The New York Herald Newspaper, January 12, 1875, Page 3

‘ME PROTEST. The Louisiana Outrage Fully and Fairly Discussed. Last Night’s Indignation Meeting. Citizens of All Parties Rebuking Autocratic Usurpation. THE VOICE OF ASSEMBLED THOUSANDS. America Not Yet Ready for the Reign of Casar or Cromwell. NO PARTY IN PATRIOTISM “What Is Done to One State Can be Done to Every State.” « NEW YORK SUSTAINS LOUISIANA. Firm Denunciation of Military Meddling with Legislative Procedure. “LET US HAVE PEACE.” Speeches by William Cullen Bryant, William M. Evarts, George Ticknor Curtis, William EB. Dodge, James S. Thayer, Mayor Wickham, Governor Salo- mon, August Belmont and Others. Long and patiently our people have borre with the unsettled condition of affairs at the South, They have sodut their eyes to the terrible mis- Tue that bas caused it, hopeful of wiser ruling and broader statesmanship in the fature. It needed but the scene enacted on Monday lust in New Orleans, it needed but this open viviation of constitutional law, to rouse at once and thoroughly the peopie. How the popular heart has been touched and how our peuple feel about it was demonstrated in the un- paralleled gathering assembled last evening at Coover Institute. There has never been such an assemblage in this city before, such deep-lelt and earnest protest against subservience of civil Mberty to military despotism. THE CROWD, Long before the time fixed for the meeting the crowd began to gather, and fully an hour before the doors were opened tue streets and avenues encompassing Cooper Institute were nearly com- pact with peuple seeking admission to the meet- ing. It was something irightiul to see the pouring in of these crowds at the various entrances os the doors were opened. It sounded like the rushing of many waters. That no one was Injured in the impetuous scramble for seats wa: only @ miracle. In a tew moments, the doors hav- ing been opened exactly at seven o'clock, the vast hall was filled to its urmost capacity, each seut, aisie, alcove and possible standing place being Occupied.. Of course, in @ matter touching so Geepty the masses, there were among OUR LEADING CITIZENS AND BUSINE3S MEN Making up so largely the meeting a bountiful aprinkling of the so-called “great unwashed,” Whose enttiusiasm couid not at all times be kept down to the point deemed en regle at a meeting Where suco grave issues were to be discussed, But, if @ littie irregular in their demonstrations, 1t was well meant, and had earnest ieeling and ENTHUSIASM AS ITS BASIS. Meantime the deepest, though rather boisterous, @nthusiasm prevailed. Tnere were occas‘onas Uproarious episodes over persons struggling to get ou: and cheering each newcomer to whom more favoring, though not always more deserved, ior- + tune assigned seats on the platform. As Mayor Wickham made his appearance these cheers rose to a dealening shouting, which, though a seeming impvssipility, however, became more Intensified in ite outburst as one after anotier—Wuliam Cullen Bryant, the venerable poet, and Peter Couper, the pnilanthropist—came on to the stage. At a few minutes past eignt o'clock the platiorm ‘Was filled and tne officers and orators of the even- tug were in their duly assizned places, And now began the work of the evening. There was some tumult as August Belmont undertook to initiate the evening proceedings by a speech pre- Iminary to the taking of. the presiden- | tal chair by Mayor Wicknam. Walle the latter was speaking there was additional tumult and it contunued even through the speech ofMr. Bryant, A littie firmness at length on the part of tne President put a quietus on the distarbing demonstrations, though such they can hardly be called, as there was really Bo disturbing element the meeting, the Treading of the resolutions, and the utter- ance by the speakers of views in harmony with the meeting, showed @ most cordially accordant spirit, This was likewise shown in the equal UNANIMITY OF HISSES Greeting the mention of the names of President Grant, General Sheridan and Governor Kellogg. Take the mecting altogether, consider the im- mense crowd in attendance and the diversity of political opinions prevailing among them, and there in The unanimity of sentiment shown on has not been a meeting of more force, weight and | dignity, though at times democratically demon- Strative, at any time tu this city, As the evening | advancca, as the various speakers recited in earn- est and eloquent phrase the outrages to Which the people of the South wave had to submir, the result of the military despot- tam culminating tn sending armed soldiers into | @ peaceful legislative hall was vividly traced and brought home to those present, there was more earnest attention to the specches, & heartier in- Gorsement of the resviurions and a fuller realiza- tion of the deep gravity of the issues tnvolved ana | @ painiul appreciation Of what the signal might be as agecting human rights and civil tioerty in this @ountry in tho luture, The meeting was called to order by MR, AUGUST BELMONT, ‘who said :— FeLLow CitizENs— Fourteen yeura ago our brethren of the Southern States rose 11 arms agaiust the fag of the Union, and then the pevp.e O! tis quiet Metropolis, discarding ali party ties, iv muss meetiag assembled proclaimed with oue Voice, und Which ound au echo in every patriotic heart, that the Union must id shall be pre. served, There is nothing dearer to every man— dearer to every American citizen—notuing dearer than bis country; aod What than itle itself to every citizen inan civil liberty. ‘dns ts the most precious voon to patriots in every clime and through vil ages, and for whivu the purest and genie it in every jaud have shed their blood, tit ‘threatened iu our own free and, and which our glo ous people coi fided to the sale keeping o1 the wen of their choice, OUR RIUHTS AND LIBERTIES FE} HAVE AGAIN BEEN THREATENED in our day, aud | the citizens o| New York, with the same unanimity | Charles Douoaue, Oi Jeeting and the sane lorgetiuiness of party as Belore, tu the hour of the ars, danger, pro- wm thoughout the land Cwil iderty must Sere torgive expression thine, solemia protest ot | {obicds iiepeevely Tee ‘aiie suate ngaunel Abe so oc" lauated ‘ase Carica Goud, the great and rriceless biessing which is | NEW YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 1875—TRIPLE SHEET. ministration mn The Chief Magistrate of the city of New York has conented to take the shalr and preside bi to-night, and it now be- | Comes my privilege to preseit to you Mayor | Wieknam. MAYOR WICKHAM'S SIEECH. | Upon taking the chair, Mayor Vicknam spoke as | follows:— It gives me great pleasure to reside at a meet- Jug where so many of the cituens of New York | bave assembied without distinttion of party, to } frost ugainst an outrage uyon constituuonal | ltberty. | Alter what has occurred in Loisiana we are not only conironted with the possiljlity that free gov- | ernment in the State of: New York may be sub- | verted by the army acting unde orders from the War Department, but we are fet guarantee President way vot, ujou the election of asor, attempt by the Aime instrument to eeven the Congress of the United States, and establish himself as a Dictajor. 