The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-01-05
HON. R. h. MARR ON THE SITUATION.

10Y OA-OA0Os w AOAAA0AAA 60VO W tAOSC kO0G0
men a complimentary banquet at the Manhat
tan Club in New York last Tuesday night
Addresses were made by number Of distin
guished gentlemen, and among the rest oul
esteemed fellow-citizen, Mr.. r. II. Mari, was
called upon. He said:
Mr.. President and Gentlemen OF the Manhattan
Club:
sympathise with you deeply and fully in
the glorious results of that victory which you
gained on November 8, and which gives occa-
sion for this festive assembly. But while my
heart goes out in joy to you, and am ready
to rejoice with you, while I am
proud that you have redeemed your
State and have redeemed your city from
the thraldom in which they SO long lay, can
not help in my heart contrasting all this with
my own unfortunate State of Louisiana One
day before your battle was fought one day
Democracy of the State of New York, we, the
people of Louisiana, battled against the
usurper who held in his hands all the ma
chinery Of the election, and we gained VIC
tory as decided as the one you gained. You
are here tonight enjoying the whole fruition
of your victory, while after nearly three
months the miserable Returning Board, the
miserable and corrupt instrument of the Kel-
logg administration, were at work in our
State. Gentlemen, do not do nv people
the injustice to believe that all manhood
is departed from us. Do not believe that we
would submit to this state of things for one
short ehalf hour if it were not that we are
trampled down by the iron heel of power, and
far more deplorable still is the usurpation of
Ulysses S. Grant and his advisers. Applause ]
R,,fv
We are willing to lose our lives in defense of
our rights, willing to shed our blood if we can
hope thereby to secure freedom and Justice
for our posterity. But let us bun raise our
hands, let us only put forth the smallest
effort, and we are told to submit. Gentlemen,
will not trespass upon your time and pa
tience by going into details of all the wrong
and outrages which the people of Louisiana
have suffered and have battled against tor two
long years, and against which they will battle
throughout all time if need be, but will sum
it all up in this way:
Two years ago, by the combining of dis
cordant elements, hitherto discordant but
united in wanting an honest administration of
a Legislature at majority ranging from 5000
to 0,OOO votes. That fact was demonstrated;
yet the President of the United States, usurp-
ing function never contemplated by the
Constitution, never conferred by that sacred
chose to keep in place in Louisi-
ana people who were defeated by the voice
of the people-for Governor, for Lieutenant
Governor, for Auditor, indeed, for all the
offices connected with the government The
voice of Louisiana was silenced by the Presi-
dent OF the United States. 1 hope; my peo-
pie hope; we struggle, and at the recent cleo
ton, as l have just told you, we have gaiued
q victory as decided as that which you have
gained. Yet kilograms from Washington
City announce to-day that it is the determine
ton of the President of the United States to
deal with Louisiana with rough hand And,
gentlemen, you, the members of this club,
and our friends and sympathizers throughout
the country, say to us, Louisiana, be pa
tent wait little while longer" All gentle |
men, we have been patient we have been
long suffering we have endured beyond your
to understand. Experience
alone could enlighten you as to what we have
endured in the State of Louisiana.
But, gentlemen, would not detain YOU. |
We mean to preserve the public peace as far |
Is it is possible for us to do so, and we mean
to make square, straight-out issue with |
arantism. [Applause.[ l do not use the |
body, but it is the fixed determination of the |
people of Louisiana to endeavor to seat those
men in power whom they have selected and |
chosen, and they will do it unlees they are
stopped by the direct interposition of the Fed |
,ral soldiers. And we mean to throw upon
he Federal Government the responsibility of
dispensing the legally elected Legislature of
me of the States of this Union-cries of |
good" and great applause-and I would
lefy him to take upon his shoulders that ad-
litional burden.
Gentlemen, don't know whether it be
rue or whether it be not true, but have
cen it announced by the telegraph, and I
AVE seen it reported in the most respectable
newspapers from correspondents in Washing
on city, that Gen. Grant not long ago threat
ned the people of Louisiana that, if they
,ade any further resistance, he would send
mother man down there, and somebody
'ould be hurt. But for the honor of this ma
ion, hope that the Executive officer of the
alton never uttered sentiment so atrocious,
Somebody will be hurt !" Is that threat .
, us? Since when has this country become
D demoralized that those chosen to execute
ne popular will of the people become rulers {
yer the people and trample them like slaves {
ouple that idt that somebody is going to /
Q hurt" with the recent announcement that ,
zen. Sheridan has been sent to New Orleans! {
heridan! We care nothing for Sheridan! 8
ut Sheridan knew himself, he was gentle l
ian enough to understand that by his expe- s
ence in New Orleans, that he was not I
ell received there. He was not even re- '
,ived we'll socially. The fact stands out to- I
~ that he was not acceptable to the people I
| Louisiana. Put this and that together 7
Somebody's going to be hurt" send man
own there who is already occupying a hos
lie position to the people OF Louisiana. A
an is sent to that highly excited people who
Is no affiliations with them in any point of
ew. 1t is the very means to run down these
aople. Somebody will be hurt Great t
od hasn't somebody been hurt already? +
ONE to my beautiful State, with soil and b
innate producing in the richest abundance a
le great staples sugar, rice and cotton I
ings that all the world wants in rich pro- $
sion; with every appliance. every means t
accommodating wealth, yet not one man in )
n is able to pay his taxes! our city, lying a
the mouth of the great river which drains
q richest valley on the face of Gods green t
nth, yet our commerce languishing! We b
I'VE been hurt already. We have seen our b