The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1877-03-21


The whole power of the Administra
ton would therefore be under the con
troll OF the Republican managers. I,
order to succeed they must hold on /,
South Carolina and Louisiana. whic|
would necessarily involve sustaiein.
by force the usurplng Governments o
Chamberlain and Packard, with al
their unlawful excrescerces in the VA,
OF interruptions Returning Boards
Inc patience of the people of these two
unhappy States is utterly exhausted
lhey would break out in open rebel
con against Government thus forced
on them, and continued in power By
the armed forces of the United States
Civil war would result. The Fedora
Government wonld reinforce itsel
with all the troops at its commands
| me other Southern States would natu.
rally rush to the aid of their SUFFERING
sister States; the safety of the colored
as we'll as the white population would
be endangered; and call would be
made for volunteers and militia from
me Northern States to suppress the re-
belllon, and thus the flames OF civil
war would be lighted all over the
Union, in the midst Of which a free
election would be impossible, end a
military despotism take the place of
CIVIL government. This generation
would pass away before the country
would recover from the disastrous con-
sequences Of such a fraticidal strife.
In comparison with the evils of auar-
chy, or Of a government of force.
which alone could prevent anarchy.
four years OF usurpation-hu usnrpa-
ton III accordance with the forms of
iaW-seemed to me 10y far the lesser
evil. Besides we have not yet tested
the Judgment of the people as to the
great outrage upon all Justice and
right which has been perpetrated
There is no reason to suppose that it
will be sanctioned by the popular voice
but if it should be we could not hope
to save them from usurpation and des-
potism 10y force used against the juds-
ment of majority Of the people.
To me, therefore, on the one side
was anarchy and civil war, inevitable
and disastrous of all the hopes of free
government; on the other side was
peace and order, with free speech, a
free press, and the ballot box still pre-
served to us.
Under the circumstances, | could
not hesitate as to my course. felt
that as a patriot and trusted servant
Of the Democracy, no other course was
left open to me, aud feel sure that its
wisdom will be indicated by the early
and triumphant success of the Demo-
cratic patty, standing as it does, upon
the rock of justice aud patriotism.
from which no amount of passion or
provncalion has been able to move it,
For myself, feel that I have now
completed the daty which WAS assign
ed a. me at st. Louis. The result of
tie campaign was the unqaessIonahleI
Election 'ut oar candidates. That they
AND the pcotle have been defraus;ed of
their rights true, bat for t:;is result
d" not hold myself any more respousi
HE than any other membcr Of Con-
s;rrss upon whom rested the duty Of
counting and declaring the votes.
III the conrse of my very brief public
experience have already found that
my usefulness AS a Representative in
Congress has been seriously impaired !
by my position rs Chairman of this |
Committee. and | had long since deter
mined to ask to be permitted to retire
from it as soon az the result of the
election was definitely asF ertained
Tie unforeseen complications which
arose have necessarily compelled me
tn postpone the execution OF this ia
teption until the present time. Now,
however. that all impedimen to my
retirement are removed, | beg to be re-
leased from further service rs your
and, thanking you for the
honor you have conferred and for the
which yon have uniformly
in my efforts to promote
the success Of Democratic principles, |
have the honor to be, very respectfully
sour obedicnt servant.
ABRAM S. HEWITT.
-<R 90 .