[From the New Orleans Era of November 15th, 1863]
MR. HAHN’S SPEECH.
Our readers will find in The Era, this morning, a full report of the speech delivered before the Union Association, last evening, by Hon. Michael Hahn, late representative in Congress. We cannot agree with Mr. Hahn, in the opinion that Louisiana is still a State in the Union, or a State at all; at the same time, this is a matter of theory, and Mr. Hahn proposes precisely the same solution of the question that we have always been in favor of—namely, a convention of the people, for the framing of a new constitution. We believe this to be a necessity of the case, while he regards it simply as a matter of expediency; and so, while differing in theory, we would agree in action. Mr. Hahn announces himself to be in favor of a free constitution, and thinks we had better abolish what little is left of slavery in the State; at the same time he would not attach this principle as a condition to his Unionism. We believe that slavery is virtually abolished in Louisiana already; and that in grafting freedom upon our new constitution, we shall only give form to the decrees of Providence. The Union men of Louisiana are, so far as we are informed, almost without exception, in favor of a free State, and we are glad that Mr. Hahn has so publicly announced his position in the matter. His rebuke of the Masonic Hall cabal is well deserved, and his objections to the constitution of 1862 are well worthy of study and reflection.
In a word, it affords us much gratification to lay the views of Mr. Hahn before the public, and to say that the course of action he proposes meets our hearty approval. The speech is a very suggestive one, and it is evident that its author has studied closely the various topics upon which he touches. It exhibits the spirit of candor, and is free from party vindictiveness. But we invite our readers to peruse it for themselves. They can draw their own conclusions, without further comment on our part.
