Year: 1866




sary effect. Thirty years ago, slavery
shot Lovejoy in Alton, for defending tho
right Of free speech. Year after year,
slavery inSulted, threatened and mobbed
Northern men for preaching the Declar-
alton of Independence. For five and six
years past, slavery has exiled, tortured,
hung and burned Southern men for fidel-
ity to the Union. But the sure mills Of
God grind slowly on and slavery is abol-
ished.


1t is OF no importance whether the
members of the Louisiana Convention of
1864 were wise OF unwise, fanatical or
moderate. Any body of men, anywhere
IN the country, have the unquestionable le
right of assembling, under any call what
ever to consider public affairs The
desire of discussion is their authority
Any number of citizens of the State of
New York may lawfully meet anywhere
IN the State to propose a rev Con,titu-
iiUn. One man alone may lawfully pro-
claim a new Constitution. There is no
law against debate or against PROPOSE
tions of any kind, however sweeping
or radical they may be. But when
men proceed from debating to enforc-
ing their propositions, they become
amcnable to the law and must answer for
their overt acts The Secession Conyen-
tions OF 1s60.61 were properly tolerated
rs the di-union arguments Of the aboli-
tionsts had been previously properly tol.
Grated The Fenian meetings to found
an Irish republic were perfectly lawful.
But when the secessionists passed from
declarations to deeds, and fired upon the
forts, and seized the navy-yard-, and
stole custom. houses; and when the Fen
ians attempted with arms TO make war
upon peaceful neighbor, the United
States justly interfered.


The President knew, as everybody
else knew, the infamed condition of the
city OF New Orleans. lie hal read, as
we bad all read, the fiery speeches of
both parties. lie knew, unless he had
chosen willfully TO ignore, the smothered
hatred of the late rebels toward the Union
men of every color lie may have con-
sidcred the Conservatives wise, humane
and peaceful. He may have thought the
Radicals wild and foolish. lie knew that
the Mayor was a bitter rebel, whom he
had pardUned into office lie knew that
the courts had denounced the Convention,
and he was cxpress Y informed that they
tl m li,.t fha l..
not affect ignorance of the imminent
danger Of rioling and bloodshed Still,
it, as he constantly asserts. Louisiana is
rightfully in the same relation TO the
Union that New York is, he had no
authority to say word or to do an act
in that State except ION application of
the Legislature, or of the Executive when
the Legislature cannot be convened"
Why did he presume, then, to judge Of
the authority Of the Convention What
has the President of the United States to
do with the manner in which delegates to
State Convention are selected If his
own assertion be correct as to the present
extraordinary ';iiiG ;ainiiG ')passiutIAev IdpiWt the
cutive usnrpation and federal ceniraliza.
ton recorded in our history.


If, however, he had any right whatev-
er TO intervene in the absence of demand
from the Legislature or the Governor, it
was derived from the fact that Louisiana
is held by the military power of the
United States, in which case her present
relation to the Union is not what the
President declares it to be, and he has
ample and absolute power to do in that
State whatever is necessary to keep the
peace And he knew, as lie knew his
own existence, that simple word to the
military commander to preserve the peace
at all hazards would prevent disorder
and save lives. He did not speak that
word. Assuming to plant himself upon
the Constitution, which by his very act
he violated, he telcgraphed, to the Attor-
ney General Of the State. He threw his
whole weight upon the side of those from
whom he knew, in the nature Of things,
the disorder would proceed, and from
whom it did proceed. He knew the city
was tinder, and he threw IN spark.
Every negro-hater and every disloyal ruff
tian knew from the Presidents dispatcl,
that the right of the citizens to assemble
and declare their views would not lie
protected. The Mayors proclamation
was covert but distinct invitation 10
riot. lie announced TO a city seething
with passionate hatred of the Convention,
that it would ''receive no counienanc
from the President" 1t was simply say
ing, "The Convention is at your mercy.


And the mob so understood it. A pro-
cession of negroes carrying United
States flag was attacked. 1t defended
ITSELF and the work which one WORD
from the President would have stopped
and which he had the full authority tt
speak went on to its awful result
The rebel flag was again unfurled. Th'
men who had bravely resisted it for fou
years were murdered under its encourage
ment, and while they were still lyinI
warm in their blood, the President tele
graphed that they were ian unlawful AS
sembly," and that ''usurpation will no
be tolerated" which he had n,
shadow OF authority TO utter except b,
, the same right which empowered him I,
save all those lives; q right which b.