Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1876-06-10
John McEncry.
Correspondence Of the New Orlcans

in he Woes and sacrifices, who fought
for her the battle of civil liberty
against the combined powers of State
usurpation and Federal tyranny, who
sacrificed his fortune, his business aud
his home in the cause of her people.
lie stood four years ago in Lafay-
cite Square, uncovered, before forty
thousand of his fellow citizens. and
with hands upliftcd to God, pledged
himself as the true and lawful Gov
ernor of Louisiana, 10 be faithful to
the high trusts rcposed in him.
Deprived of the Office that Of right
belonged to him, turned from the CAPT
tol of the State, when in quiet posses
sion, by the armed legions of the
Federal Government, stripped Of all
resources save bis personal fortune,
lie stood u and made a fight for lib
crtv, free institutions and local self
government such as the world never
saw.
Did John McEncrv ever shrink
from any duty or responsibility?
Was he ever faithlcss to any public
trust? Has be not borne fcarIesslv
aloft the uIstained banner of our
integrity as people? Has he not
baitled for the true interests Of LouiSi-
ana with brave heart and unyiclding
spirit?
In the dark hours of our long strug-
gle against tyranny and oppression,
when some of our best citizens gave
way and were disposed to yield to the
usurper upon some slight aud mcagrc
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES fanciful ideas of
benclit-when they were for surren-
derirg the rights and principles for
which we as an entire people had
been contcnding, John McEnery, who
had abandoned all idea of being Gov
ernor of Louisiana as long as Grant
held his bayOncts 20 his breast, but
never yielding for one moment the
grand contest for principle said:
al WILL NEVER ABANDON THE POST
TO WHICH THR PEOPLE or LOUISIANA
HAVE CALLED Me. So LONG As | HAVE
LIFE AID STRENGTH | WILL CONTINUE
TO BATTLE To THE UrTERMoST FOR
THEIR INALIENABLE RIGHT OF SELF
GOVERNMENT. BEFORE THE PHOSPHATE
FORM OF MY STRICKEN STATE | SHALL.
STILL HOLD THE .EGIS OF THE CONSTR
TUITION, AND 80 ALIEN NOR DOMESTIC
HAND SHALL STRIKE AT HER LIBERTIES
UNREsIsTED BIZ ME-"
No apostle of freedom in any land,
under any sun, ever uttered subimer
sentiments. In days gone by such
eloquence. courage and patriotism
have won battles, preserved liberties,
saved republics.
No man. under the stress Of such
mighty difficulties, ever upheld the
rights of people or the principles of
a government with q iirmer band, II
more unselliSh devotion, a more daunt-
less soul. When be appealed to the
people and their representatives not
to surrender the struggle when be
pointed out with vehement logic the
delusion and the snare 10 which they
were invited by the compromise, then
il was that enemies arose against him,
and the voice Of ca!umnv assaied his
best meant actions and aspcrscd his
purest motives.
Did he cover then when deserted
by friends and beset by the scorn and
reproaches of a faction? Did he
draw the mantle over his face aud
bend his body TO receive the thrust
prepared for him in his own temple q?
No! the same undaunted soul was
there be bad duty to Louisiana to
perform, and like a man he stood in
the breach 10 do it or die.
When Pitt was making lis great
fight for the English people be never
answered u single ore OF the thou andS
Of ISLANDERS levelled against his motives,
but when an editor accused him of
specializing in stocks while Minister
Of Finance, he at once brought suit
for SANDER against him.
MeEnery paid no attention TO these
ISLANDERS against his motives. Moth
ing could be said against his integrity,
that stood unsullied and without
tarnish in the fierce ouibursts Of ami
mositieS-in the war of elimination
and recrimina,ion. a dreary year
rolled round after the storm of dissen-
sion, and the people Of Louisiana was
again united in a great council of the
State. Passion bad subsidized, and
discord found no place in this conven-
ton Of the people. Those who had
differed buried the past. and joined
hands for the future. The biitereSt
assailants of John McEnerv accorded
him sincerity, devotion and patriotism.
If he had erred, it was in the steady
consistency with which he upheld the
principles he had sworn to protect
Clarendon said of lIampden, in speak
ing of his wonderful fitness for leader
ship, he was not to he tired out"
In the long contest against tyranny
and usurpation John McEEery has
exhibited mighty manlineSs and
fortitude in opposing and enduring the
difficulties and trials that everywhere
beset him. When the people slept,
he thought. When they found tempo
rary ease, he was ever struggling to
rescnc them and the State from the