The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-02-23
AN APPEAL TO CONGRESS.

Tomorrow the appropriation bill, to which
the repeal of the test oath and election laws
has been added as an amendment comes up
In Congress for consideration. It has already
been announced by the leaders Of the Repub-
llcan minority that they will oppose and
delay the passage OF the amendment by every
means that parliamentary tactics will supply.
This is equivalent to saying that the Repub-
lcan party IL determined to push TO the
last extremity the partisan persecu-
tlon its leaders and committee rnan-
ayers have forced the fraud at Wash
Ington to inaugurate against our people.
This is fair notice, which Is moro than was
given when the conspiracy to steal the Pres
idency was on foot and. II these outrages are
permitted to be consummated, the RESPONSE
blty will rest solely on the Democratic
House Of Representatives.. It will be folly to
attempt to shift 1t upon other shoulders.
Certainly II the Republicans can take the re-
sponsibility Of forcing an extra eession OF
Congress under such circumstances the Dem
ocrats have nothing 10 fear In that respect
Every boat that comes TO our city from the
interior brings hundreds Of our people who
are under Indictment, or subpmnaed here as
witnesses to be arrested after their arrival
In every possible way that the oppressive
enforcement of a law, admitted to be uncon-
stitutional can be executed, In order to out
rage and Cypress our people. and ruin them
In their business affairs, the best citizens OF
our State are being driven TO desperation
by the Infamous and malignant creatures
who have these prosecutions In hand. That
| a T.n tu cha
grace to American civilization; and 1t will
| rest on Democratic Congress to account for
all the sufferings and outrages that may be
entniled- sufferngs and outrages 1t can easily
| forbid II Ii only has the manliness and cour-
| age 10 do 50. The responsibility Of an extra
session has no terrors for the Republicans
| who are urging on these prosecutions sim
ply on party grounds, and with the
most savage sregard Of all justice and
humanity. What ignominy then, can be In
| Cured by Democrats who are lighting for
the sanctity OF the most hallowed traditions
or AngIo-Saxon manhood and the vindieatlon
OF the most sacred guarantees OF constltu-
tional liberty? 1t Is shameful indeed to hear
men talking OF policy and expectancy, OF
party capital and political dodgery, when
freemen are being hunted from their
homes and pursued as felons at the
mere behest OF Radical campaign
committees Let us have no more of such
| talk In the thwarting OF such crimes as
| this. lovers Of human freedom cannot be over
nice. When tho old barons OF England wrung
from their reluctant king the great charters
OF human rights, did they halt at the portals
Of the palace to take off their clanking swords
lest they offend the sensitive ears OF tyranny
Did those rude champions, scarce one OF
whom could claim benefit Of clergy, stop to
consult authorities and hunt for presidents
ere they made q stand for human rlghts2 II
ever they did we have skipped the record In
the grand old chronicles.
With all these examples before 1t, will the
American Congress hesitate az to the course
1t should pursue2 It has but one course tt
pursue, and that Is to use relentlessly the
great power conferred upon 1t of stopping
the revenues of an Executive that Is using al
It's power to outrage and Cypress the people
and Of judiciary that has permitted itsel
to be made the vile instrument of such Q
tyranny.
We appeal to Congress to stand by its
original purpose, and enforce the repeal O
these infamous statutes, at any cost. Tit
time will be when the responsibilities In
Cured by this course will be source OF con
graduation and pride.