1 i attend, you do, Apon the cloquent words of the speakers who ar this evening to Utter the feelings natural to “eemen in coutem- plation of such possibilities, ‘There will be no doubt that “we all of us approw” what vbey sbail say, und the militury chiettatt in New Orleans who has reported that the “atnosphere (there) is impregnated with uvsassinattoc” will realze that here the alr is alive with maigiation. GOVERNOR M'ENERY’S 1ELEGRAM. At the close of his speech Mayor Wicknam said he knew of no more opportunemoment than the |) present to read a telegram which had just been | Banded to bim, He read as follows:— (Telegram trom Governor McEnery.] To Hon. WILLIAM H. WickHas, Chairman Louts- lana Mass Meeting :— Louisiaua sends greeting w New York. Our eople Wil not be gouded tuto ¢onfict with United tates troops, A Committee is preparing evidence to refute the slanders of General Sheridan. We rely On the morul support of our sister States to rescore to us as American freemen our right of | sell-government. JOHN McCENERY, Governor of the State of Louisiana, LEWIS A. WILTZ, Speaker of the House of Representatives. | SPEECH OP WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT. A few days since the intelligence was brought us that the armies of Spain had turned against the Republic, had overthrown it and placed Don Al- fouso, the son of Isabella, on the throne, ejecting the President, serrauo, who had fed to France. We rejoiced taat we belonged to # country where such proceedings were unknown, and where the government changed hands only in | obedience to the will of the people, peaccanly expressed at the polls. We were, however, ai- most at the same moment astonished tu near | trom New Orleans that General Sheriaan, lately | Seut to New Orleans by tne President, had occu- pled the hall of the Louisiana Legisiature, and | purged it of the conservative members, as they d, by thrasting them into tne street. ENDS, SUCH A METHOD OF CHANGING THE | GOVERNMENT OF A STATE MAY DO FOR SPAIN, BUT IT WILL NOY DO FOR THIS COUNTRY. A lew years since, while Isabella was yet on tue throne, Gen- eral O'Donnell, dissatisfiea with her Ministry, sent his soldiers to turn them out, and they did it, He replaced the Obnoxious Cabinet with one of nis own, and the government went on in new hanas, WE ARE IN THE MABIT O¥ MANAGING THINGS'DIFFER- ENTLY HERE, AND, BY GOD's HELP, WE SHALL CON- TINUE TO DO 30 HEREAPTER, We have a constitution, my friends, and by that instrument the President has no right to ioter- meddie in Che affairs of a State save iu two cases— first, tu protect the State from invasion, and, sec- oudly, oD application of the Legislature or the Ex. ecutive, when the Legislature cannot be convened, to protect the State against domestic violence. ‘These are the only cases im which the President of the Jederal Republic can interiere with an armed force 1n the cause of peace. When domestic vio- lence is threatened the Legislature or Executive of the state must ask Jor his interiereauce, or he cun- not move without vivluting the constitution, which he is swora to observe and ooey. What authority, sellow-citizens, 18 there in these provisions jor the President to set himself up as @ judge of elections and drag from the legislative chamber those whom he chooses to regard as hav- | ing no right to their seats? He should have lett | this to the courts of law. He might us well, it he should be candidate lor a chird term of the Presi- dency, send 1s minions to disperse the electoral | colleges in those States which shall refuse him their vote. He might as weli send anocher Shert | dan to pull the gentleman whom we have just | elected Governor of this State out of the executive | chair, He might with just as good a warrant | disperse this meeting by sending a band of armed | ee sy clear this hall at the point of the one! | pqlo™ Nappens it that men educated to the pro | fess.on O1 arms at Our patlonal military scuool seem not to understand what are the rights of the | citizen ana what toe due limits ot tue military | poral li General sheridan, that daring solder, ! but aespiser of civil rights, had eituer been prop- erly traiued or had not torgotten his training he | would hever have obeyed the mandate whicu or- | dered nim to New Orleans on that guilty errand, ; He would have said :—*l owe my education tu tus Repuvhic; I was brought up to de its soldter and servant and uvt the vassal of the President. I have takeo iny life in my hand and gone into the | civil War to défend and preserve the constitution | of my country, and fq'ill not raise my band to violate it. 1 Would almoat as soon cut the throat | of my motuer. I would tear of my epauleies | @ud break my sword and fling tue jragments into Pot oner than yO Upon’so impious an ‘That is what be should nave saic, | A jormer application ot Guvernor Kellogg, of | Louisiana, mage to the President tor military aid | | four montns since ts used as the pretext of tis invasion v1 the legisiative chamber of Louisiana. | That application nad its effect at tne time the | President issued his prociamation of wuroing, | | and the people submitted. There were four | Months of peace. A new state of things has arisen, and i it attended with danger | of domestic violenve tne President should have been requested to interpose. But no suca | | Tequest was made—in fuct, there was no dan- | ger on which to found the request. It 18 non- | sense to say toat turning five members out of tne legisiative chamber is @ protection agains: domes- tic violence. | Aiow lvng is such an application as that made by Governur Kellogg im iorce? If good tor iour montas it is goud lor fo1ty—good ior a century. Let me relate an anecdote waich will illustra:e | Vhis point:—Some seventy years since there lived | im Berksnire, Mass., a lawyer noted as a humorist and kuown as Major King. A client of his was | | prosecuted for killing a horse. ‘this was in the | | time o1 the insurrection called the shays war, and au the evidence produced ugainst bim was that ve ‘Was sven in the road half a mute from tne feid in which the horse was pastured, and that he shouted “Hurrah ior Shays!” “Then,” said Maor King, rising to aadress the Court, “if | shouung ‘Hurrah tor Shays!’ can kill @ horse at | the distance of balf a mile, then is my client | guilty, otherwise ie must be acquitted.” Fellow citizeus, it we are to belive that seilogyg’s applica- tion for military aid in September autuorizes this | | Violence of tne Jederal svulaiery im January we | | may as well admit at once that caluog out “Hur- | rah for Shays!’