The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-03-14
THE EXCLUDED L0uIsIANA MEMBERS.

few days ago the CRESCENT referred to
the extraordinary conduct of Gov. Warmoth
| in emitting the words "duly elected" or
"regularly elected" from the certificates is
sued by him to the members of Congress
elect The paragraph attracted the notice of
Mr.. McCranie, one of our representatives,
and that gentleman addressed to us the fol-
lowing letter, showing that the omission had
attracted notice, and that efforts had been
made by Mr.. McCranie, and we presume
by other members elect, to remedy it:
WASHINGTON, D. c., March s, 1869.
Editor Crescent-In your daily issue OF the Sd
inst, sent me BY friend in your city, find q
paragraph in which IL is stated that the members
elect TO Congress from Louisiana did not notice
the omission of the words t" duly elected In the
certificates presented them by Gov. Warmoth, in
consequence OF which omission Mr.. Mcpherson,
clerk Of the House, decided not to place the
names Of the Louisiana members upon the roll of
the new House.
At least two members of the delegation did
notice the said omission before leaving Louisiana,
but since the certificates expressed In detail
everything conveyed by the words " duly electedp
showing that the election was held according
10 state laws. for what purpose, that the returns
we're properly made and duly examined, and that
the person holding the certificate recey ed a
vote being given) the omission was regarded as
immaterial and matter of too small moment to
be brought TO the attention of his excellency,
Gov Warmoth, who, It was presumed, knew the
duties OF his office and was possessed of sufficient
manliness and official integrity to have refused,
peremptoriy, certificates Of election to persons
who were not duly, or regularly elected to seats
In the House Of Representatives. Beside, 1t was
believed that II the omission was intentional on
the part Of his excellency II would be useless to
make an application to have the omission sup.
piled. That IL intentional.the following state.
ment Of facts will oonclusvely show:
AS soon as the grounds were ascertained upon
which Mr.. MCPHERSON assumed the right to ex-
clude the names Of the Louisiana members from
the roll-which was that the words duyn or
regularly eectedo were not to be found in the
certificates transmitted TO him, and which were
literal copies of those held by the delegation
applied 10 him TO see the law which governed his
action. The law was produced, being an act OF
Congress requiring the clerk of the next pre-
ceoing House TO make up roll of the new one,
and TO place thereon the names of those persons
claiming seats, and whose credentials show that
they were regularly elected according to the
laws OF the United States or of the States" Mr..
Mcpherson evidently felt that his decision would |
subject him TO the charge Of clubbing If unsup.
ported by palliating proof, and he accordingly /
informed me, without being solicited, that more |
than month ago he had called Governor War. |
moths attention TO the alleged insuficiency of |
the certificates furnished by him to the clerk and
that the desired amendment had not as yet been /
made. This occurred on the I'd inst. / instantly 1
Col. st. Martin to have new certif- |
Gates issued, intending that the governor should |
be fully tested, and in time, as to the purity of |
his intentions and manliness of purpose. The ap-
plication was accordingly made for certificates,
including the words duly elected" and. as was
informed by telegraph on the Sd, was rejected
Thus, it will be seen, that Governor Wsrmoth's
conduct was not accidental, but was deliberate
and intentional. 1t will be further seen that the
Louisiana delegation were not inattentive to the
rights Of their constituents even the farfetched
bubbles of the clerk of the House.
The credentials of the Louisiana members were |
referred by the House, after some debate, to the
committee on elections mot yet announced) for
Investigation as to their regularity. 1t is not be. |
lieved the objection raised as to form will stand
for a moment in point of law, but it will doubt.
less serve the double purpose of precipitsting the
Investigation as TO the validity of the election held
in November in Louisiana, and of excluding those
Of the delegation who could qualify, during the
tendency OF the investigation, from their rightful
seats on the floor of the House.
/ may add in conclusion that the House requires
40 particular form to be observed in making
but credentials, and that 1t is rule uniformly ob.
served by that body not TO permit even the laws
Of the State much less the derelictions of any of
he States officials, to defeat the choice Of the
people when that choice has once been ascer.
aimed by an election held according TO law.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
G.. W. MCCRANIE |