The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1874-07-22

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scarcely a vessel folded it's sails in
the harbor of New Orleans, and des-
olation reigned supreme where of old
the busy hum and throb Of commerce
were heard. Doyou wonder that the
people of that State groaned under
these burdens2 Doyou wonder that
they combined for the overthrow of
a government that had brought upon
them such disasters as these? l ask
you, men Of New England, I ask you,
men of the Middle States, and you
men Of the giant West, how long
would such condition of things be
tolerated in the States from which
you come? Would not the people
rise in their might and grandeur and
sweep it from existence So complete
ly that its name would never be heard
of again Tor if heard of, only spoken
of with scorn and contempt a party
that should bring such misfortune
upon the people of your section Of
the country?
4 X X =.
Pinchback presents himself before
this House with a certificate. A Ger
tifcate signed by whom? Signed by
himself as Acting Governor of Lou
isiana. How came he acting Gov
ernor of Louisiana? By virtue of the
impeachment of Governor Warmoth.
Who impeached Governor Warmoth?
The Legislature of Louisiana? No.
sir; but a Legislature created by the
injunction Of Federal court organ
lied in accordance with the terms of
that injunction, in a building filled
with United States soldiers, within
whose portals no man was permitted
to enter unless his name was found
in that injunction, or he was the
well-known partisan and supporter of
the usurpation. The Legislature
that impeached Governor Warmoth
and gave Pinchback power to sign
himself as "Acting Governor Of Lou
isiana,'' derived none of it's power,
none of it's authority, from the peo-
pie Of Louisiana. 1t sprang, full
armed, with all it's deadly power for
wrong, from the corrupt brain of a
United States Judge, who, fresh from
his haunts of infamy and shame,
reeking with the stencil and fumes of
midnight debauchery, with the kiss
es of harlots yet warm on his lips
and the music of their wanton songs
lingering in his ears, sheltering him
self behind the robes of his high Of.
flee, dared, in violation of an express
provision of the very law under
which he claimed jurisdiction, to is
sue decree creating Legislature
for the people of Louisiana, and in
voking the unwilling bayonets of the
United States to save'it from the flu
ry Of an outraged and insulted
people. 81
This, sir, was the Legislature
which gave my competitor the right
and power to sign himself "Acting
Governor of Louisiana" and certify
to his election to this body.
Away with the cry that Louisiana
or the South is disloyal; 1t is the cry
of men who can only live by keeping
it before the people. 1t is not from
the hearts of men who fought rebel
lion down that this cry comes, not
from the men who at Gettysburg, in
the Wilderness, upon the hills of
Vicksburg, the mountains of Geor-
gia, and the slopes of Mission Ridge,
rolled in resistless columns against
the armies Of the South, does this
cry of treason come. No demand
that punishment shall be meted out
to the South comes from them. In
their hearts no hate is found; brave
themselves, they yield willing tribute
to the valor Of their old-time foes.
Mourning for their dead, they respect
the South because they, too, mourn
the loss of gallant sons. Sir, this is
not the spirit that animates the PEG
pie of this great North.
This spirit of hate that these men
breathe finds no resting-place among
the people Of New England or the
people of the Northwest. This spirit