? may Kill a horse at the distance of | half a inile. ° Great stresg 18 laid upon Sheriaan’s assertions | | that the whole State of Louisiana 1s given over to | lawlessness and anarchy, anu that murder ts the | Datural and usual jorm Of death in that State. | . This is solemnly denied on very high authority; | but how is this 8.ate of things improved by putting | | flve members of the Louisiana Legislature out af | their seats and turning them into the street? | Sheridan promises to send ona lst of muraers lately committed, Well, I suppose that ¥ an | account of sireet and tavern brawls in this | ely were lo be made up Jor the last year—this city in which, vy night and day, I have waiked for the last Wy years, as J thought, in perfect security and without fear—quite an unpleasant show of vlood- shed might be made out; but how would the matter de mended by sending a body af Jederal troops to pull jive members of the Comimon Council af the city out of their seats ? | No, my irtenGs, the Wrong done has no possible excenuation, | regard this question soiely us a solemn question O1 Constitutional law, No wat ter who desired the interierence of the military, | 1c should nov have been given but in tue way of | the coustitution—otierwise it is an aét irom | which no citizen hus a mght to withhol: nis con- demuation. lt must be rebuked the instunt it | is perpetrated. ‘he evi! must be crushed iu its lmiaucy, While its bones are yet in the grstie, and | beiure it becoues formidable as a precedent, | These practicys, Which contemplate the subjec- tlon of iocal politics Lo the iederal authorities by the exercise O: the military power, must Le de- | nounced, must be stopped, must be vreken up | lorever. Let me say in conclusion that the proceedings | Of this inceting, 80 lar as the great proporiioa of | those who take purtin them are concerned, have De party purpose or Object. Far trum us be the | petty and narrow policy which cqnla so pervert theul, A SINCERE DESIRE TO PRESERVE THE CON- | STLVUTION FROM VIOLATION AND TO PREVENT AN ACT | OF ARBITRARY POWER FROM BECOMING A PRECEDENT 1N PUTURB, 18 AND SHOULD BE OUR SINGLE MOTIVE. When Afr, Bryant had concluded bis remarks the 1ollowing list of vice presidents and secre- taries was read by John A. Beall: VICE PRESIDENTS William ©. Bryant, Peter H. Watson, Oswald Otteudorier, Edward Cooper, Peter Cooper, Dr. J.T. Metcals, Howard Potter, James Stuart, | Wiliam Mf. Evarce, Charies O'Conor, | Whitelaw Reid, William #, Netison, | E. L. Godkin, Samuel L. M, Bariow, | Manton Marolo, Auyust Belmont, Wii Kk, Dodge, Joun ‘taylor Jonnston, | Parke Gudwty, Joho 1. Agnew, BO), George W. Lane, Fraukuo Lasou, James S, Thayer, | John J, Cisco, Cuaries A, Dana, | hrastus Brooks, William H. Appleton, | Charies P, Daly, Willitin Adams, | James W, Beekman, Glibert M. speir, | George Cabot Wara, Richard Lathers, | Wiliam Batier Duocan, William Allen butler, Alired Peil, Charies F, suuthmayd, | Dr. Win. A, Hammond, = Francis @. Shaw, | Wa, D. Shipman, David Salvmon, Eugene Keily, lvory Chaiuberlain, Wison G. Hant, daines stckes, Hiram borne, Townsena Cox, dames Lingit, Hush J, Jew Jonn D, Jones, Daniel ing a, ‘kheudore Kooseveit, | Chas. H. Van Brunt, BK, P. Fanori, Simon Sterne, Jonn L. Macaulay, Alizusins Schell, James F, Newman, Elan Ward, Richard M, Henry, Dr. Aus'in Fitnt, F, PF. Marbury, fienry Uavemeyer, Colonel Richard Vose, c. C. Baldwin, Gen. Josepn J. Bartlett, Charles P. Kirtland, Jon E. Williams, Kovert L. Cutting, Heury Hali, D. Willis James, dames Brown, Frederick b, Gibert, Jonn McKeon, Aiex, Hamuton, Jr, Charies AL. Fry, Gen, Win. W. Averill, Jeremian Devlin, Jotn D. Van Buren, George Shea, Wilham G, Lyon. Tey ACY, Frederick R. Coudert, William c. Prime, Sidney Webster, Dr. Louis Risberg, Montgomery H. Throop, William Watson, Jotu &, Deveitn, Colonel Josiah Porter, st Beyer. SECRETARIES, E, Randolph Robinson, Jolin &, Johnson, J. Evarts Tracy, General M, Tt, MceMavon, David B. Williamson, John Crosby Brown, William B, Bend, Henry F. Verhuven, Peter B, Olney, Wheeler H, Peckham, Charies A, Easton, Henry FB. Knox, Charles BE, Waitenead, A. J. Vanderpoel, Witham ©, Whitney, Heury Wilder Alien. Jobo Hav, Dr. Woolsey Johnson, Dr. Stuyy't F. Morris, Joseph W. Howe, Frederics H, Betts, William D, Hennen, William ‘T, Pelton, ‘Theodore Schultz, } Col, Jacop Sharp Francts Lynde Stetson, Alfred Wagstaq, Stepuen i. Olin, A. M. Browne, Wiltam Pe James H. Skidmore, Gea, Herman Uhl, J. McLesn Nash, James M. Bali, Burton N, Harrison, John J, Thomason, D, R. Casserly, Augustus W. Reynolds, James P. Lowrey, Adolph L, Sanger, Julius J, Lyons, Huegn L, Cole, E, Graham Haight, J. Raymond Reynolds, The Vice President and Secretary baving been approved by the meeting Mr. Simon Stern then read the followmg RESOLUTIONS, Whereas it is @ fundamental principle of parlia- mentary law, underlying all free representative institutions, and which our national and State conséttutions embody and enforce, that a sover- eign Legislature is the sole judge of the qualifica- Joseph Blamenthal, Horace Barnard, J, B. Stilson, Charles D. Ingersoll, Edward L. Paris, Horatio N, Twombly, Thomas K, Fisher, D. Ss. Rittervand, "t, Tileston Brvces Gen. Louis 't. Barney, ‘Theron G. Strong, Colone: C, 4, Bartiets, Horatio J. Brewer, Ernest G, Stedman, Einmet R. Olcott, Joun Adrian Bus, | troops have been employed in Louisiana consu- tons of its members, aud that even jndicial inter- ference ts not tolerared with that high und all- important privilege; and Whereas there is nothing in the 1aws of the United States, nor in the constitution and laws ol the State of Louisiana, which in tne least ex- cepts the legislative body of that State from the Operation of this ancient natural and undoubted principle of government; and Whereas caution and foresight tn the exercise of federal interference with the concerns of the States lately ip rebellion are made doubly desira- ble at this moment by the fact that nearly half the voters of that region are persons only now receiv- ing their first lessons in polttics, and who as yet possess no familiarity with the dangers to which constitutional government is exposed, with the means by which it is maintained and defended, and no knowledge of the sacritices by whicn past generations have created It, and who, as a matter of fact, look on the federal administration as their best tricnd and most trustworthy political instructor; therefore Resolved, That, in the opinion of this meeting, any use of the Jederal authority which teach these newly made voters to believe that political problems can be solved by arbitrary processes or | displays of physical force better or more readily than ‘by labor, patience and conciliation is an offence aguinst the national satety and welfare whicn calls for the severest condemnation. Whereas ull intimidation of a Legislature, and especiaily that form of intimidation which consists in military interference with its organization or debates, or in the display of military force in or about tne place of meeting, is sure eventually to couvert representation into a farce, by making the Legislature tn @ greater or less degree the creature or servant of the Executive; tnerefore Resolved, That we cannot too warmly expre: our disapprobation of the part which the military forces of the United States have been allowed more than once to play in tue organization of the Legislature of the State of Louisiana, Whereas on the tirat of these occastoha, in 1872, the federal troops took possession of the State House in New Orleans, and permitted no person to enter the Legislative Chambers except those marshal, the occurrence was rightly considered by the whole country a scandal and aisorder of the | TARY SUPPRESSION OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT, | this? | officer | Pointed out to the sentinels by the Unitea States | | constitution, gravest kind; bat nevertneless as 1t took place un- | der cover of an order of a United States court it was felt by many that the oficials engaged in it might honestly plead ignorance of the enormity of the transaction, in spite of the fact that the order in questioa was on its !ace, to use the language of | session cuu the Governor represent the State so as | to demand feueral intervention in the political al- | this State during the | ernor ot the committee of tne United States Senate which | examined it, “most reprehensible, erroneous in point of law and wholly void for want of jurisdic. | tion ;” and Whereas this occurrence and the discussion it called forth cannot have left the administration or its officers In the dark ag to the serious nature of the objections tothe military interference of the federal authorities with the machinery of State governments; thereiore Resolved, That we have heard with surpriso | been made by the assembied Legislature o1 tie and alarm that the State House of Loulstapa ° ‘was taken possession of and garrisoned by a federal brigade prior to the meeting of the Legis- lature on the 4th day of January last; that the members had to make their way, under examina- tion, to their places through lines of armed sent- nels, and then proceed to the discharge of their duties inside, under the eye of a military com- mander not subject to their authority and holding the very building in whicn they sat as a fortified post; that when dis- putes subsequently arose between the two | parties into which the Legislature is divided over | the organization of the House of Representatives, | this oticer took upop himself to auswer the ap- | peal of one side and assume the duties of the Ser- | geant-at-Arms and of the police by repressing & | disturbance within the building; and that when | sabsequently a minority of the House, oeing dis satisNed with the vote or with the mo@e of taking it, or with the qualifications of some of those who participated in it, reiused to seek the settlement of the controversy by the ordinary and long established methods of pariia- mentary law, but appealed to the Governor of the State to interiere with the proceedings, the troops of the Umited States, at the Governor's unlawiul request or command, entered the legisiative hall, and then and there settled by force the purely paritamentary question of the qualification of several persons preseut for seats In the House by expelling them vioientiy from the building. Whereas uo occurrence of this Kind nas been recorded in the history of free government with- out being stigmatized, and rightly stigmatized, an | act of revolutionary violence, and though, owing to the peculiar condition o1 the Southern States and to the multiplicity of our State Legislatures, it may scem an event of less moment in Louisiana in our day than it bas seemea in oiher places and at | other times, it assames @ character of the utmost gravity when we rememoer that if tt be permis- sible in Louisiana, whether it shall take place or not in New York or Massachusetts becomes a question, not of legal right, but of Executive dis- cretion; thereiore Resolved, That for this reason, above all, we emphatically protest against it, and declai our solemn conviction that it were better that legislative bodies suould be forbidden to meet at all than to be forbidden to meet under their own rules and surrounded by their own officers, because nothing 1s more wangerous or demoraliz- lug than arbitrary rule velled oy constitational forms; and that the citizens of New York, without distinction of party, nere axsembled, appeal to their fellow citizens of the whole country to unite With them in this protest; ana Whereas the recent despatch of the Lieutenant General of the Army, addressed to the Secretary ot War, suggesting that Congress should pass ao act, or that the President should issue @ proclama- toa, in imitation of the dragonnades of Louis XIV,, deciaring an indeterminate number of his fellow citizens “banditti,” and autnorizing hun to hunt them down with an armed force, migat be passed over as the hasty ond til Cousidered language of a soldier who, Lowever | ane Legislature of Louisiana was then in ses | talus the action of the suoordinates shall be Gallaus Uf the Seid, has allowed mimsels to vemmain | in | bers oat? 1 think not, Imexcusably ignorant of the usages and laws of || bis country, were it not that it has received the | prompt approval of the War Department, accom- panied by an intimation that the President and the other members of the Cabinet approved of it; therelore Resolved, Tuat we cannot refrain from express- | ing our heartfelt reprobanon of the despatch itself, of the atrocious imputation it casts on a large | body of our countrymen, and of the Executive sanction which it bas received. Whereas the outrages on legislative indepen- | dence, against which we have met to protest, have | | Mo legal retation to the problem of reconstruction, | properly so cailed, and do not arise out of any re- | cent legislation of Congress regarding the States | lately im rebellion; and Whereas federal military assistance is to be ren- dered upon lis responsibility by the President, under and by virtue of 4 provision of the original unamenied constitution, and in answer to a call which the Legisiature of any State, or, if not in session, the Governor of any State, may; make thereiore Resolved, That the manner in which the federal tutes an abuse of authority which is dangerous to public liberty in an equal degree in every pars of the Union, SPEECH OP WILLIAM M. EVARTS. Mr. Evarts was the next speaker, and on com- ing forward was loudly cheerea. He said:— FgLLow CiTIzENS—1 am sure that no republican in the land can honestly complain that in the call and purpose of this meeting bis party bas mot been treated with absolute consideration. (Cheers,) If there ever was an occasion when an Opposition party might ask to make a demon- Stration on their own benalf and Co the prejudice Gud disaster of 1ts opponent that opportunity was offered to the democratic party by the conduct or whe government in the matter. (Cheers.) The federal government is all republican. The Pres- ident and both Houses of Congress and all the subordinate oficers of the government throughout the Union and in the State of Louisiana itself are all republicans, Now, then, under the ord Bary principles of political responsibility, the Tepablicau party, being osteasibly RESPONSI- BLE FOR THIS HIGH-HANDED Act OF MILI- our fellow citizens of New York have the understand- ing that patriotism and love of lMberty and obedi- ence to the constitution are not in the Possession of any political organization, thut there are limits to their political competition and their antagonisms which no political | party shall salely puss, That when men vote, | and when their chosen officers meet, and when, without violence and without demonstration of in- surrection, they undertake to conduct the affairs Of their political government, no soldiers can in- terJere, (Cheers,) Tuts nation emerged ten years ago irom @ great war, in which un- measured