New Orleans - politics?

On our last day in New Orleans before returning for a few more days in Texas we went for a walk through the lovely park in front of the Cathedral.
One of the good things about this holiday has been the escape from UK, and in particular Scottish, politics in the run up to the General Election - I was amused by the inscription on the base of this magnificent statue of General Jackson which reads
THE UNION MUST
AND
SHALL BE PRESERVED