Year: 1872

pOstpOnemonG was only 0ue TO D desire 10


coalition with Governor Warmoth, tn


efforts made by the friends of the latte


party. Letters had been flying about an,


instructions given. The dispatch of Franl


P. Blair, of st. Louis, that "our friend


here desire the Louisiana convention to de


fer nominations until after the Cincinnati


convention" he had read, but failed t,


recognize the authority in Blair to send it


Cries for Manning being loudly uttered


this gentleman took the floor and spoke alst


upon the question of postpOnement.


Speaking of the thralldom Of the State


under the Republican party, sit was only


when we had determined to suffer deatt


rather than degradation" that we succeed


ed in obtaining convention, freed from


the ordinary selfish motives that have actu


ated other bodies of the kind. With tha,


principle, victory will perch upon our ban


ners as sure as the God in heaven lives


He did not believe the everlasting destinies
Of the State hung upon making nomlna
tions now, though he was of the opinion
much did depend upon it. The only ques
ton he asked himself is, if that there was to
be an election in November, "how in the


world can we manage SO as to make the
Democratic party successful :" He was ut
terly Mortified to hear in the speech of Judge
Cotton that the only obstacle in the way OF
success from the Democratic party was the
Boston club. who would have the whole
convention by the throats. Being utterly
bereft of any other reason why nominations
should be forced upon us, Judge Cotton,
the speaker said, was mean enough to make
the accusation that the only object of post.
ponement was to form coalition with War
moth, whom the speaker denounced. Were
such the case, on his part, he would be un-
wortl y the respect Of any man. [Applause.
This, said the speaker, is the last OppOr-
tunity for the party representing the peO-
pie to save the State.


Mr.. Tucker. of st. Mary. began a speech
in favor Of postpOnement of the nomina-
tions, and he at first alluded to the reasons
which those who had taken the opposite
tack advanced, and in calling them up,
spoke Of his own, which was the fear Of its
absolute dissolution if there was y failure to
act on this occasion. The Central Com.
mittee did not believe themselves able to
cope with the question of nominations or
none, and hence had called the present
body together. The whole subject was de-
ferred to the convention by the committee,
at whose deliberations he was present, and
the question was one OF expediency. Had
he not fear OF the dissolution Of the Demo
cratic party, he would yield to the argu-
ments OF those who advocated postpone
ment. The elements Of dissolution were
already at work; a considerable por-
ton, in the shape of the Reformers,
had already sloughed of, but he be-
Geved their mission was at an end,
inasmuch as they had failed to secure
any support from the negroes. All who
we're assembled stood on the conviction that
if there be any hope of the regeneration Of
Louisiana, it lay with the Democratic party,
,a1. hne IL ne
white population Of the State. He consid-
cred the mission of the party was reform,
and that all good citizens should rally to its
standard; though he still believed those
who rallied to the support of the Reform
party were patriotic, but if the RefOrmers
should put another ticket in the field beside
the ticket Of this party. it would follow that
the party would be divided. In speaking
of the Cincinnati Convention, he said it had
been concluded to hold National Demo
cratic convention at St. Louis, to whose ac-
ton this body had pledged itself before
hand; but as to the Cincinnati project, he
not single Democrat would go to that con-
vention. The speaker was in doubt whether
to make nominations or not, and closed his
speech in the full expression of the doubt.


Mr.. Eugene H. Kelly, of Orleans, ofered d
a substitute in the midst of loud cries for
Heron" Heron" and calls for the pre-
viOus question.


To close the discussion, Mr.. A. s. Heron
having the floor, Judge Cotton obtained it
on question of privilege, and referred to
the question of the Boston Club, to whom
he now alluded as a respectable body of
men, but who, he had been informed, had
into political club. What he
to say was this: That if the con-
vention was postponed, he felt sure some of
the gentlemen advocating the postpone
ment would form coalitions with Governor
WarmOtb.


Mr.. Heron resumed, speaking as follows:


Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Convention
1 do not propose TO occupy the attention of this
convention but a very few minutes, for this ques-
ton has occupied the time of the convention al
ready too long There have been able and elo-
Quent speeches made upon the question, and, COZ.
there is little left for to say. But
the one who offered the resolution | deem it vie
and expedient to make few remarks relative to
the subject. l shall confine myself to the ques-
ton at issue. My remarks may not cOalesce with
own oNe conscience or before God dictates A '''s


Sir, say here and can vOuch for the truth of
the observation that the delegates came here, not
the wrongs that are now expressing our country.
know that none came here for the purpose of self
They do not come here to
crafty their ambition; their only ambition is their
save poor Louisiana. We want har.
mony, we want strength. l remember when the
old Democratic conventions used to meet, their
first object was to see how strong they were
whether unanimity existed or not. Now, before
we 90 into the nomination of State officials, we
should endeavor to ascertain whether "unanimity
existed in this body" I know that it does not.
Some of the delegations have been instructed by
their constituents to withdraw from the convention


Now, we have a duty to perform. We repres+ Mt
sonstituency and they expect us to put or on our
honorable temporary chairman when taking his
seat. He said: You are expected to uphold the
steps of the State" We must do this
we must save it from the yawning chasm which
will inevitably swallow it up, and how are we to
accomplish this In the first place, there must be
avop Of postpoSins the domination at the present
time. l know there is a feeling among certain
members of this convention to urge nominations.
PURPOSES but they are over zealous-toe anxious
in their enthusiasm to show their love for their
country.


can not wait short period, until the delegates
can go back to theirerespective constituents, and
discover what their wishes arel Then there will
me ask should we take advantage of a mere tech
ncal point raised in the report of the State Central
Committed Why should we hurry through a
mere technical question.


1t is necessary to consider this subject of coali.
ion. Coalition now Is necessary, when the party
s weak and needs to be sustained. do not care
10 argue this question: which has been 80 ably and
sloquently discussed. The simple fact of the con-
Vention spending much time in debating this
question Of adjournment ought'.ts be sufficient
,easou for the adjournment Of the convention. If
you are not prepared to act go home to your con-
,tituents and consult their best wishes; then come
pack and nominate such persons as will be accept
able to them and benefit the State Of louisiana


Outside of all other considerations, his
feeling was for the prosperity Of Louisiana.
Mr. Heron, saying he had exhausted him.
self with the subject, which was also ex-
called for the question.


MIR. Bowman, of Caddo, in explaining.
made speech, in which he said he would
not force nominations.


1t was observed, as the vote was called,