contrioutions of blood and treasure | were poured out im the matntenance of the gov-’| ernment of the United States, And why was Because the people of the United States | Were determinea that the integrity of their terri- | tory should be preserved, And why do they wish | to preserve the integrity ot their territory | bat that THE CONSTITUTION OF THE | UNITED STATES SHOULD BE UPHELD AND PRESEKVED? (Uheers.) And now every of the State and every officer | of the United States takes the solemn oath to sus- | tain the constitution of the United States, But there 1s one officer who takes the single oath pre- scribed by the constitution or the United States, and that officer is the President of the United States. (Hisses.) And lis oath is not the com- mon oath I have named, but the oath to preserve | the great authority confided to him by the whole party—that he will sustaiu, protect and delend the constitution of tne United States. And now the constitution, made jor troublous times as well @8 peaceiu!, undertakes to furnish the measure of | power to be given to tue federal government in i respect to interference in the government of the | | i | | | \ \ | several States of the Union. Tuere are two very distinct, orm lunes of limitation, which, observ will protect the ma chinery of the government tor the people— Jorty millions of people to-day and one hundred mulons Aerealter—tuat is, that the sole iuter- vention vl the federai power within state author- rege to suppress Violence, aud that their office after that soall not assume to go further, unless whea invited oy the supreme authority of the State, (Cheers.) And that supreme ‘au- | thority of the State is named in the federal | and is tne Legisiatures of | the several Siates; and oniy in the | casual condition, woeu tbe Legislature is not in . Mirs of the Stute—vut only on the condition { that the Legislature cannot be convened—as in recess ur an adjourn. | irom) April January the Gov- the State of New York has no authority under the federal cunstitution to invoke the 1ntervention of tne federal power ex- | cept In anemergency tuat would not permit of | his convening tue Legtslature .u extra session. | And now the situation in Louisiana Was that tne State Legisiavure Was in session—(cheers)—uand | tye Governor bad no power waatever to pprescot| meat to | Uon whether the party will sustain the usurpation ; Thug tar we have only the fact thas the | of Vongress 17 the King But you never can havé that. because then that courage and common seuse that makes every gov- ernment possivie, permaneut and strong, wil step in and see that that surpasses the limits of political power and agitation, For 1 suvmit, the moment thot we make a com- pllance Of this uatare to One sae ‘hat profics by jt our liberties ure gone, All elections are useless, for | usurpation Can step in, aid IL Wii become a ques- or not. It is tor that reason that this crowd 18 here to-night. lt is wot democratic, it is not republican, but it ts American. (Cheers) resident has aoproved, for Secretary Beikuap's “all of us’? 1s mere surplusage. Bur iF THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY IN CONGRESS APPROVE; IF THEY HAVE NO VOICE, NO ACTION, NO AUTHORITY BUT TO | ADOPT AND SUSTAIN AND MAINTAIN THE RIGHT OF A | FILE OF SOLDIERS TO DECIMATE A LEGISLATURE, even | then PU admit he republican party is to be | held responsible for that action till you have given us repudlicans a@ chance to see and do what we will see and do in the premises, (Cheers.) I have observed @ growing disposition on the part of the depositaries of political power to separate themselves more and more trom the popular sup. ort of the party that gave them their authority. see the first evidence of that is a warning to them on the silence of our voters that has laced the democratic party apparentiy in a ma- fority in the most powerful States. Hut if the de positors of power tr. the republican party are ready to put themselves before the country on the constitutional proposition that a ile of soldvers can empty « State Legisiature under any | of the circumstances proposed vy anybody ag prevailing in Louisiana, 1 think that this rep. resentation of power of the republican party will Oind that it has jew supporters in their own party. (Cheers.) So, in tne democratic party, they wil | tind it as easy to convince the people of the United States that they way carry their project against those made in maintaining their autnority as many people found i supposing tnat the peo- ple of tne North could carry their projects | against the method of the Lecompton con- stitution, i remember in speaking in 1856 at | a meeting called to protest against the agitation whica led to subsequent great trouvle in the country. Even six months aiter that im the city of New York the sentiment, the opinion | and the tickes that was represented at that meeting had only six thousand votes; but how many years was it before it had votes enough to control every state in the Union, and | had armies and the treasure of the United states, without distinction of party, carrymg it out to # triumphant victory jor the imaincenance of the constituiion of the United States. Jn that struggle two things were gained and came apart our political creed— that the American people never would submit either to have their territory mutilated or their con- stitution corrupted. (Appiause.) Now, the laws af Congress require that whenever a state of violence extsis im a State to which federal suppression should be applied that the exercise of that authority must be copdined by a proclamation reguiring the insu to disperse. Now, TI believe, | a proclamation of that kind was Was issued sume time ago, and that the parties ail dispersed. How long wiil it be, feliow citizeus, If the federal authority thus pronounced will be peacelully obeyed by a malcontent people witn rest grievances to complain o? ‘hey learn vat the next thing the government does, alter they have dispersed, is to use violence itself in suppressing demands jor their constitu- tional rights. Their experiences tn this tine will only ve to make tt possible for the sederal government to do by violence with a squad of soldvers what if the msurgents had held together the federal government would need to do by a whole army. (Applause.) Now, I have detained you too loug. (Cheers, and cries, “Go on!’) There are other troubles at toe south, in respect to which and their suppression the federal government 19 armed wit extraordinary power. By the late uct of 1871, whenever any combination or conspiracy exists in & Stute against the State law to the extent of suppressing any of the rights, privileges or immunities of auy of tue citizens of the United States, and the con-ti- tuted aathurities of the State are unable to pro- tect those rights, or jor guy reason reiuse protection to tne citizen, then it is lawiul ior tae President to use tne wmulitia and the army ana navy to Maintain those violated rights. it when tne Legislature was held there were organized bands, combining and conspiring to intimidate the voters—to intimidate the black Voters—then was the time jor the President to have tnteriered and suppressed those viu.ent