New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-05-16
suPERINrENDENT OF ELEorIoNs.

EXECUTIVE OFFICE, /
Baton Rouge, April 28th, 1857.
M JUDGE y. N. LEA.--D Dear Str: The General Assem-
bly, Of the State Of Louisiana has by an act entitled
An act relative to elections in the city OF New Or
leans, . vested in me the appointment of Superin-
tendent Of Elections in the parish of Orleans. The
importance of this duty has been very gravely consd
cred by me. nv mind has been keenly alive to the
great responsibility and trust which am called upon
to delegate to the citizen whom may commission for
that post. as
1t is my determination to place that trust only in
one Of well known and long tried frmness and discre
tion who deserves and has the full confidence of the
people. The dignity of that Office great as it isl
have desired to enhance by the purity and intelligence
of him whom select.
With these views to control me- / have concluded
to tender you the enclosed commission, hoping you
may be able to accept the post the right and impair
ta administration of which earnestly believe will
far to cure those evils which affiict commercial
emporium, and which all good men of every party
have the honor to be. with great respect,
Signed, O' Ro tHHisi c. w1cKL1vFE.
We have reason to believe that Governor Wckliffe
has sedulously sought to fill the office of Superin-
tendent of Elections with man who would, were
such thing possible, make, or endeavor to make the
obnoxious provisions Of the new law satisfactory to
the free and Independent voters Of the cruelty calm
mated Crescent City. We think he has striven to dis
charge his duty faithfully and with eye single to
the general veal And, notwithstanding we are of
the decided opinion that be should have vetoed the
act under consideration and thereby nipped in the
bud and blasted forever that which can do no good,
and which may be productive of much harm, we
freely and frankly state conviction, that he has
done the best he could under the circumstances by
which he was surrounded. For doing it affords u.s.
strong political opponents as we are, pleasure to
award him the credit to which he is ghtfuy entitled
II iseydent Governor Wcklife has reflected deeply
over the great importance and paramount necessity
Of making suitable appointment. The subject was
environed with much difficulty difficulty which, to
conscientious man. must be experienced to be properly
appreciated In case the law should be decided con-
stitutional by the Supreme Court-and it ought, it
must be SO decided before any attempt is made to
force 1.-THE character, temper and physical and
mental constituents o: the Superintendent become of
the utmost moment to the peace good order and vel
fare of the corporation. If he is WISE prudent,
selEposed and firm man, elections may pass off with
out tumut, riotings or bloodshed If he should un-
fortunately be endowed with the opposite character
istcsshould act rashly, indiscreety without due
decision and forethoughtthe worst of consequences
may be anticipated Let disturbances once commence
and there is no telling where they will end no cal
culating the amount of injury that will be inflicted
no computing the damaging consequences that will
ensue.
There is feverish feeling pervading the entire
community in regard to this law. Nne-tenths of our
people look upon as wanton, oppressive and cause
less insult-as measure originated for the express
purpose of branding them with personal and collect
i've degradation-as act striking at their dignity as
men, and their inalenabe rights as citizens and as
negotiable and unjust it is despotc and unconsti
tutional Hence viewing the question in this light
it is not surprising the Executive of the common.
wealth pondered long and studiousy before rendering
a commission to any one. This is one of the posts
wherein the incumbent must give good or bad char
acter to the office, not the Office to the incumbent
Between it and ordinary public Offices the distinction
is as strongly marked as sunlight is from moonlight
Without venturing any estimate in regard to the
dignity that may pertain to the office of Superinten
dent of Elections in the city Of New Orleans, we still
may be permitted to express the earnest hope that
Judge Lea will accept the commission rendered him
by Gov Wickliffe But, in order that we NAV not be
misunderstood, we deem it necessary to explain the
ground on which that hope is founded, Judge Lea
may accept the office without any sacrifice Of dignity
provided he accepts itnot for the position or the
emouments which attach to it-but with the view of
bringing the constitutonaty of the law on its full
merits before the Supreme Court of the State at the
earliest practicable period In bringing about this
end he would be only acting the part of faithful and
patriotic citizen, and there can be no abatement of
dignity when citizen is SO engaged And before
closing it is due to truth should also say that we
would feel deeply mortified to see an ex-Associate
Justice of the Supreme Court of Louisiana take the
office for any other reasons or under any other circu
stances The notice for acceptance will alone Justify
acceptance. We may be wrong but, nevertheless,
such are the deliberate conclusions of ouriudgment