The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-08-26
OUACIIITA.
GRAND RATIFICATION MEETING.
Speeches by Col. Reeves, Capt. f. u
Kidd, COL nc. ii. Todd and 9. ID.
HFcEnery, Esq.
Correspondence Of the Democrat

There was @ large and enthusiastic gath
ering OF the Democracy OF Ouachita In Mon
roe last Monday evening, to ratify the action
of the Baton Rouge convention. A great
many prominent gentlemen were present from
the parishes Of the Fifth Congressional Dis
trict, convoked to nominate o candidate for
Congress. The meeting was called to order
by S. d. McEnery, Esq. Capt. W. 2. Rem
nick taking the chair,
Col. Reeves, of Tensas, first addressed the |
assembly. He took occasion to speak first |
with regard to the nomination of Major |
Burke, saying that while he would have sup |
ported Col. Richardson, and while he recog- |
nized in Col. Moncure q man whom Louis
anians loved d thorough gentleman and o
noble-hearted patriot, he thought Major
Burke worthy of the honor done him at
Baton Rouge. He said "Maior Burke has
done us an inestimable service Through the
influence he welded at Washington and his
bold assertion Of our rights he secured to
| Louisiana the blessings of home rule. fully
and heartily indorse the nomination Of this
able and successful champion OF our rights.
| 'The great question. pursued the Colonel.
| ''that came before the convention was that Of
| instructng for the calling Of q constitutional
convention at the earliest possible moment.
[ thank Heaven there was a resolution to this
effect. Since the Democratic party came into
| power have thought it1nCumbent on u.s. both
TO vindicate our self-respect and honor in the
| eyes Of the world as well as from motives Of
interest and policy, to utterly repudate the
| Infamous, force-begotten, blOOd-dyed wreck
and ruin constitution Of 1868. and frame q
new organic law for ourselves" He gave his
reasons in full for his opinion on this subject,
and then proceeded to discuss national ques-
tions and our interests In Congress. His
speech was emphatic and his views well de-
| fined.
Capt. E. E. Kidd, of Jackson was next
called upon. His sappearance was greeted with
hearty applause. he began his speech by no.
tcng the presence Of several gentlemen who
had this morning been sacrificed on the altar
vi their country in the nominations for Con-
gress and the State Senate and referring to
their present enthusiasm observed that this
seemed to be feast of the disappointed. He
said he was happy to announce that as for
himself, "though slightly disfigured, he was
still In the ring.' He spoke OF the action OF
the Baton Rouge convention in the highest
terms OF commendation. He said "The
voice OF the people has been heard-the last
vestige of Radical misrule shall be wiped out
!, forever. The judgment has been rendered
by the highest court OF appeal 1t reads: 1t
Is ordered, adludgeed and decreed that the
record of our political degradation be torn
from its lids and scattered 20 the winds, and
J that there be constitution for Louisiana by
} Louisianlans. He continued: 'Ihe rights
} Of the colored people in the new constitution
shall and will be protected. They have no
, need to fear, and [ for one desire that the
new organic law Of Louisiana shall teach
for the present, and prophesy forever, their
Touching upon our policy in Congress, he
said that pure politics must step aside to
give place to material issues. The South de-
mands that the Mississippi be leveed;
J that o railroad free from ice and snow be ex-
tended to the Pacific. We have been truck
ling long enough to Northern sentiment. The
South now steps forward, and by bold self
assertion will henceforth demand her rights.
} In noble and inspiring language Mr.. Kidd
drew the picture of the future glory and mag
nificence Of the South, through liberal and pa
triotic legislation, "When prosperity like the
breath OF spring shall come, making green
and beautiful the land about us, and the happy
notes OF the mOCking birds shall float out from
, the orange groves and vine-clad bowers Of
fiOurishing and happy homes"
Col. r. Is. Todd Of Morehouse, was next
called out and delivered an able and states
manlike speech. He indOrsed all that the
Btton Rouge Convention had done He spoke
in the highest terms Of the services Of Major
Burke, and declared there was not q man in
Louisiana that had done more for the
people Of the State. It was due he believed
to Burke's able management Of our affairs at
,, Washington that Nichols was now Governor
of Louisiana, and the baton Of home rule
was in the hands Of the Intelligent and honest
representatives Of the people.
. 81 indorse from the bottom Of my heart,
! he continued, "the resolution instrMcting the
, Legislature TO call constitutional cOnveu-
tion at the earliest possible moment. favor
ed constitutional convention because We
own, and the one which was orttered US was
, radically defective and disgrace to our peo-
. pie. Fellow citizens, the highest privilege Of
free people is to frame their organic law
Tod,
tion Of 1868 was made under the portentous
. shadow OF Federal bayOnets; and were that
! constitution perfect IN every particular, il
= would be no constitution, and ] would spurr
it from us to be free from q sense Of shame
:, and in vintication OF the manhood Of oul
peOple!"
; Col. Todd adverted to national politics. anG
made an able expose Of the principles ant
: policy Of the Democratic party. Referring tt
q q the principle Of State rights and home rule
I said he: II do not hesitate to declare that tbs
= only hope Of the maintenance and perpetua
tion Of republican institutions and Of the lib
and the ongrafting on the policy Of the gen
eral government Of those great principles
. that constitute the basis and groundwork o
q q the, Democratic party Certain ideas,. h!t
5 said, once fondly cherished had been dissi
9 poted by the war "But," said he, Il deny
y that the results Of the war and the adoption
: Of the amendments have changed the charac
ter OF our government and converted It into {
= centratlzed deSpOtlSn, or republic, II you Will
a No! q thousand times no. The principle O
. home rule will survive, to be reasserted in thf
q future triurnphs Of the party Of constitu
tional liberty. 1t is a principle which existet
before the Federal constitution was framed
which the constitution was desired to cOnse
Q crate and perpetuate, which was planted or
= our shores with the coming of our first colony
I The love Of the people Of Louisiana for this
u principle should be intensified by the recol
: lection that here, upon our soil, this right re-
l. ceived it's greatest blow, and here in our State
:. was Witnessed the most Infamous and shame
when the minions of Federal power-the paie
ianissaries Of q corrupt dynasty-nvaded the
l sacred precincts of our Legislative halls, ant
at the point Of the bayonet drove from theil
" seats the chosen representatives Of the people
), | rejoice in the prospect, nay certainty, tina
0 in q few short months the Democratic paIt5
will have control of both houses Of Congress
: not be complete, for the antagonistic forces o
y States rights and free government on ONT