comi- Uinations anu conspiracies tuat trampied on the rights of suffrage, though it was the meanest voter in the land. [ hove it will be long belore the State of New York, withous distinction of party, will not respond with tie same voice and energy as It does tu might against any combina. | tion or conspiracy in any Southern State formed = wita the purpose of iotim- iduting the voters of the South in tne exercise of their rights. I will be as ready tv speak with my associates nere of the demo- cratic party ata meeting of thut Kind as now. But we do not want, after an election is held, and ‘when there is no violence, no combinations, no con- spiracy and no authority to suppress anything, to have that authority exercised by a Legislature because a military officer of the President thinks that somebody was prevented voting. (Cheers.) This /undamentatrignt of a Legislature to controland dete:mine the quaiificauons and constitution of its own body is of the very essence of legislative government. What use is it to give the purse and the sword to the House of Commons or to the House or President by military power can dete:mine what shall be the congtitu- tion of the House of Commons or the House of Congress? And that is what they fought Jor in England—the induoitable and ancient rights of Par- Mameut to hold the purse when in danger from the claims of royal power, Fora while the House of Lords assume: the power and might to determine the qualtfication and membership of the House of Commons; but in 1624 tae House of Commons de- termined that toe qualification of its members Was at its own final disposal; that the ancient liberties of tae House of Commons required it, and that no king and no House Lords has questioned this power of House of Commons from that time to this. (Ap- Plause.) And ior ‘his reason the peopie of e Cuited States are justified in seeing that supreme civil power snall dominate over the military, aod tat no merging of them or inter- Tereace With them shall be perimtted; to see that tucre snall 0é au Independent Legislatare, with an of the state in a demand for seaeral intefvention, (Cheers.) Were the people of the State 1atormed by General Sheridan or by the Cabinet at Washington, did he or they prociaim that an application nad Ssate for iederal intervention to turn some mem- But 1¢ is only in an insur- Fectlon, Or in the existence of that degiee of vi lence that comes ‘o insurrection in effct,\| tuat the constitution of the United states hus authorized such intervention, and it is only in support uf that interveution that che legislation of Congress in 1796 and 180! has armed tne Presi- deut wita autuority. Now if General Sheridan— (hisses) —iellow-citizens, ior reasuns I will state to you I do not usk thal any special suaie of your disapprobation shall be visited on bim, 1 snould think it vut fair to take his own statement Of the occasiun, und the mauaer of his luvervention. It ig unquestionably this, that | there was security and ularm, «nd that there had been some disorders in the State, and then he ‘uses this uncommon phrase in American politics, that the “muilttary were present as couservators of the peace.” HERE WE HAVE A NATIONAL GENDARMES INSEAD UF A CIVIL POLICE. sion, aod one party baving elected a Speaker, whether by soundness of voice or a majority of members, they having eciected a Speaker, and there deiug disorder thereupon und contusion, the Speaker asked that some United States officer Would speak to the crowd and dis. Perse them qutetly, General de Yrobriand asked this was his wish, and he (the Speaker) said i “Yes;” und thereupon the General spuke to them, | Qnd 10 & moment toere Was peace. So that if there nad been @o insurrection it Was over. (Cheers and laugnter.) And the thanks o/ that orderly body of the Legisiatare of Louisiana was offered to General de ‘trovbrand for his gallantry in mamtaining tne peace, and tuereupoa Governor Kellogy, outside of the Legisiature—ior he is not @ member of the Lexisiature—usked Geueral de ‘srobriand to take a file of soldiers and go to the Leyisluture and take out five men tuat were act- ing us members of that body and he did it. Now, I migut be disposed to animadvert with some severity on this act of the inierior ottiver, General de ‘Trobriand, Wut jor the superior, General Sheridan—was | uot met with the propo- sition, iu @ Latin phrase, respondent ad supe- riorem? The autbority that avows and main- held responsibie, “Lhe President of the United tates und wll of us.” (Laughter) ‘This can be said about the situation of | the United States itself; but about the authority ofallotas? (Laugnter.) And it is to ve xapposed tuat General Beiknup assumed a@ share of the | wiory, ber iy he does not assume » share of tne responsibility; but the President has appar- enuy upproved of this action. Now, Governor Kellogg if he gave that order, and it was executed, deserves impeachment by the Legislature of Louirtana, (treat cheers.) I would like to see Governor Tiden Send im o file of New York soldiers to take out the repubticun majority in the Senate when 1¢ assembles to vote for Luited States Senator next week. (Cheers.) We would see whether ademocratic house in Albany, as it is now, would stuud paticatly by and see the pr vileges of the Legisiature violated by the jovernor, because lis opinion in the matter inclined to the miuority ot the House as against the majority. but Governor Kellogg had no authority ior wielding tas power, aod all his assumption of that authority must show that the constitution of the United States jus- tifles it, or be must «answer or it. We must not be unconcerned about this action in Lousiana, jor it may be repeated ju New York. (Checrs, und cries of “No, mever.”) 1 teil you that when it 18 done 1n one State it 18 done in all States. (Cheers.) Tae Legislature of Loulsiuna is ux much a vital art of (ue government us the Legislature of New Pork (c And while it ts Vitat as # univer- wal power, shattered and broken in on, it is broken in all, But, again, we must learn to generalize, Suppose this intervention of military power to be broken, that the action of in pendent State authority snould be upen to be = ercised in Loulsiana, Missourt or in any State, to take out tne majority ju that Kiectoral Co! Ze .) | Speak in unmistakable toues at your meeting to- absolute absence of federal power, except on the tnvocation of Legislature for the suppression of actual violence and its immediate withdrawal when the violence is suppressed., Now, I don’t koow whether there ts to be sequel to this matter or not. I tank not. But Lord Bacon said Jong ago that soldiers in peace were like chimneys 1m summer, aud toat only when fires were ligated they cane tu be of any use. I should be sorry to think that the people could be inflamed, or that they could be #0 only alter @ long and virulent agitation that be- longs to civil strite. But if there be any such sequel in any man’s mind, let us see that it is summarily dismissed irom it, and that the voice of this people touches all its rulers; that ag 1a times past, all the power, all the authority, all the officers and all the magistrates, are servanis ol its laws. (Applause.) Mr. Simon Stern