New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-02-20

| tain and uphold whom we have suffered
and risked so much, aud trust he will al
once see the justice of our position, and
readily and cheerfully accord with US.
| "Resolrcd further, That it is of the frs,
Importance TO the continued success and
harmony of the Republican party of Louisi
ana, and is demanded by the strict rule boil
| Of political and moral justice, that all the
| patronage of the Customhouse at New Or
leans should not only be meted out to true
| and competent members of the Republican
party, but the distribution should also be
as equally as possible dispensed among the
party throughout the State, each parish
being entitled to some consideration and
recognition in the premises; that the best
places should invariably be accorded the
Oldest and most uniformly faithful and com
petent members Of the party; and with this
view of political equity and justice. we
express it as our sense of right and pro
pretty that our Republican Senators and
Representatives in the Congress of the
United States should be heard and consult.
ed in regard to the proper distribution OF
this Customhouse patronage, and also in
regard to all other appointments affecting
our prosperity and destiny as members OF
the great Republican party and rs American
citizens"
Moving the adoption, Mr.. Blackburn
spoke as follows. as taken down at the time,
and intended to have been published in the
REPUBLICAN of the next day:
Mr.. President-It ia in no dictat orial or
factions spirit that I have offered these
resolutions, nor is it with any mean purpose
of party greeds or spoils seeking, but with
simple view to that degree of political
honor and justice which every we'll in
formed man must acknowledge as essential
to long continued party triumph, or the
existence of good and respectable govern
ment under party rule.
And no one imagine will pretend to be
80 dull as not to perceive that strict honor
and fairness among members of the Repub-
lican party in this State and throughout the
South become more imperative and bind
ing than ordinarily; for here man who is
Republican takes his life in his hand, SO to
speak, from day to day, and travels in
constant peril if not in dread, SO that if his
own party friends and associates go back
on him and treat him unkindly and IN
justly, his condition is q sad one indeed.
But 1 have no special complaints of this
sort to make in my own behalf. and it is
not for any such purpose that l ask the
adoption of the preamble and resolutions
now before the Senate, but it need not be
doubted, and can not be hid. that heretofore
in the distribution both of State and IA.
tiOnal patronage here, in some cases avOw.
ed Democrats and in others weak kneed,
boiling Republicans, have been favored
over the more faithful and true. And this
policy has occasiOned much of our political
decentralization and troubles, and has, in
fact, caused much of the hate and persecu-
ton under which the more isolated and
unprotected but steadfast and true Repub.
licans throughout the State, have suffered
so much. Such policy brings contempt
upon the party and special opprobrium upon
its more faithful members, even at the
hands and in the estimation Of the very in
dividuals who profit by snch derelictiOn of
party duty on the part of our leaders and
high officials. None of us, Mr.. President,
as true and faithful representatives of an
honest party constituency, can see the jus.
tice of bestOwing tat offices upon our po-
litical foes, while our political friends are
left uncared for, to be prosecuted and pro.
soribed into starvation. and even to exter.
mination.
trust will be excused when say do
not like such party policy as this, and no
party, and more especially the Republican
party of the South, can survive under such
are not to have party of principles. in
which man is to be recognized at least by
his own comrades as gentleman. and re-
warded according to his merit, I want to
know it at once and for all time.
Hence it is that in Offering aud asking the
adoption Of these resolutions am actuated
from no factious or dictat0rial spirit, nor
yet from any selfish or personal motive, but
quite the contrary. 1t is for the common
good Of my party-for the good Of my
common country through the perpetuation |
Of my party in it's purity; as honestly be- |
lieve its perpetuation upon basis Of honor,
equity and justice, is essential to the pros
perity and happiness of all the people of |
The land. Individually, l have no com |
plant to make or urge against our State |
executive; he has, may say, uniformly |
appointed every man to Office whom / |
have seriously or urgently asked him |
20 appoint; SO it will be seen that it
8 q broad principle and not 3 selfish |
purpose that 1 am aiming at. Nor do l |
lesire at all to uniustly prOscibe or play |
my mean or niggardly part toward political
sdversaries. Some cases might arise where
a Republican executive might we'll ap.
point Democrat to Office, but the uniform
,arty doctrine that "to the victors belong
he spoils" is the only esfe party policy
and is withal an old and time
IGNORED by that party in the breach, but
most commonly in the Observance-as it
hOuld be. Nor will any one be go silly as
o pretend to believe that these resolutions
re aimed, expected or desired to be of
binding or peremptory force They only
uggest an opinion as to policy which is
believed to be of the most vital Importance
n the maintenance and perpetuatiOn of
'arty which is believed to be essen.
ommon people. This is all. And when it
, remembered that political parties, on the
ne side or the other, constantly rule this
reat nation and shape its destiny, and
vhen it is remembered also how demoraljz-
ng to party is its own injustice to its own
lembers, then what is aimed at in these |
esolutions will hardly be misapprehended
L condemned by any reasonable man who
fishes his country well. and least of all by
Nv cOlOred man; for certainly the perpetual |
ion of the liberties of the African race in
his country is very specially and insepara
~ connected with q perpetuation Of the
republican party upon its original prin-
piles and purposes.
But the Senators we'll understand this,
nd there is no use Of prolOnging remarks
q the subject. Let US say to our Repub-
can State officials who have patronage to
estow, and the same to those Republicans
mong us who have national patronage to
ispense. that the true and faithful men,
ers of our party must have a proper re-
ignition in the bestOwal of the same
ct us vindicate our party upon principle:
Or quietly submit, after q hard won vic
nv, to the injustice and indignity Of see-
~ those who have cursed and prosecuted
, all through the long and bitter contest
,nored with places of emolument and dis
notion, while many Of our own rank and
g are left uncared and unprovided for:
i'd let us protest against the practice of ia
,ring the unsteady of our own party at
q expense of those who are ever constant
I'd true.
If the policy thus indicated is not at once
lorto1 and faithfully carried ont, We shall
on have no Republican party in Lou