New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-02-18
MEETING OF RX.SOLDIERS AND
SAILORS.
Address Adopted.

Address Adopted.
The adjourned meeting OF Union ex.eol-
diers and sailors was held last evening at
the State House. The meeting was COM
posed of those who organized the meeting
at Clay's Hall January 19. C. Landry oc-
cupied the chair and T. w. Wickham acted
as secretary. About l6o persons were present
and listened to the following address,
prepared by the committee, which was
adopted unanimously. On motion q COM
mittee of nine on permanent organization,
and one of the same number on constitu-
ton, bylaws and rules, were appointed.
Copies Of the address were ordered to be
sent to the President of the United States,
General Sheridan and all Republican jour
nails IN the State. The meeting then ad-
journed to meet Wednesday evening next
at tho State House.
AN ADDRESS TO THE Ex-soLDIERs AND
SAILORS or THE UNITED STATES ARMY
AND NAVY.
COMRADEs-We, the ex soldiers and
sailors Of the Union army and navy residing
IN the State OF Louisiana. deeming it es.
sentlal to the cause and interest of the Re-
publican party, with which we are identi-
hed, to express our feelings in regard to the
political troubles which have long existed
IN this State and the persecution and ostra.
clsm the ex-UniOn soldiers and sailors have
eu0ered to an almost unendurable extent
from the merchants and planters since the
close OF the war, and for no other reason
than our adherence to the principles of the
Republican party, issue this address to you.
We are desirous that our comrades
throughout the United States should be
made aware Of the fact that we, who are
residing in Louisiana, are fully alive to the
interests which 80 deeply concern Us all.
While 80 much is being said about the
condition of affairs in this State, and go
much relative to the chief executive of this
nation, the leaders of the Republican party,
and against General P. H. Sheridan for the
part he 80 nobly took in the interest of all
law abiding citizens of the State of Louisi.
ana on the fourth day of January, 1875, we,
as Union soldiers and sailors, deem it our
duty to raise our voices in behalf of the
Union We battled to preserve and the gov
eminent we help to sustain.
We know BY bitter experience that if
ever men suffered Ostracism at the hands of
rebels within whose bosOms still burns the
fire of treason the Union soldiers and sail
ors have in Louisiana. Here the rebels of
few years ago are the merchants, the
factors and the planters, who now deprive
hundreds of our comrades of employment
because they continue to adhere to the
principles of the government.
We may safely say thousands of widows
and orphans OF Union soldiers and sailors
now mourn the loss of husbands and fathers
toully murdered in cold blood since the war;
for no other reason than because they were
Republicans. So numerous have been these
outrages in this section Of our Union that
time and space will not permit detailed
account. In this land OF boasted liberty and
justice the prayers of the widows and
orphans who have been deprived of protec-
tion and support by the knife or bullet are
answered by the lash, accompanied with
threats OF being driven from the land whose
soil had so recently drank the life.blood of
the husband Of the widow and the father of
the orphan.
Many OF the men who fell in New Orleans
in 1856, and those who have been slaugh.
tered since in massacres in this State, were
Union soldiers and sailors. who, being Re.
publicans, were killed on account of their
political opinions.
The journals which advocate Democracy
support the White League organization
and justify murder These journals saw to
the people of the North, "troops are not
need ed in louisiana"
The report of General Sheridan but
faintly p0rtrays the horrible Outrages Der.
petrated in this State. The White League.
which attemptedjby bleodyfnsurrectio1 to
overthrow the legal government of the
State, is composed Of the remnants of the
White Camellia..and other peace
destroying organizations. Justice was par.
alyzed till the protecting arm of the
rational government was raised, and then
he cry was "Down with the President
The assertion was often boldly made that the
allied to accomplish, they would accom-
,lish within it.
A perfect organization exists to ascertain,
when a man is employed, whether he wasia
ebel or Union man during the war, and !
f found that he was q Union soldier or |
ailor his employer must discharge him, or
70 ostracised by the influence of the White /
4eague. Some Of the very men who went |
rom place to place in search of the above |
orleans, especially for the purpose of COM |
'elling the discharge OF industrious men,
we're the very scum of society and the con- /
rolling element OF the Democracy,
Of justice we are bereft, or many mem.
'ers of the White League would long since
ave been held to account by the officers of
he law. Since 1866 peace has disappeared
a this State, never to return until the
White League shall have been taught to
espect the laws of the land. Not till then
an Law abiding citizens of Louisiana 70
rom their homes with prospect of return
az alive. Safety there is none in this
tate for Republicans, or exeoldiers and
ailors of the Union. Even Gods sanctuary
as not been spared, for they have sent
heir missiles into the churches, while the |
,orshippers were in the midst of divine SER
ice. Nor have the schools escaped, for
ands of White Leaguers paraded the
treets of New Orleans from school to school
nd drove from them childrep of African
escent, who in some instances. it is but
:ue to state, were their own half sisters.
These outrages were perpetrated with i'm.
unity, without Tear Of God or respect for
10 laws of humanity.
When the organization known as the
White League, and all such bands as have
cen its forerunners, shall have died out
nd been buried in the grave of disappoint-
ent, and when such bands of marauders
,all have been forgotten by all peace Low.
g American citizens, and when peace,
anquillity and prosperity shall reign in
le land where terror now reigns, then will
le memory of the members of the Union |
rmy and navy live with q grateful people,
nd the great principles of the Republican |
arty will live and flourish in all their
and burn in the heart OF every
merican citizen with the warmth Of q |
,erished memory.
We can SEQ in the hall of the House of
representatives in Brown, Of Kentucky, of
10 present, the same spirit that animated
rocks, Of South Carolina, in the past It
the same spirit that has animated the
'hite League of Louisiana in the commits
on of the crimes which have prompted
lis address.
We appeal to all our comrades to listen to
10 stories of our su1erings which the Grant
srish trial, the testimony now before Con-
'ess, the truthful statistics Of outrage and