then came forward and read the following letters and telegrams :— TELEGRAM FROM FRANCIS KERNAN. Utica, N. ¥., Jam. 11, 1875, To AUGUST BELMONT, New York :— { regret tnat 1 cannot be with you personally this evening and shail be there in spirit, to uniie with the citizens of New York in their protest against the bayonet thrust at lioerty in Louisiana, FRANCIS KERNAN, TELEGRAM FROM CLARKSON N. POTTER, WasdInoTon, D. C., Jan 11, 1875, Hon, Avavst BeLMon?, Chairinan, New York:— i thank the committee jor their tavitation. ‘That ‘our meeting is not o partisan one I understand. Tne danger and illegality of Execative interier- ence, Wuether State or federal, with the organization of # State Legislature is @ question 1n no way dependent, as I think, upon tne conaition Of affairs in Louisiana, But as the late iuterierence there 18 sougnt to Jjustitied or ex- cused by that conaition, and fam one of tha sub-committee of Congress on that subject, 1 do not now think J ought to speak upon eitner ques- tion in advance of their report. CLARKSON N. POTTER, TELEGRAM FROM JAMES E. HALSEY, JACKSON, Miss., Jan. 10, 1875, Hon. WiLLiam Wickuam, Chairman Citizens’ Meeting, New York :— ° May the merchants of the commercial metropolis night agaimse milicary usurpation, as well as oppo- sition to those who, under the pies of insuiing Ireevont to negroes, make jiberty for white men | Impossible. AS a citizen of the city and county of New York, temporariuy i Mississippi, 1 hereby bear testimony fo the loyaity of te people, their sincere desire lor peace und sor the prosper- ity of our common country. A paralyzed com- merce and financial oncertaintics demaud irom the patriots of the North, a8 security in the future to the merchants of botn ern ns, = ~~ ae” of civil liberty 10 place of military despoitsin. pb JAMES E. HALSEY, LETTER FROM JUDGE ComsT’ SYRACUSE, Jan. v, 1875, Avaust BErLmont, Esq. : Deak Sin—I have received your despatch and f most deeply regret tiat 1 cannot attend this meet ing at Cooper lustitute on Monday evening next. The gravity of the occasion cannot be over- estimated. Mingling but little in party politics, 1 aw conscious Of No party leeling or bias in reier- euce to the present transactions in the oppressed and downtrodden State of Loutstana, Bat some Part of my life hus been spenc in the study of the principles which are involved in those events that have so suddenly startied and aroused the country, aud Ido not hesitate to declare it as my deliberate judgment that the President of the United States is justly hable to impeachment tor his offence in upholding by military power the spurious government of @ State and interiespg by armed lorce With the peaceiul orgt tion of a State Legislature, We are warned by the whole history of the past to meet this firat step toward multary despotism with a firm resistance. I trust tuat your meeting will sound the alarin and that ite voice will be heard by the country. Yours truly, GEORGE ¥F. COMSTOCK. LETTSR FROM HENRY BR. SELDEN, } this subversion of the | Vain. while we Were cuoosing @ Presiuent and Cy Rocaxerer, Jan. 8, 1875, Special vote of any one svate one man should be BLMONT = chosea instead of tue otuer, is an ‘our telegram in behalf of the com- sriack eis ihe, State Beet it y' py Aa a. k at the meeting to be Olt ate eld al 10 | Mond wag over bau bt a Presidency | $5 the resent saultey ‘proceedings ia received, Engagements in court here will Vert me from going to New York at thas ¢ My injormation ip regard to the grounds assumed Ip justification of those proceedings is very imper- fect; but the facts, co faras I can gather them from the telegrapiic accounts, jurmish bo war- raut for the iutervention of ‘he muitary power, However weil int-nded the acts of cue Military authorities may have oeen the precedent, tf sus- tained oy Lhe people, will be fraught, as it appears to me, With the ulmoss danger to republican tnsti+ tutious. Every instance of the unrebukea exercise of unlawiul power, even when harmless 1 Its im- mediate effects, becomes a dangerous eXamople i alter times. I am giad that the movement te which you call my attention has been made, and hope tiat those engaged in it wil! calmly and urmly, hot as partisans, but as citizens, expres their condemnation of this unwarranted exercise ol military power, bot doubting that the whoie people, with rare exception, will join in such con- demnation, Very reapectially. yours, ENRY R. SELDEN. After reading these letters, Mr. Stero, in ree nse to a great many Vocllerous calls tur Hora- to Seymour, said that Mr, Seymour was prevented bv iliness Irom being present. Mr, James 3. ‘Thayer was then mtroduced and greeted by hearty applause. SPERCH OF HON, JAMES 8. THAYER. At twelve o’clock on the 40 day of the present month the Legisiature of Louisiana assemoled at its capital in toe city of New Orleans. Mure thaa 100 members were present, The body Was organ- ized, and proceeded with a legal quorum to traas act Dusiuess. 1ta proceedings were soon inter- Tuptea by the entrance o! a United States officer backed by @ military That omicer prov nouuced the body uD Llegal one, and turned out seven Conservative members at the point of the bayonet, Surrounded by a band oO! svidiers, be then proceeaed to organize the House in his own way. ‘That body is now in eXisteuce, lor whom and for what lawful purpose no ove can ae One. Indiguant protests were made against state government, but ia THIS ACT OF DESPOTIC POWER—THE MOSI DESPEXATE THAT HaS EVER OCCUKRED IN OUR HIS: TORY—HAS SOUNDED THE DEPTHS OF THE POPULAS SENTIMENT, AND THE INDIGNATION AND ALARM THAT HAVE BEEN MANIFESTED ARE WITHOUT A PARALLEL IN THE HISTORY OF OUR COWNTRY. The main feature of us business was Well understood from the beginning, and Whatever obscurity attended the details and ail doubt as to the direct responsi- bility of the Presidenc o! the United states for this Outrage are cleared wway by the despatch of nie lieutenant published yesterday morning. The olunt peu Oi! the rough cavalry riaer has compressed in four lines—in tirty-elgnt words —the nistory of the complete subversion of the civil government of & state in ths Union. Mark every word, lor ere 18 @ vuyonet thrust at the heart of American liberty in every une, deadiy and fatal. Tue words are, “This military posse pere formed its duty under the directions trom the Governor of the State, ana removed trom the Noor of the House those persous who had been illegally seatea and whu bad no right to be there.” ‘There 1s the whole case. What transpired velore, What futiowed alter, are incidents 0: comparative Insiguificance. There is the bold admission of every Jact that stamps this proceeding vs an uo- mitiguted and unqualifed act of usurpation; not usurpation of an ordinary Kind that may afeos the rights of a class or of individuals, and jor which there 18 a remedy, but usurpation of that Mulignaut type which, under our system, first Jastens upon and destrovs & Siate, and in tae end extends to the whole vody of the nation. Analyze those brief sentences, SHEKUDAN A8 CROMWRLL. First, ic wi @ ullitary lorce that entered the legislative hall; second, 1t was by the direction of the Governor of the State; toird, it removed