New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-02-15
ROMANCE OF POLITICS IN THE BAcKWooOS
Life in North Louisiana Since the war
M w. JASPER BLACKBuRS, EDITOR OF THE
HOMER ILIAD.

Knacted Its First Pervers1On - The
Murder of Negroes Continues - The
Louisiana Case-What Have Northern
Gentlemen to Say The Case of
Cha. les sumner Loyal Men Of the
South Being in the Right and in the
Majority Will Finally Triumph.
The element in the South opposed to the
Congressional plan of reconstruction, made
it's great fight of spite in the Presidential
contest of 1868. This element in North
Louisiana had made fights on this question
before, and with some hope Of success -
first, in the election of members TO the pro.
posed Constitutional Convention, in the
fall of 1867, and next, on the ratification or
rejection of the new constitution. in April,
l868-but, in each of these contests, this
turbulent element was thoroughly cleaned
outfit not in North louisiana proper. hap
oily throughout the entire State, in the
aggregate-so that the plan now was to
pitch ip for general ruin, on general prin.
ciples, purely in spirit of devilish spite
in spirit which clearly showed that even
protested now to acqulesce in tecOnstruc.
ton, were convinced against their WILL
and were of the same opinion still. 1t
was in this abandoned spirit. and for
this reckless and mean purpose mainly.
that the presidential campaign OF 1868. as
described in my last chapter, wac fought.
The purpose was to accomplish ruin over
failure to rule. 1t is true some had faint
hope that Seymour and Blair might be
elected and all of reconstruction that had
been accomplished thereby set aside, as
had been clearly indicated by the attitude
and expressed views both of Mr.. Seymour
and General Blair-more especially the
latter. But this was but faint and scat.
ferlng hope. 1t was pretty well understood
IN that campaign. as it has since been
more thoroughly and Systematically de-
termined by this discontinued element
In the South, that all national con.
RESTS for the tims-being at least should
be mere acknowledgements feints and de-
coys-t0 cover up and divert the public at
&ention from the main purpose of obtaining
of the local governments; believing
that if they could do this they might finally,
under the specious plea and dangerous
workings of that false assumption in our
system Of government called estate SOW.
erignty," undo and set aside the entire
theory and doctrine Of congressional recon.
structiOn, annul all the constitutional
amendments, and virtually if not in legal
fact reinslave the negro.
This was the partial plan upon which the
presidential campaign of 1868 was fought
in North Louisiana and throughout the
South, and it was the deliberate and well
.matured plan upon which the presidential
of 1872 was fought: and this is
the plan, and this the sole purpose of those
who have been seeking, and are still seek.
ing, to supplant the present State govern.
ment of Louis:na, and those Northern men
who are aiding in this effort are prostitutine
themselves to a mean and low purpose. and
are stultifying themselves and going back
upon all their former fine words in behalf
of freedom and justice. And when | say
this, know of what l speak, for l am here
upon the scene of actiOn-On my native
heath-and am thoroughly and unmistaka.
bly, posted as to the plans purposes and
sentiments of the entire people of Louisi.
ana, of all politics, races and colors. !
would rather be dog, and bay the moon,
or Shiny toad and feed upon the vapors
OF dungeon, than to ever have favored the
freedom of the slaves of the South and now
be found harrassing the present State gov
eminent of Louisiana and advocating the
alma Of Tnbp MaEpapu TO
ernorship. There is neither consistency nor
honor in any such attitude-no truth no de-
cency, no fact in it, except the fact of in.
fanny.
But the Republican State government
which despite all opposition and rascality
went into power in Louisiana, under the
triumph of congressional reconstruction,
noticing the plans, temper and purposes of |
The discontinued, turbulent and vicious ele. |
ment which worshipped slavery and wept |
over Its loss in strains which would not be |
soon saw that some local and de- |
'islve remedy must be applied: and it was
precisely thus that what is known as the
louisiana election law was enacted. 1t was
enacted in spirit of justice and right-not /
% wrong any one, but to save any and all
rom being wronged. II was enacted to
prevent evil and vicious and tvrannical
men from taking advantage and profiting
y virtue of their own wrong and evil con.
luct. To this end it was absolutely neces.
ary to employ positive and even harsh
means, for truth must always be positive
md if need be harsh when coming direct in
ontact with active and aggressive error.
Ind it was in this case therefore absolutely
ssential and necessary to place in the
ands OF somebody-that somebody as a
natter of course presumed to be sound and
air and just, well defined and plenary
overs This the Louisiana election law
id-not in behalf of tyranny and wrong,
ut purely and solely in behalf of justice
nd right.
such is the substance of the Louisiana
lection law and such its purpose, and such
ne reason or reasons why it was enacted;
no II rogues and rascais have been found
pervert 1t, the fault and the wrong should
est with them-upon their foul skirts-and
OF De charged to the law itself. the pro-
lslons and evident purpose of which are
lst and equitable.
And now must say something of Gov
rnor Warmoth, which l fain would NOT
"; but the truth of history demands il,
I'D will say it-not as his enemy nor az
he who does not in very considerable de.
zee admire and even like him-his Der. ,
nal and social qualities-but rather in {
at divine spirit spoken of in the Scrip ,
res where it is graciously SAID that {
vhom the Lord loyeth he chasteneth."
In the very first election held under this I
,uisiana election law, Governor War '