New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-12-26
OUR WASHINGTON CORRESPOND
ENCE

The Contest In the Second DIstrIct-Mr
Menard the Subi ecL OF Newspaper Ar
ticIes, and of Foreign Diplomacy
Nominations In Third LOuIAlnna Dis
trIet-The Chattanooga Railroad after
Louisiana Lands Wilson's MeaOIu.
tIOn-Adj jOuE nment for the HOLIDAY
Personal.
WASHINGTON, December 20, 1868.
The arrival of Caleb S. Hunt, ESQ.,, to put
in his claim for the contested seat in the
Fortieth Congress, as Representative from
the Second Louisiana District, assists some
what to further complicate the matter. Mr.
Jones has just procured the publication of
the evidence on which he bases his claim
to the seat, as House document. Menard
is still confident, and is fain to think his
prospects Frightening. The result will be,
we are inclined to believe, hardly to the
satisfaction of either party. Ger
tainly no action will be taken be-
fore the middle or latter part of
January, perhaps not at all. The appear.
ance of Mr.. Menard before the public as
claimant for Congressional honors has fur
nished plenty of material for newspaper
men all over the country. Frank Leslie's
Weekly has furnished the public with fine
portrait of the gentleman, together with q
view of his receiving the CONGRATULATIONS of
his friends on the floor of the House. For
the elegance and appropriateness of the pic
| ture, it is safe to say we are mainly indebt-
ed to the imagination of the artist. Mr.,
| Menard also recalls the fact that he was the
| subject of diplomatic correspondence be
| tween Secretary Seward and Lord Hawley,
| in the summer of 1867. The correspondence
will be found on pages 81, ia and l15, vol. |
of State Department Documents, 1868. 1t
| seems that Mr.. Menard was arrested in King
ston, Jamaica, in October, 1855, incarcerated
| for several months, and finally banished
| the island without being allowed to visit his
wife and newborn child. Mr. Seward asks
\ an explanation of the English premier, which
is finally furnished to the effect that Menard
had been arrested and expelled the country
| for promulgating speeches and letters testify.
| ing to his 'deep hatred of the ruling
class"-his advocacy of "blaek nationali-
| ties" and his desire for separation from
the white race" This was his lordship's
| explanation, and thus the matter ended.
| some days ago the Secretary of the
| Treasury forwarded to the White House the
name of Thomas S. johnson for Collector of
| Internal Revenue for the Third Louisiana
District, vice Tisdale suspended. An init
nation from the friends OF Captain johnson,
however, that the position of Assessor
would be preferable caused his excelency
to nominate NJ. A. Bouchard for Co,lectoy
and Captain johnson for Assessor, vice
| Norcross. Both of these gentlemen are ia
vorably known to the Republicans of Lou
isiana, and will without doubt be speedily
confirmed.
In my dispatch of recent date you make
me appear as stating that the bill granting
TO the New Orleans, Mobile and Chattanoo-
| go Railroad Company immense tracts o.
| land in Louisiana was introduced by
| Senator Kellogg. The fact is, the. bill
was presented by Representative F. W.
Kellogg, of the Mobile District. 1t is very
doubtful whether this bill will even receive
the support of Louisiana's Senators or Con
| gressmen, the scheme proposing almost too
big 'gobbleh of the public lands of our
State, and the strong friends of the meas.
| ure state that they expect to have to fight
Louisiana in the matter all the way through
and expect to do so relying on the immense
| wealth and influence of certain Congress
men interested in the scheme. 1t is posi-
Bile these gentlemen may wake up some fine
morning and find staring them in the face
| an act OF the Louisiana Legislature revok-
ing the immense concessions granted tC
them last summer.
The resolution presented in the Houst
on Friday by Mr.. Wilson, of Iowa, instruct
ing the Committee on Revision of the Law
to inquire into the appointment by Distric
Judges of general assignees in bankruptcy
and also into the official action of said as
signees, is calculated to create a little com
motion in certain circles. 1t is possible the
Workings OF quite number Of little ''dngs'
may be exposed in various parts of the
country.
In all probability both the senate and
House will adjourn on Monday until aftel
the holidays. Mr.. Newsham has already
started for Louisiana to spend his vacation
and in day or two the town will be tempo
rarlly deserted. m.a - hr
Morey left here this evening for the East OF
q flying trip. They will both be in New
Orleans within week from the first.
ROB ROY.