New Orleans daily crescent., 1858-02-01
AN rxTRAoRDIxARY DOCUMENT.

We publish elsewhere, the report Of Judge John
B. Cotton, Superintendent of Elections, made to his
Excellency, Gov. wicklne, bearing date 10th Decem-
Der, 1851, considering that such an extraordinary
document, in which bootless venom and unmitigated
imbecty strive for the supremacy, should be widely
spread before the citizens OF New Orleans. Besides,
as the author belongs to metropolitan community
which community have made him all be is politically
and pecuniariy small though be be, it is well that
they should be posted respecting the opinions he en-
tertains regarding them individually aud collectively
in his official capacity. Even il the document pos
sessed no other claim to publicity through our col
umns this latter reason would be sufficient.
The first four paragraphs Of the report, constituting
the larger portion Of it, afford the amplest evidence
Of Superintendent Cottons complete untnes for the
post he occupiedand still occupies, drawing his salary
st the expense Of the taxpayers without returning
the smallest earthly compensation therefor. He ad-
mits as clearly could be wished, that he has per-
formed no service, and, by the use of violent Lam
gnage which has neither sound argument nor fact to
support it, seeks to retain bis Office and continue to
draw his salary. This is the only legitimate inference
we have been able to draw from the perusaI Of bis
report and we have taken it up and intend to dis
cuss it upon its merits exclusively.
Superintendent Cotton writes as though he Was
completely destitute of reason or reasons why the
people Of New Orleans failed to rally around his
standard l up the ranks Of bis ordinary and extra
ordinary army, provided by the Election Law, and
act precisely as he, armed with irresponsible au-
therity, might direct and order. We have told him
and the public very often through the columns Of the
Crescent, the reason why. For his information, as
he seems the only ignorant person in the State, we
will reiterste two Of those In the first place.
the citizens of New Orleans rasse as 1t were and
without distinction Of party with the exception OF q
few oficeholders and the members and pensioners of
the Slidell oigarchy," viewed the Army bill with
detestation and abhorence-considered ID not only
unconstitutional but gross outrage upon their indi
vdnal rights and honor-looked upon it as an insult
to their manhood as American freemsn- regarded
it, in detail and aggregate, as monstrous abortion,
which nothing but the most reckless and ruthless
partisanship could produce Hence, Judge Cotton,
it is wonder the people disregared your arbitrary
commands. No wonder the best men in the city
laughed at your summonses. No wonder they re-
fused being made the tools of despot clothed with
iliimtabIe and irresponsible prerogatiyes. No won
der they neglected to themselves at your behest
TO shoot down in cold blood their neighbors and
brethren, il it pleased you to order them SO to do
Ia just cause they would no doubt fight to tile
death. but in your cause, which was destitute Of a
single redeeming trait, they would not fight, much
less commit murder.
Now, for the second and last reason we shall bring
forward at present 1t may be unpalatable to Super
intendent Cotton but it is warranted by the truth
and by history in all ages Of the world we cannot
help it, 1t is this: Commanding General must
have the confidence OF his army--must inspire the
rank and fle those who do all the hard fighting and
enjoy none OF the honors emoluments of the vic.
tory, with implicit reliance upon his skill capacity
and personal bravery-if be would win the battle
There is not military taetcian earth who will
dispute the overwhelming force and perfect correct
ness OF this proposition. Well did Superintendent
Cotton possess single requisite 10 the organization
and leadership OF an army-such army rs the
election law contemplated? Not one that we are
aware Of. II we are mistaken we may be corrected.
Hence, 1t is not remarkable, putting the first and
second reasons together, that the failure of the Su
perinteadent was signal and complete, and that he
should smart sorey under his discontinue and seek
TO devise ways and means to cover q retreat which
was about as humiliating as il possibly could be
under the circumstances.
Had Superintendent Cotton contented himself with
endeavoring to escape from the painful dilemma in
which he was placed without infringing the palpabIe
truths Of the case or sanderng the fair fame OF the
city Of which he is a resident by statement nuendo
and Implication we should have been disposed to let
him slide with all the leniency imaginable. We owe
him III will, and would do him good turn were it
in our power. But, as he has chosen the contrary
course, he must take the consequences bis public
acts impose upon him, He has wantonly maligned
his fellow-citizens, who have honored instead of
wronging him, and has not brought forward single
proof to sustain the allegations OF an official docu-
ment which must be recorded in the archives Of the
State and preserved for evermore.
As sworn public officer he reports to the Chief
Magistrate Of the State that various awful things had
occurred-his report being based upon the public
prints (That public prints y and " from reports
coming to me from different quarters OF the most re-
liable kind" I'll" reliable,n why they not ctedi)
and goes on at some length to reiterate stale and
often refuted calumnes agans. this city This por-
ton Of his report hold to be as gratuitous as un
founded and if the Superintendent has any proof to
support it, we dare him to bring it forward. Unsup-
ported allegations win not answer He has made an
issue. Let him stand or fall by it, Let us have an
investigation. The character Of a great oity-the
chief exporting metropolis of the United States
should not be wantonly outraged or injured by sub.
ordinate Official of the State Government
Indeed further along superintendent Cotton CON
EtN'9Sae
expressly admits that there was no difficulty on the
last election day. simply because 10 ,cas apparent
that there eristed necessity for it NONE WHAT.
EvRRln This admission is sufficient for our purpose,
and stamps the whole report as unreliable notwith.
standing the Superintendent essays to forty his po
ston by resortng to assumptions as destitute Of rea
sonable weight the visions of diseased inagi
nation Because there were no rows and rotings, no
woundings or MURDERS the sapient Superintendent
concludes that all ready for riotings and muir
ders aud that the city barely escaped being made
sceneof terrible carnagel What unmixed absurdity
Is this What contemplate ratiocinationl How
unworthy the respect Of honest, intelligent men
There being no trouble whatever of course nimates
the Superintendent, there was imminent danger of
an awful shedding Of human gore which would have
assuredly ensued If certain improbable and impossi
bic things had taken place Certainly, redoubtable
Superintendent Cotton. II the throes Of on earth.
quake should result in the swallowing up Of New Or.
leans, there would be no occasion for you or your
ofiee! If, by some eonvalson Of nature. the poles
should be reversed and the climate Of the south be-
come the climate Of Canada, and the climate Of Can.
do fba eli af