New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-12-14
THE CONSERVATIVES.

THE CONSERVATIVES
The quasi union between the Last
D;tchess and the Conservatives was one
in which the latter have been perfectly
subordinate and submissive to THAR AZ
rogsnt leaders. Conservatism obeys the
laws Of the land II opposes resistance
OF evasion TO that which they have sworn
to abide. The Conservatives no doubt
expected favors from the success of the
Last Ditchers, rule more acceptable to
them than that which has prevailed in
the State and Union, bde they have never
contracted for conspiracy or for re-
nswed,ciyl war, which the Last Ditchers
apparently contemplate, in the event
their conspiracy shall have proven I'M
successfuL
We assume that the forms Of law have
been and will be complied with, both in
the State and in the Union. It win then
become those Conservatives who hold
property and do business in the State to
decide whether their indentures to the
Last Ditchers are to bind them forever.
Is the fact that many of them united in
the war of secession to condemn them to
obey the leaders of that movement? Il it
not obvious that when all who have been
amnestied accepted the amendments of
the constitution, no one so accepting
can be held to follow the Democracy in
an attempt open or covert, to defeat the
laws passed under the amendments,
or even to repeal those amend
ments? The Conservatives are free.
They have submitted to the rule of
the Last Ditch leaders. There has been
an effort to defeat the laws. It has been
declared that the election of the Demo
cratic candidate for the presidency would
leave the Democracy within the State to
dictate the relations between the citizen
and the State, and this relation has been
ehown by the laws Of such States as have
already assumed this power. 1t has
seemed to Us that in . State 80 little able
to Tesistsuch construction Of the laws as
the majority of the American people may
choose to place upon the laws as our
own, in q city dependent upon COM
merce SO subject to obstruction from
above or below, and which has already
such suffering from the preva-
encs of one civil wal, Conservatism should
now take the lead and preserve it from the
possibility of another.
So far from realizing these possible con-
sequences, we find the most hostile tone
md desperate coursels emansting from
he press of this city, and can perceive
hat the people Of Louisiana are stimu-
ated by every device of domestic and
oreign reports which can excite resist
nee or disobedience to the law. We
write, therefore, in spirit Of kindness
nd caution. Nothing that Louisiana, or,
indeed, the solid South, can do will affect
he decision Of the national majority,
whatever that may be; but there are re-
ults which every property and business
Conservative should regard. There may
70 national purpose to SO restrict those
vho have not been bound by the sacra-
mental pledges of amnesty as that they can
rot in future revive the questions to the
of. which they have so solemnly
INSCRIBED. The resolutions introduced |
y Senator Edmunds point to such re-
friction. The inimation attributed to
he President by the Democratic inter-
levers, that he would rather trust rebels
han their Northern allies, renders it
robable that the same legislation which !
'ould cripple the Last Ditch conspirstors
'ould also disable their treacherous col
,agues at the North.
From these Indications we come to the
inclusion that as the violence and
alumny Of the Last Ditch leaders and
ress can not affect the determination of
,e nation, whatever that may be, and as /
le possible consequences Of such vio-
nee may be to stimulate to national
'easures which may impair its future in
uence, it would be better that the Con-
,rvatives of Louisiana should declare
,eir independence of their White League
adere. and stand at least az ueutrals in |
hat may result in another war for the
aintenance of the Union. The
me has apparently come when this
'neral attorney to support anybody or
lything to beat Grant, will exceed its
overs, by committing those who have
ven it to measures not contemplated by
y friend Of the Union. II may be bet
:, therefore, that this authority be re-
'ked by the Conservatives that the pub
NAV know who are for the mAinte.