Year: 1866

sued writs of election to fill up the vacan
) cles from those parishes where no elections
: had been previously held and | declare il
? IN the feeble strength of what reputation
} may have for being able to interpret the
, laws OF my country, that when the Execu
tive of State proclaims an election and
| orders his sheriff in parish or county to
hold it, no power outside of that State can
question his act. Great applause What
) would be thought fellow-citizens, if the
people or the Governor Of New York should
question the right of the Governor of Penn.
sylvania to order an election in his State ?
What would be thought if the President of


the United States should inquire of the


Governor of Massachusetts why he ordered


particular election in the old Bay State ?


What answer would be given to such an


interrOgatory 1t is plain, fellow-citizens,


that there could be but one that it did


not lie within the province or the function


of him who put the interrogatory to inquire


into the matter at all Applause. A Chief


Magistrate of the Union deals with States


only through their executive or Legislative


departments he can come in contact Off


cially with the people and the governor of


a State in no other way The fourth sec


tion of the fourth article of the Constitu-


ton of the United States declares that the


United States shall protect each State in


the Union against domestic violence, on
| the application of the Legislature, or, if the


Legislature cannot be convened, on the ap-


plication of the Executive and therefore


it follows as an irresistible conclusion that


even in the emergency of domestic violence


the President of the United States cannot


interpose unless the Legislature, if it be in


convention, or the Governor, in its absence,
| shall call upon that high officer so to do.--
Now 1T is known to you all that the honor
ed Chief Magistrate of this nation has re-
peatedly recognized Louisiana as a State
in the Union that he has declared the re-
belllOn in that State at an end that he
has proclaimed it restored to all it's origi-
nal functions and prerogatives as a State
i'll the Union, and he has even upbraided


the Congress of the United States because
that body was not prompt enough in his
opinion in coinciding with his Judgment
and admitting Representatives and Sena-
tors from that State; therefore, from the
point of view Of the Executive, any inter-
ference in Louisiana with writs of election
ordered by her chief Executive Magistrate
must, with due Difference be it said, be
treated-from that point of view, l say-as
mere act of Executive usurpation. In the
case of Louisiana, no Executive call had
been made, no Legislature was in session,
and therefore the exigency provided for by
the Constitution had not arisen, and the
question propounded to Gov Wells by the
President Of the United States was a ques-
ton which, within the terms of the Consti-
tuition, he had no right to PROFOUND. But,
fellow-cltlzens, what was the consequence
| trust that understand too we'll my duty
as an American citizen to speak in terms
that should be in the slightest degree dis
respectful of the President of the United
States. | know that here, where every citi- |
zen is a part of the Government, becom-
ing self-respect forbids each one to treat
the Chief Magistrate otherwise than with |
courtesy and Difference. 1t is impossible |
that he should have meditated any harm
Has he not himself, citizens, told us fire.
quently-announced to us in terms that |
were unmstakable, and which have i'm
pressed themselves on our memory-that |
he had trodden the paths of glory and
sounded all the depths and shoals of honor;
that he had nothing more to hope for from |
his country and that his career of glory
was run ?"


At this point of the speakers remarks,
the arrival of the Republican Invincibles,
headed by band of music, compelled him
to defer speaking for several Moments
The Invincible boys were greeted with
rousing cheers which were repeated again
and again by the vast multitude, which by |
this time covered every available inch Of
ground in front of the League House. The
speaker finally resumed as follows


was saying, citizens, that in our Repub
lie, where each man feels that he himself
is part and parcel of the Government, a be
coming self-respect forbids him to treat the
Chief Magistrate of his country in any 9th
er mode than that of the most courteous
Difference And, indeed, if he were not the
Chief Magistrate, it is our bounden duty to
treat every opponent in debate as an an
tagonist surely, but not as an enemy
With his motives we are not concerned, but
with the bearings of his conduct, with the
consequences of his measures we have a
right to make full inquiry, and it is our du-
ty to criticise them in spirit of fairness
and candOr.


l regret deeply to be compelled to say,
as one who was an eyewitness of those
scenes in New Orleans which have sent
thrill of horror through the loyal heart of
the nation, that the interposition of the
Chief Magistrate of the country in the af-
fairs of Louisiana, most terribly misunder-
stood by those to whom he addressed him.
self, has produced the terrible results of
the 30th July.


On that day, citizens, our glowing sun
rose majestically over the city of New Or
leans all nature smiled under his bounte-
Gus beams the Queen City of the valley
of the Mississippi lay there bathed in the
glorious sunlight like rich diamond in
monarch's crown, or as the brightest jewel
in the girdle of the Republic No indica-
ton in the heavens foreshadowed the dark
fatality that was to approach that day
The Union citizen. in pursuit of his business
avocations, went to his desk, his workshop
and his store that day. Was there any
thought of apprehension in any mans mind,
it was Immediately silenced, for there float
ed the American flag over New Orleans,
the guarantee of protection, and there stood
an American general with an American ar
NV tO shield tho TniOn citizen If anV Deril |