The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1870-02-16
The Citizens Committee and the
Governor.

1t is to be regretted that the Citi
zens' Committee that waited upon Gov
ernor Warmoth with the resolutions o
the Lafayette Square meeting, did no
put forward some one as spokesman
who was acquainted with the political
and moral record Of the Governor, and
familiar with the legislation of the
State for the past two years. A man
with this knowledge, after the remarks
OF Governor Warmoth, could have an
initiated him upon his own statement
of facts, and torn from his face the
fiimsy mask behind which he attempt
ed to screen himself and cover I'D the
defOrmities of his nature.
In the first place, majority of the
statements and charges made by the
Governor were utterly false, and we
defy him to substantiate them. When
we recOllect that he was dismissed in
disgrace from the military service for
deviating from the truth in his state
ments, it is not surprising that. ne
should continue to manifest this moral
failing in his subsequent official career.
Let MS now review the remarks of this
adventurer from Illinois, who presnmes
to reflect upon the integrity of honor
able men in this community, whose on
ly crime consists in not recognizing
Governor Warmotll as n gentleman,
and in refusing all association with or
toleratiDg him in respectable society.
With a good deal OF assurance and
impudence he Haunted in the face of
the committee the bills which he had
vetoed, prompted, as he would wish to
convey, by the most upright; disinter-
ested and honest motives. But when
we analyse these famous vetOes in con-
nection with many bills that the virtu-
GUS Governor approved, we will ar
rive at the correct reasons for his con-
duct in the premises. For instance, he
cited his veto of the bill authorizing
the sale Of bonds of the city of New
Orleans to the amount of FIVE millions
of dollars, which he says Mayor Con-
way offered him any amount to ap-
prove. Now, this example of his Ex-
cellency's honesty is very poor one
when the true reason of his veto of
that bill is known. We now state up
on the authority of no less an indivi2u-
al than John Ray, Senator from Ouaeh-
lta, that the Governor vetoed the five
million bond bill because Mr.. Ray had
in that bill inserted a clause providing
for the appointment of the Commission
ers to negotiate the sale of the bonds
by the municipal authorities, and not
by the Governor. Mr.. John Ray, stat
ed to several of the most respectable
gentlemen of this city, who are ready
to vOuch for the truth of our state
ment, that Governor Warmoth sent
for him at the time the bill was before
the Senate, and roGuestnd him to
change the appointing power, and to
give the Governor the right to appoint
these Commissioners. He said that the
commission of two and a half per cent
allowed the Commissioners would
make a very handsome sum, which, in
the hands of friends, could be made
available as an election fund in the
Presidential canvass. Mr.. Ray inform
ed the Governor that no change would
be made in the bill, and the appointing
power would be left to the MUNICIPAL
authorities. The next that Mr.. Ray
heard from the Governor on the sub
iect Of the bill was Ills veto message.
Thus, the facts of the case show that
Warmoth vetoed the bill, not because
he thought it was the work of brokers
and others to swindle the treasury of
the city, but simply because the bill
did not confer upon hin, the power Of
appointing the Commissioners, 80 that
an electioneering fund could be raised
to carry the State for Grant, out of the
commissions allowed. This is tho YER
sion of the veto Of the five million bond
bill as given by Mr.. John Ray, at a
dinner party in this city. just about
the time of the adjournment of the
Legislature in 1868, and the gentle
men who assisted at that dinner are all
alive and ready to vouch for it's truth.
Now, abont the Ship Island bill veto.
His Excellency makes it a point in his
favor that he vetoed that bill; but the
history of the passage of that act to
those who know it proves conclusive
ly the duplicity of the Governor. 1t
can be shown by the testimony OF I'M
witnesses, that when his
veto was being considered by the
House of Representatives, he worked
actively to have the bill pass his veto.
Think of it! A Governor disapproves
measure and secretly works
for it's adoption In olden times this
4 L. Il mt nlx