trom the floor of the House members who were seated there; fourth, it removed them vecause they were Ulegaily seated and bad no right to ve there, the Miiliury squad itself veing the juage as to thas ‘There 18 not even a pretence that in thie case the military power Was called im under ti provisions Ol the conscitution authorizing its in- ver.erence in case of invasion or domestic violence, THE MULIZARY POSSH THAL ENTERED THE LuGISLATiVis HALLS OF THE STATE OF LOUL SIANA ON THE 41H DAY OF JANUARY HAD NO MORE BUSINESS THERE THAN THEY HAD AY THE CaPItOL AT ALBANY ON THE 51 DAY OF JANUARY, WHEN OUK LEGISLATURE ASSEMBLED. We can only compreheod, un- derstuna this question in all its portentous vearing upon the present and the lw When we ovring it home to ourselves an Muake the case our own. Profane and uakind lips invoke all kinds of anathemas and cuises on the beads of Grant and his lieutenant. They certainly deserve tiem; but there is a compensation hac snould be cu: ered. The blindness, the stuplaity of these wen, their utter incapacity to qualily their military haolt of thought and ideas of gov. eraiug by the remotest comprehension of legal Testraints and constitutional limitaons, have precipitated an issue that reveals a purpose audacious and flagitious that it dwarts all the perils the country us ever beiore encountered, ‘rhe people are nut prepared for this. The tmpos- ing demonstration of this evening 1s an assurance tout the spirit of lberry still survived in the hearts of tne people, that warm ana gecerous blood sti.! fows in their veins, and that the soul of nation w indignant throb when the mmiiiary arm strikes down with a single blow rep« resentative government anywhere in this Union. AN ADMONITION. To-night, from the distant borders of the Gulf, from tue sunmiest aud fatrest land on all this Von. tunent of America, you hear the wall ofa dying State, She asks for your sympathy. She dee mands your solemn protest agaiust t wron, That mave been inflicted upon her, ag re | slanders that have been heaped upon ber name. Helpless, prostrate, sue dare uot ask ior aid, but her example 1s a Waruing that the cup of oppression she bas drained to the very dregs wilh in the end come rouud to you. for despotic fore acting to-day success! on the defence. jess WhO cannot check it, will to-morrow attempt anything tiat the amovition of man may aspire ta ‘Yo save ourselves, this admouition must bt heeded—and heeded now. We have been warned oiten duriog the last ten years that our country ‘Was MAKING 175 WAY BLOWLY, CIRCUITOUSLY PER HAPS, BUT SURELY to the brink of an abyss thal would ingulf its free institutions. He is a brave inau_ who can now 100k down into the depths belore us without a shudder, and he is a fool who would venture one inch iurther. Our ‘Way 18 buck to the paths that are wituin tne 2xed and defloed limits of a constitutional government ‘nese Once regained, With @ united country—tne black man free as he ts, the white man uusbackled, a8 he is uot—this country Would move on in @ career of unmeasured prosperity and renown, erect and free, With 4 crest towering above thé olden time. This last adwonition 1s another in. stance that Providence deals kindly wich a ple who seem vent on their own destruction, It does not allow them to seal their doom without @ Warning 80 clear and emphatic as to rob thelr sell-destruction of ali excuse, ail extenuation. THE PROPLE AROUSED, The slow and insidious causes that undermine @ State do not eacupe the ooservation of statesmea and philosophers, But the general mind does not penetrate beneath the smooth and tranquil sure Jace of seeming safety and prosperity, and is not awakened tu any apprehensivn o1 danger ull some glaring fact, some startling event, flames in their very laces, THEN THEY DISCERN THAT THEY ARE NOT ONLY ENVIRONED BY REAL DAN- GERS, BUT HAVE BEEN MISLED BY FALSE GUIDES, AND EXUEP! FOR THE SUDDEN AWAKENING WOULD HAVE SLEPT ON TILL HEY WERE SHORN OF ALL THEIR STRENGTH AND THEIR FREE GOVERNMENT ENTIRELY SUBVERTED. But suadenly controated with an unexpected and imminent anger, they are moved by an influence that outrans argument and reason, and toucnes that law ol geli-preservation, that instinct of our nature which is an inspiration to human will and power, and brings into grand and solid array the strengta, the pride and patriotism that give a subiime expression to the popular voice. That event has transpired. Tact is presented to the American people in the most solemn and admonitory Jorms. While on this occasion I shall observe the pro- prieties that belong to it, and re{caia trom the dis- cussion Ol aby purely perty questions, we cannot certaimiy take in the full dimensions and true re- lations Of the great question on which we all agree without bringing into view some of the steps that led up to the culminatingpoints. It is time the people understood fully that the enforoe Inent acts, passed irom time to time by Com gress to carry out the provisions Of the fourteenth and fiiteenth amendments, bave @ wide scope, and, interpreted as they are, have really changed the characte! olour government, The domain ot federal power has oeen extenued and enlarged until 1¢ claimeé original jurisdicuon over citizens in all their man- Void and varied relations to the State. The lair garden set apart by our jathers witn-so mucn care aud ‘solicitude is overrun, aud tne rouga and ‘noroy heages of tederal authority vex and wound the citizens at every step. GRANT'S LEGISLATURE. ‘There is no at:ribute or accompaniment that be longs to the unlawrui exercise ot power that does not attenu this outrage, and itis curious to in- § eee to whom tis unlawful, misbegotten thing, & islature so Called, belongs, Under our system ail the States bave tueir co-ordinate pe eg | and the legisiative branch one of tnem; bat this body of men now ussembled at tue Capitol ia New Orieans is not the Legislature of the peuple Of Louisiana. ‘To whom does it belong? I suppose to Graat more than any one else. Kellogg, sberi- dan und tne svidiers who organized it will no doubt claim their share init. It te not in any true sense uw represen’ ve the people dis- Own it; it ts not an independent body, for im tbe Very outset it was deprived of the matt to the qualifications of its own members, How 1t 18, then, that uni our syst when y outside of the constitution and the laws, you fod ho piace lor exercising the functions o1 govern> meut; the system itself breaks down, aud aroitrary power must, after its first act of usurpation, go repeating its aggressions, and hold suciety toge with @ strong hand, or apurchy will rug in and Tend i¢ In pieces. Witn this example showing tae immeusuraole evils resulting irom @ viviauon of the conatitation right beiore the American peos ple cannot fail to be admonished. Lat NO AMBRICAM CITIZEN SHIRK THE RESLONAIBILITY OF BXAMINING THIS QUESTION AND ACTING UPON Ir, Do not dismis@ \ from your minds, iellow-citizens, as one O1 Cases Where there was disturbance oad u blvodshed aad kee) ri on the whole to gave Peace, It was better to call in the he United States. But tae prese! iitereut case, for which we ha \n this instance the riotmed by nnotber a nee | Rea ont ha ienotiou i 5