Year: 1871

A call having been publicly made for a


mass meeting of the Third Ward Republi.


cans to be held in Mechanics Institute,


there was lively response, and the large


hall was filed to over1owing by active


voters, men directly interested in the pend


ing issues.


From first to last good order was OBJ


served.


As with one voice Hon. A. E. Barber was
elected president, and Messrs. j. A. Craig
and w. W. johnson chosen secretaries.


The president announced Judge Evans
as the first speaker, when that gentleman
stepped forward and addressed the assem-


bly,. The following is synopsis of his re-
marks:


He said that he was glad that he had an
| opportunity to address the meeting and
have free speech; that it was notorious that
| in the mother club there was not fair play
nor free speech. He was unwilling to be
trammeled by any set of men. AS there
| has been trouble in several of the clubs
especially in the Third Ward, this meeting
was called to consider these gross Outrages,
| and take some necessary steps to prevent
further outrages. This is a kind of family
meeting. Should these dissensiOns continue,
| there is no telling what may happen to the
party. All we ask is fair field and fair
| play We are on the eve of an important
crisis-that is. on the seventh of August to
choose new State Central Executive Com
mittee. | wish to elect men to that cnnven-
| ton who can go there with the fear of
God before them; men who will prop
erlv represent us as Republicans, men
who will labor for the best interests of the
party. Let us not send men who will go
there as customhouse or other rings. If
proper men are sent this bugbear of a split
in our party will Immediately disappear
and those who are now apparently opposed
will be hugging each other. Until this
family interruption occurred that was not a
Democrat outside of the lunatic asylum who
supposed they would have a ghost of a
chance in 1872. In accord, we can beat the
Democrats forty thousand votes next year.
and give them big margin for stealing and
shooting. l advise you not to choke man
down in the ward clubs; hear him, for he
may have something good TO suggest; give
all an open opportunity to have their say.


Senator Pinchback was loudly called for,
and responded in substance as follows:


understand that this meeting was called
to give men of all grades an opportunity
TO speak their sentiments; not be crushed
down as it is said has been done in the
Third Ward. | propose to have men of
our party to pay little attention to our
enemies, and stop fighting our friends. 1t
is a fact known to all of US that there is
some difficulty in our ranks.


How is it that the men who few months
ago circulated a document asking the re-
mOval of Colonel Casey are now his warm
est supportersl We have no guarantee
that the men who turned in one case will
turn in another. 1t has been stated that
even | would not be permitted to make
speech in the Third Ward Club: but | don't
believe it, as | see some of the members
here, and calling for me TO make speech.


The speaker, to draw a striking parallel,
related the history of politics in Tennessee
where there was split in the Republican
party, resulting in the election of a Demo-
cratic Legislature. and Governor (Senter)
opposed to most of the party, and then the
protective laws were repealed and the ku-
Klux went to work.


Men in the CustomhOuse have told me
that if Governor Warmoth is nominated
unanimously they will not support him.
They say that the men who are laudest in
support of Governor Warmoth hold office
under him. and are fighting for him in con-
sequence. Then how about the Custom
house ring May not the same thing be
said of them Z!


The speaker scored Lieutenant Governor
Dunn for that officials conduct toward him
after he (the speaker) had unswervingly
supported him on principle. He said that
Mr.. Dunn had repeatedly left him out in
the cold and even attempted to lay him or
the shelf Like his friend Mr.. Greeley, he is
not seeking after office but if one is thrust
on him he will not reject it. He desired to
see unanimity and peace in the ranks now
and hereafter, and to that end he would
exert his talents.


At the close Of Mr.. Pinchback's remarks,
the president announced that after the
reading of the following resolutions, Mr..
Peter Harper would address the meeting.
The resolutions were adopted with scarcely
a dissenting voice:


WHEREAS, The enemies of the cause of
freedom and progress. as enunciated in the
platform of the Republican party, not only
in the State of Louisiana, but throughout
our common country. have been busily en-
gagged IN circulating the base and unfound-
ed report that there exists in our ranks
widespread dissatisfaction, which threatens
to end in permanent disruption; and


Whereas, Certain disatfected politicians,
in order to further their selfish personal
ambition, have sought rather to widen than
to close the impending breach; therefore
be it


ResoLyed, BY the Republican voters of the
Third Ward of New Orleans, in mass meet
ing assembled, that we deny that there ex-
lists any breach in our party, and assure our
political enemies that we will meet them in
1877 with an unbroken front, and shoulder
to shoulder.


ResOlUed, That we earnestly deprecate all
attempts at dissension in our party, and
that we do renew our pledges of unremit-
ting fidelity to our principles.


Res0tced, That we do cordially support
the national and State administration, and
heartily indorse General Ulysses S. Grant
and Governor Henry Clay Warmoth as the
faithful and devoted expOnents of the Re-
publican principles enunciated in the plat
forms upon which they were elected.


ReSotced, That the city administration has
fairly earned, and honestly deserved our
full confidence and support, especially for
their fairness in providing work for our
needy brethren, and their endeavors to
carry out the principles of the thirteenth |
article OF our State constitution, TO secure |
to every man his civil and political rights, |
without regard to race, color, or previous |
condition of servitude"


Mr.. Peter Harper was called for by |
numerous voices, and he spoke several
minutes; but at this juncture a ward club
arrived with band of music, and, not be-
inc aware that tbav io+o ba unaat-