judgment
| and possessed of sympathetic heart that re-
sponded to the cries of oppressed humanity
everywhere, he fully comprehended the situ-
alton and reflected the popular will. Sur
rounding him rs counsclors and co-labOrers.
were the great War Minister Stanton, the
great Secretary VIM. II. Seward, the great
Statesman, who died while the contest seemed
| yet uncertain, Stephen \. Douglas, and the
| great journalist, Horace Greeley These
were among the inspiring spirits, these the
great lives that upheld the party and were
| finally sacrificed upon the altar of country.
The voice of detractiOn and SANDER that as
| sailed them while they were vet the active.
moving spirits of the nations life, and the
answering upholders of the nations honor.
| is hnshpI Of s
| the immediate past, their characters are in
delibly impressed upon the country, and their
virtues will shine more transplendently as
| time advances.
1t is objected that Douglas was not a Re-
publican L reply that he was imbued with
Republican patriotism, and his name, so often
and so closely associated in life with that of
Lincoln. should not be separated from it in
history. Were he living to-day he would
stand with Dix and with Grant.
1t was the confidence inspired by the pure
and upright founders and the patriotic lead
ers and upholders Of the Republican party
that drew to it the support of the people and
enabled 1t to save the nation and extend lib.
erty. 1t is now in the zenith of its power
and usefulness.
At the South its organization dates only
from the close of the war. As YOU well
know, in some Of the States it has fallen un.
der bad leadership and has been disgraced
The purity OF its principles has been polluted
by the touch of INSCRIPTIONS and corrupt
men, who have assumed the attractive LIVERY
OF Republcanism in order to subserve tn,
vilest purposes that ever disgraccd free anC
enlightened people.
But, thank heaven, the party is possessed
! LOT virtue enough to punish its betrayers ant
those who would make it cloak to cover u,
infamous actions. Warmoth, pursued by thu
avenging spirit of the deluded followers whom
+ he had led to the verge of ruin, has been gla,
to take refuge in the ranks of the opposition
and our own un-swan-lke Swan rests uneasil
tonight in a criminals cell.
The wisdom, integrity, and sagacity Of tn
! representative men of the party have pre-
! served Mississippi from falling into the cX
cesses which have disgraccd and well-nigl
ruined some Of her sister States. have n
doubt but that the rule of patriotic acto
which has controlled your labors in the pas
will be adhered to in the future. During tn
past three years l have been q close observe
of all that has transpired, and / have see
very little to condemn. know of no reaso
why any Mississippi Republican should han
his head in shame on account of the cOnduC
7. of his party; on the contrary, | see yer
!, mucn tnat mas been accomplished oil VINO
:, we may all feel proud. Most Of you, gentle
= men, will soon return to your constituents
!, and know you are DESTROYS ofretaining the
4. confidence and feel deserving of their goo
= opinion. More than this, you have a con
i. mendable pride in trying to so regulate yot
actions as to close the mouths even of I'll
opposition, which is continually ready on IL
: smallest pretext to cast suspicion upon yol
. conduct and undermine your good name.
- believe you will dsappoint those who a
! seeking provocation to condemn you, al
u u that you will lie neither led or driven in
!" any measure intended to bring rcproach upC
= the State.
- The Governor then referred to some Of II
g measures that would probably come befO
"a the Legislature, at its present session, al
= especially urged such action as would pla
- the finances upon sound currency basi
- and insisted that something should be dor
- toward developing the southern portion
~ the State. He said it was now slumberiI
a a in an almost unbroken forest-that we b;
az fine harbors on the gulf, and should leave
~ effort untried to build up, there, CONNIE
cial city. Every bale OF cotton. that 90
outside Of the State to find a port, depriv
Us of ten dollars revenue, and to that eXte
enriches neighboring States. Having I
-. piled in a cursory way TO the sentiment pr
-, posed by Senator Warner, he said he de,irt
70 he