The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-01-12
MIR. ALBEIT LEONARD BEFORE THE
TELLER COMMITTEE.


To the Editor of the Democrat:
Mr.. Albert Leonard, In his testimony be
fore the Teller committee. denies that hi
speeches during the late canvass contained
anything incendiafy, as charged by his Dem
ocratic adversaries. He then states the pur
port Of his appeal and argument to the col
ored men, Of whom he appears to have beer
leader and chieftain Of the most absolute
power and control over their political actor
and passions. His argument In favor OF the
Radical candidates for the Legislature and
against the Democratic Conservatives was
that the former were not trained under the
old slavery institution, had none Of the pre-
JUDGES and passions begot Of that institu.
ton. and, consequently, should be pre-
ferred to the Conservative Democrats
who were born and reared to man.
hood before that institution had disappeared
Now, whilst am not disposed to apply th g
term "incendiary" to arguments OF this sort,
and most earnestly oppose all violence in re-
sistance to words or speeches Of political ora
tors, how imprudent, iDflammatory and mis-
the utterance OF Mr.. Leonard was the most
offensive, uniustifiable, and In political,
moral and social view, the most reprehensible
which could, under the circumstances, have
been conveyed to the minds OF our negroes.
l Will not seek to strengthen this judg-
ment by personal references to Mr.. Leon
ards antecedents, and will not dwell on the
startling audacity Of this appeal to the ne
grOes, coming from recent leader of the
White League party, and the most violent
instigatOr OF every species OF violence and in
protests and opposition Of ali Of that class Of
our citizens who had been born, raised ami
educated under the slavery Institution.
assert as o historical fact that the very
reverse Of Mr.. Leonard's proposition Is
truei that our former Shareholders, the
hood and middle age under the instl-
tuition, have constituted the majority OF
the party composed of Liberals, OF Conserva-
tives and Democrats, which through the vio-
lent 90 and persistent appeals q Mr. Leonard
into an apparent sanction OF his White League
policy.
AS long as the party referred to was con-
trolled by the truly liberal, conservative and
citizens against whom Mr. Leon
ard sought to arouse the passions and preju-
dices OF the negroes, as persons not to be
trusted by them with any political powers
the policy and principles Of the party were
OF the. most liberal. conciliatOry and just
character. The reconstruction measures were
were distinctly repudiated, the negroes were
invited to cooperate with us, negro clubs
were encouraged and organized, they were ad
mitted to the conventions Of the party, they
were accepted and voted for as candidates for
Office. The writer was an active member of
the executive committeelwhich conducted the
campaign of 1868, and performed the duty as
signed to him of writing the address to the
cOlOred citizens, which embodied all their
pledges and principles, That address was
..1 nd air nA hxvN he, xLo,,,
committee, every onesof whom lad grown up
under the institution OF slavery, had all owned
slaves, and who then, and have ever since, re-
pudiated In the most emphatic manner and
opposed with all their influence every form
Of violence, intimidation and unfriendly
conduct towards the negroes, and challenge
Mr.. Leonard or any Of his followers to gain
say the declaration that the whole scheme of
bulldozing and Of white mans partyism orig
mated with and has been carried out by the
and degrading influences OF the
old slave Institutions and from which class
alone should the negroes select their candid
ates for Office, and which alone deserves their
suffrage.
The uttersnce Of 50 flagrantly untrue and
unjust proposition and argument to our ig-
norant, excitatle and credulous negro citi-
zens by the chief law officer of the Federal
government was grave Ofense, an abuse of
} high trust. and deserves the severest re-
proof OF the Chief Executive. In an ordinary
political orator, such language and state
nents might BE- passed over In contemptuous
ienial and silence, but from United States
District Attorney they can be regarded in no
)ther light than that OF a criminal Indictment
u the passions and prejudices OF our color ed
1eoplelagainst the white citizens, and gross
deception and political fraud upon the colored
voters.
Though always and still personally friendly
With Mr.. Leonard, and frequently his de-
ender against unjust assalment, cannot
suppress my indignant denunclation Of such
lcts and arguments to infiame the passions
II the negroes against those who have always
maintained the rights OF the colored people,
md vigorously, and at the sacrifice OF much
4 their political influence, resisted every form
il that violence and terrorism or which Mr.
leonard has been q conspicuous advocate
nd champion.
AN ANTE AND Posi- BELLUM DEMOCRAT.