The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1875-01-08
III /. s g ell "a q 9 on 8 ,
Tho Condition OF Louisiana.
REMARKS OF THE HON. II. Ii. MARI, At IN
MANHATTAN CLUB, OF NEW YORK.

MANHATTAN CLUB, OF NEW YORK.
The following eloquent remarks were
made last week, in New York, at meet
ing OF the Manhattan Club, by the Hon.
II. II. Mari, Of Louisiana. Mr.. Mari is all
old and esteemed citizen Of Louisiana, and
a very able lawyer. Although never
politician or candidate for office, he las
given up a lucrative practice in order to
devote his whole time to redeem his State
from misrule. His remarks will be read
with interest at this time He said:
Mr.. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN OF
THE MANHATTAN CLUB sympathiZe with
you deeply and fully in the glorious results
of that victory which you gained on Nov.
3, and which gives occasion for this festive
assembly. But while my heart goes out in
joy to you, und l am ready to rejoice with
you, while am proud that you have re-
deemed your State and have redeemed your
city from the thraldom in which they so
long lay, cannot help III my heart con-
trastng all this with my own unfortunate
State Of Louisiana. One day before your
battle was fought, one day before you gain
ed that great triumph for the Democracy of
the State of New York, we, the people of
Louisiana, battled against the usurper who
held in his hand all the machinery of the
election, and we gained victory as decid-
ed 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 misera-
bic and corrupt instrument of the Kellogg
administration were at work in our State.
Gentlemen, do not do my people the inius-
tice to believe that all manhood is depart
ed from us. Do not believe that we would
submit to this state of things for one short
half hour if it were not that we are tram
pied down by the iron heel Of power, and
far more deplorable still is the usurpation
of Ulysses S. Grant aud his advisers.
{Applause.l But we can war with usurp-
alton in every form. We are willing to
lose our lives in defense our rights, willing
to shed our blood if we can hope thereby
to secure freedom and justice for our pos
terity. But let us but raise our hands, let
us only put forth the smallest effort, and
we are told to submit Gentlemen, ] will
not trespaes upon your time and patience
by going into details OF all the wrong and
outrages which the people of Louisiana
have suffered and have battled against for
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 clements, hitherto discordaut but
united in wanting an honest administra-
ton Of the public affairs, we elected a
Governor and a Legislature at majority
ranging from 5000 to 10000 votes. That
fact was demonstrated; yet the President
| of the United States usurping function
never contemplated by the Constitution,
never conferred by that sacred instrument,
chose to keep in place in Louisiana people
who were defeated by the voice of the people
for Governor, for Lieutenant. Governor, for
Auditor, indeed for all the offices connect
ed with the Government. The voice of
Louisiana was silenced by the President of
the United States. | hope; my people
| hope; we struggle, and at the recent cleo
ton, as | have just told you, we have gain
| cd a victory as decided as that which you
| have gained. Yet kilograms from Wash
| ington city announce to-day that it is the
determination of the President Of the Unit
| ed States to deal with Louisiana with q
rough hand. And gentlemen, you, the
members of this Club, and our friends and
| sympathiZers throughout the country, say
to us, Louisiana, be patient; wait lit
tie while longer" All! gentlemen, we
have been Mtient; we have been long suf
fering; we have endured beyond your
comprehensions to understand. Expert
ence alone could enlighten you as to what
we have endured in tile State Of Louisiana.
| But, gentlemen, would not detuin you.
| We mean to preserve the public peace as
far rs it is possible for us to do so, and we
mean to make square straightout issue
with Grantism. [Applause.I l do not use
the language Of menace. Imean no threat
to anybody, but it is the fixed dctermina-
tion of the people of Louisiana to endeayor
to seat those men in power whom they have
selected and chosen, and they will do it I'm
less they are stopped by the direct interpo-
sition of the Federal soldiers. And we
mean to throw upon the Federal Govern
meut the responsibility of dispensing the
legally elected Legislature Of one of the
States OF this Union-cries of "Good," and
great applausc-and | would defy him 10
take upon his shoulders that additional
| burden.
Gentlemen, | don't know whether it be
true, or whether it be not true, but have
seen it announced by the telegraph, and
have seen it reported in the most respecta.
BILE newspapers, from correspondents in
Washington City, that Gen. Grant not long
ago threatened the people of Louisiana
| that if they made any further resistance he