Year: 1866

that body, he said that secession was worse |
than crime; it was bluuder. Notwithstanding |
my nomination by the Democratic party, |
another candidate was put in the field in oppo- |
sition to me, who had officiated as Governor |
under the Rebel rule, and who, had he been |
In the country and expressed his assent, have |
no doubt would have been overwhelmingly |
elected.
When the members of the Legislature met in
extra session in the month of November, 1865,
convened by me for the purpose of rails
ing money to restore the broken levees,
and to take measures to redeem the
credit of the State, / found them more
intent on calling a convention to change the
Constitution of 1864 than to promote the general
interests of the people. Their chief objection to
that instrument was the character OF the men
who framed it, and the abolition of slavery.


Having failed at the extra session to pass q
bill to call Convention, the attempt was re-
newed at the regular session, held in the month
OF January, and more than half the time of that
body was spent in discussing that question.


Finally, a commission was sent to Washington
to consult with the President. Through his
advice l considered convention inexpedent
and for that reason opposed it. l had learned
enough of the real sentiments OF the people
to convince me that, If new Consttu-
ton was made, it would be less in har.
mony with the views of the President and
Congress than the Constitution of 1864, the
result of which would be to lessen the chances
for the admission of our Representatives, l
urged these views on the members of both
Houses of the Legislature. but they had no
effect with the majority. 1 deprecated the city
and parish elections, for the reason that l
feared the result because of the character of the
men who would be elected, and because l had
| seen enough of public sentiment to convince me
| that none but those who served in the Confede
| rate army, or who had gone into the Confederate
| lines would be elected to Office. l foresaw that
such result would be justly remarked by the
people of the loyal States as showing a
defiant spirit, and as still glorying 10 a cause
that ha6 been sustained by them with such
fearful loss of lite and expenditure of treasure,
with numerous and repeated evidences of
continuing an intolerant and rebelious
spirit, and the manifestation of an lnten-
ton of prosecuting all who did not
adhere to the fortunes of the Confederacy to the
last, on the part of large majority of the citi-
zens, and with press almost unanimously eX-
pressing sentiments of the same tenor is ii
a matter of surprise that l should pause,
and commence to reflect on the consequences
as regards the future security of the Govern
ment, and the fate of Union men in the South
ifthese men who once attempted to break uE
the Union succeeded in securing the power o.
the nation again?


l had seen that, while protesting with thei
lips renewed allegiance to the flag and al
obliteratlon of the past, which embodies the
pacific policy of the President, they were be
coming more arrogant into!erant, and dictate
rial. They gloried in the apparent schisn
between the President and Congress in th
policy of restoring the States latelv in rebellion
and rubbed their bands with delight at the ide;
OF a civil war in the loyal States.


In view of all this array of strong stubborn
facts, freely acknowledge my views of a con
clliatory policy, IN turning back to allegiance
those who have been engaged in a war tC
destroy the Union, have undergone a change
The intolerant spirit engendered by slavery still
exists, The loss of property and failure 0
hopes can never be forgiven, and though


regard them as impotent to resist the con
stituted authority enforced by the presence o.
the military, yet / am convinced they would
renew the Rebellion tomorrow if they saw
prospect of success.


Impressed with the truth of these views
| IuICStcluB ueCeSSlIy' ioI Tue luIuIe seCuI1l.
of the Uuion men in the South, that the amend
ment to the Constitution adopted by
Congress and submitted to the seve
raj States for ratification should pre-
vail, and freely realizing the fac
that the amendment would never be ratified
by the present Legislature, l own | was in
favor of the reassembling of the Convention o.
1864 as the only means OF securing the ratidca
ton required, and thereby to insure the admis
sion of our representatives in Congress.


The legal right OF the Convention to continue
its functions is a question, | suppose, properly
pertaining to the courts to decide. Senator;
and Representatives in Congress of great learn
inc, and men of hIqh legl attainments in New
Orleans have expressed the opinion that, under
the resolution of adjournment, the Convention
could lawfully assemble.


A distinguished Democratic Senator in Con
gress took the same view as myself If had
any doubt on he subject, have deferred to the
opinion of ADLER men. The total number o
delegates composing the Convention was one
hundred and fifty. The number elected was
seventytwo. The quorum was fixed at seventy.
six, this number being majority ofthe whole


There were twenty-seven parishes unreore.
sented in the Convention that were entitled to
! ffty-one delegates, and adding thereto ten
l vacancies to be filed, would make sXty-one
delegates TO be elected. Besides, there we're
some ten or twelve delegates who, disap.
proving of the emancipation clause, refused