The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1869-05-05
Louisiana Radicals,

We are always pleased to notice the s1ss1s % seisi
bic, weil-meaning Northern men among u.s. 1hat thes
may see the workings Of The carpet and scala
ways Mr. Joseph MedeI, the Radical editor of the
Chicago Tribune has been with US, and writes as iol
lows to his paper, from New Orleans. IN speaking Of
our people, be says
They entertain an irrevocable luminosity toward
carpet.bag office seekers, and really cannot blame
them, for it is deplorable fact that very ma
ority of these gentry are scamps and rotten
driftwood who have been toated down the Mississippi,
and sqaatted on the Offices. They bring disgrace on
the party to which they profess to belong hey pos
sess as keen scent and ravenous an appette LOT
punder a9 the ynures who fill the ar putrld
carcasses The difference between these pirds OF prey
is that the former feast on the substance OF tVng men,
while the after content themselves with the carcasses
of dead animals It would be safe to enter the Louis
lana carpet-baggers for pifering, pecalatlngy and
scoundrelism, in competition with any Of the tribe in
any other part Of the South. These rascas were,
many, or most Of them appointed before the breach
between Johnson and Congress. They gave in their
adhesion TO my policy while the power of removal
remained with the President After the enactment of
the Tenure Office law most OF them proclaimed them
selves Radicals. But johnson managed to get rid Of
a good many, and filed their places with men of the
stripe Of Steedman and Perry Fuller. But no matter
whether they protested to be Radicals or Conserya
on the people and the Treasury. Millions upon mil
lions of State and city taxes have been stolen and
other millions of Federal taxes have taken the
direction. The corruption in the custom house was
little less fragrant than in the Internal Revenue and
both were only exceed in downright, nnblushing dis
honesty. by the State Legislature and State Govern
nent To sum up the whole matter in sentence, Off
cial life in Louisiana is synonymous with turptude
md raseaiity Onthe make is the rule of the office
lolder and honesyis the exception. 1t is estimated
hat while the cotton tax lasted one-third of it was
olen and that one half of the custom house duties
iivded among the officials and the importers. AS to
he whisky tax, NINETY five per cent. of for three
ears past has been ached by the whisky ring. Dur
g ~ twelve months preceding the advent of Super
10 rTiaI not enough -oronua was derived from |
sseesors he salaries Of the collectors and
res IN full blast in this State 1t is low estimate to
ay that six millions yaar were stolen by the whisky
ing in Louisiana. The robbing of the tobacco tag,
nd the evasion OF income tax hardly less fragrant
IAN the cheating in the customhouse. I dare not
ust my pen to relate what is told me of the dongs of
lie Legislature OF how money is appropriated, raised
I'D sqnandered; how bills for swindling the public
ere passed, Or the means employed to induce the
overnment to sign some bills and veto Others how
ambns shops and lotteries were chartered and how
uch it cost to buy the votes of the Radical carpet
gSers and Democratic scalawags pass the bills and
cure their approval by the Executive On every
lsness street Of New Orleans gambling hells licensed
the Legislature to ply their avocation, are nightly
full blast. The gamblers hire stores on the chief
islness streets hang out their banners on the outer
all and from the first floor to the attic all games of
ance, fraud and deception carried on from night
Il to morning, and these places are visited by throngs
Our people-hundreds gambling and thousands look
on and learning the games preparatory to trying
cir luck in combats with the tiger. Backegs are
arming hther from all parts of North America and '
I'm Europe to prey on those of less skill in the art of
eating with dice and cards bill for the licensing
houses Of prostitution was sravelv discussed and e
arly passed the Legsature and, it is believed, only
led in becoming law i'll consequence of the made
acy OF the bribery fund raised to secure its enact
fornlcaton would be carried on as !,
emily under the protection of the law as gambling
W is.