The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-01-02
Speech OF Hon.
II. III. Mari.

In the Democratic reunion at the Manhat-
tan Club last evening, says the New York
Tribune of Wednesday, the feature of the
evening that seems to have called for the
greatest enthusiasm was Mr.. Mari's eloquent
appeal for justice to Louisiana.
! Here it is:
Mr.. President and gentlemen Of the Man.
battan Club,-I sympathiZe with you deeply
and fully in the glorious results of that vic
tory which you gained on November 3, and
which gives OCCASION for this festive assem-
bly,. But while my heart goes out in joy to
you, and I am ready to rejoice with you
while am proud that you have redeemed
yoar State and have redeemed your city
| from the thraldom in which they
so long lay cannot help in
my heart contrasting all this with
my own unfortunate State Of Lou
siana. One day before your battle was
fought, one day before you gained that great
triumph for the Democracy of the State of
New York, we, the people of Louisiana, bat
tied against the usurper who held in bis
hand all the machinery Of the election. and
| we gained d victory as decided as the one
you gained. You are here tonight enjoying
after nearly three months the miserable Re-
turning Board, the miserable and corrupt in.
strument of the Kellogg administration, were
at work in our State. Gentlemen, do not DO
my 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 half.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 ad.
mirers. [Appliuse.l But we can war with
usurpation in every form. 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 but raise our
hands, let US only put forth the smallest eli.
fort. and we are told to submit. Gentlemen,
| will not trespaSs upon your time and pa
thence 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 al! up in this way:
Two years ago, by the combining of dis
cordant elements (hitherto discordant but
united in wanting an honest administration
of the public affairs), we elected Governor
and Legislature at majority ranging from
6. eco to 10000 votes. That fact was demon
strated; yet the President of the United
States, usurping function never contem-
plated 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; iDt.
deed, for all the offices connected with tHe
government. The voice of Louisiana was
silenced by the President of the United
States. hope; my people hope; we strugfglr;
and at the recent election, as have bust
told you we have gained victory as decided
as that which you have gained. Yet fele-
grams from Washington city announces TO-
day that it is the determination Of the Rresi-
dent of the United states to deal With Lou.
isiaDa with rough hand. And, gentlemen,
you, the members Of this Club, and our friends
and sympathIzers throughout the Country,
say to us: Louisiana, be patient; ~Ait little
while longer" All! gentlemen we have
been patient; we have been long }sufferiDg !;
we have endured beyond your e mprehen-
sion to understand. Experience atlone could
enlighten you as to what we hay be endured
in the State of Louisiana.
But, gentlemen, would not setain you.
We mean to preserve the public pfeace as far
as it is possible for US to doso, angd we mean
to make square, straight-out Tissue with
Grautism. [Applause.l ! do Dkot use the
Language of menace. ! mean NIB threat to
anybody, but it is the fixed determination
of the people Of Louisiana TO 9endeavor to
seat those men in power whom Il hey have Sc
lected and chosen, and they will lido it unless
they are stopped by the direct il nterposition
Ar
throw upon the Federal GovefS nment the
responsibility of dispensing the ieSealIy.elect.
ed Legislature of oae of'the Stal4s of this
Union [cries of "good," and agreat ap
piause) land I would defy him TO t&ake upor
bis shoulders that additional burdeit b.
Gentlemen, l don't know whetI1er it b,
true or whether it be not true, bulb I have
seen it announced by the telegraphx and
nave seen it reported 10 lie most resp4 ctabl
newspapers from correspondents in Wash
ington city, that General Grant not Iona ag
Threatened tie people of Louisiana ttNat
! they made any further resistance he VIC nl