The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-08-08
GoVevnor Wells.

4 q &
The governor of State is presumed to
represent the opinions, wishes, aspirations,
and sentiments of the people Of Che State.
In the absence of such unison, or at least
harmony Of views and intentions, it is
natural to suppose that he would not have
been chosen governor. This is, certainly,
a General rule; but it is, like other general
r,1lss. subject to exceptions more or less
marked in their character. Presumed ex-
pediency may cause It's modification in
some cases; or erroneous impressions of the
character of a candidate may produce a
seeming violation ia other cases. 1t like
wise happens, frequently, that patty revolu-
tions chanre the harmonious relatf MS
which may have existed between cover
nor and the majority Of the people whom
he is supposed to represent; but In such a
ease an anticipation of recurring elections
is very apt to calm the public Impotence.
On the other hand, when governor per-
sistently aud wilfully sets himself in op-
position to the people who elected him
when not only he ceases to represent them
in any manner whatever, but assumes
towards them an attitude Of defiant and
yindictivs hostility-when, in other words,
he betrays them, instead Observing them
unligns them, instead of representing them
--assaiIs them, instead of defending them
"a prompt and speedy severance of his
relations with them would seem to be ex-
tremely desirable. But if, in addition to
this general antagonism, an elected COVER
nor deliberately allies himself with re-
evolutionary faction, and plots with them
the overthrow of the very government of
which he is the chosen head, the betrayal
of public confidence is so conspicuous that
it would seem to demand a cessation of all
official connection between himself and the
State.
~ Such is the unenviable position in which
Governor Wells has placed himselftowards
the people OF Louisiana. 1t is true that,
when he was elected governor, he did not
represent the general current Of public
sentiment in this State; but policy recon-
mended him to our people. He was III
Office, in this portion of Louisiana, when
hostilities ceased. He became, de feeto
governor Of the whole State when the Con-
federate armies surrendered. He was sun
posed TO bd on good terms with the Presi-
dent. 1t was popularity reported that he
had promised to do his best to restore har.
rnony and to aid the reconstruction policy
of Mr.. johnson. 1t was urged upon our
people that they should set an example of
Cancellation and forgiveness by choosing
for their governor a man who had been
prominent On the Union side. They WELD
ed to these arguments and these influences
They nominated Governor Wells, and cleo
ted him. They had a right to suppose
that, at least, he would keep his part Of the
compact. They knew that he did not love
them; but they thought that he would not
betray them. In this they formed all en-
roneous estimate of his character. No
sooner did he become governor by the voice
Of the people than he commenced these
efforts to thwart the popular will which
have eliminated in the greatest social dis
aster thai ever befell New Orleans He
quarreled with the Legislature He refused
his assent to measures which were abso-
lutely necessary for the restoration or popu-
lar local government, and of the old NUM-
cipal and parochial machinery Before the
end Of the session he bad thoroughly
alienated himself from the people of the
State. For any harmony of action that
existed between Governor Wells and our
people, he might as well have been the
chief magistrate Of Vermont as of Louisi-
ana. With all this, however, we could
have borne. We conld have lived out the
four years of his administration without
complaint, and, perhaps, satisfied with the
lesson which we had learned. But the
governors last step is too mach--it places
him at once in the ranks Of our bitter
enemies-it makes him not Only the secret
abettor, but the avowed chieftain of the
most unprincipled and vindictive faction
that ever appeared in Louisiana, When
Governor Wells affixed lis signature to
that fatal proclamation by which he at
tempted to inf,se vitality into the defnnct
convention of 1864 he attested and sealed
the evidence of his betrayal of the people
OF Louisiana who had honored him above
his merits, aud trusted him beyond his de-
serts. He knewthen that he was declar-
Ing war against his own people; but did he
know too, that he was making himself
responsible for the terrible scenes of Mon
day last, for the blood ofscores Of deluded
and infatuated persons, and for the estab-
lishmant of martial law in the city of
New Orleauss
We trust not. We hope that he did not
have sufficient sagaeity TO foresee those la
inevitable consequences which were clear
to everybody else.--[N, 0. Crescent.