New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-09-17
THE GATLIN GUN CONVENTION
POSTMASTER LOWELL INTERVIEWED
HOW HE TOLD HIS STORY

HOW HE TOLD HIS STORY
| [From the New York Herald.I
The WarmOth faction having had their
| grievances very fully set forth in the prese
since their return from Long Branch, q re-
porter of the Herald yesterday called upon
Postmaster Lowell, Of New Orleans, at the
St. Nicholas Hotel, to ascertain what he. as
one of the accused federal officers, had to
say. Below is the conversation accurately
| reported:
! Reporter: Mr. Lowell, I have called to
hear your explanation Of the trouble now
raging between the Republicans of your
| State.
Mr.. Lowell: The REPUBLICAN, news
paper, see, says we DO not make any
charges against them (the Warmoth partyj.
We do. We charge the Governor, frst.
| that he has appointed great many Demo
| Gratis to office, when there were Republicans
| who could fill them just as WELL Second.
| that he required of his appointees or some
| of them-and we believe the rule is gen
eral-to deposit with him. before commis-
| sioning them, an undated resignation.
| Third, that he appoints many men to Office
in violation Of the constitutional provisions
providing that no one shall hold more than
one office and that no member Of the Legis-
lature shall be eligible to any Office created
| by the Legislature of which he was a mem
ber, or by which the emoluments have been
increased until Cne year has elapsed.
Fourth, that he organized the State militia
in violation OF the State constitution, which
provides that officers of it shall take the
oath administered to United States army
officers as well as the one taken and sub
scrlbed to by the civil officers of the State,
He has commissioned the militia officers on
taking the State oath merely. Fifth, that
in appointing supervisors Of registration in
the local election, he selected many resi-
dents of New Orleans for country parishes,
and, as We believe, many OF them returned
men elected who were not elected by the
votes of the people. This was done in sew.
eral instances il strong Republican parishes.
Reporter Would they return Democrats!
Mr.. Lowell: Not for the Legislature, ex-
cept, perhaps, in two or three instances
These parties returned as elected to the
Legislature were warm supporters of War
moth. and therefore we believed that he
sanctioned their being returned. Sixth,
We charge that last winter he combined
with Democratic members of the Legisla-
ture to elect the Speaker and United States
Senator, promising in return that they
should be largely represented upon the
legislative committees and have the con-
troll Of the patronage in their parishes or
districts These are the main charges we
make against him.
Reporter: Well, as to the cause of the
split, what have you to say!
Mr.. Lowell: In the convention of 1870
WarmOth was member and candidate
for its president, but was defeated by
Lieutenant Governor Dunn. In the resolu-
tons selecting the State Central Committee
the president of the convention. as has
been the custom. was authorized to appoint
five members from the State at large, ten
being chosen by the convention WarmOth
asked Dunn to allow him to name portion
Of the five, which he declined. This embit-
tered the Governor, and he waged war
upon the State committee. An auxiliary
committee. composed of his friends and
supposed to be appointed by him, sprung
into existance. He and his oficehOlders
refused pecunlary assistance to the State
committee, although both committees sup
ported the same candidates in the campaign
of 1870. After the convention Of this year
was called Warmoth attempted to have his
otfice-holders elected as delegates to it, and
from those parishes where they were de-
feated they sent delegates selected by par
conventions had elected their regular dele
gates. In some instances persons claim |
ing to be delegates presented themselves
at Turner Hall, who in fact. had not |
been elected by any meeting of citizens. In |
the city Of New Orleans the street employees
were sent from one ward to another, to- |
gether with members Of the police force |
ununiformed evidently to control the |
wards in their primary meetings. have in
the handwriting of the superintendent Of
streets of the Second Ward an order instruct
ing gang to report at the Tenth Ward |
clubroom, to B. P. Blanchard, on the |
evening when the club was to elect officers
This was to elect Warmoth's friends as |
officers of the club. Failing in some of the |
clubs to do this, after the adjournment Of the
clubs his partisan friends met in the neigh
borhood, and undertook to imreach and re-
move the officers, and electel their own
friends: Having accomplished, this they
Claimed the new organizations as being the
mother clubs. The delegates elected by these
Warmoth claimed seats for in the conven-
ton In some cases they made 80 much
noise that the clubs were forced to adjourn
for the time being
Reporter: What then followed
MIR. Lowell: Members of the State CON-
mittee had been informed that the Gov
ernors friends intended. if the convention
was held in the Mechanics Institute. which
Is under WarmOth's control and leased in
his name, to control 1t (the convention), and
connrm his delegates in their seats by the
use OF the Metrop olitan Police, Of which the
Governor, under the act, is commander-in-
chief. On the third of August the State
committee voted not to hold the convention
at the institute in consequence of these re-
ports but directed the president Of the COM
mittee-
Reporter: Who is he,
MIR. Lowell: Marshal Packard-to select
. suitable place Of meeting. and publish q
notice on or before the morning Of the
eighth
Reporter: They claim that the original
call did not state the hall of meeting
Dir. Lowell: It did not, but the notice on
the eighth did. 1t called it at the Custom
louse IN the United States Court room. Mr..
Packard endeavored to find some hall else
where, but states that all the suitable halls
lad been leased for the ninth and tenth by
real estate agent-to be kept closed. He
attempted TO secure the St. Charles and
National Theatres, but failed. He then
allied it in the Customhouse.
Reporter: Why were tickets of admission
ssued!
Mr. Lowell: Upon the suggestion. I think,
2 MI. Harris one fthe Governors friends,
Vno, with two other members Of the War
moth part OF the committee assisted US to
AIRY the proposition unanimously. He did
MS TO Keep outsiders from voting in the or. ,
ani7atlon of the body. Tickets were issued
o all persons making any claim to seats in
he convention.
Reporter: How were they distributed? 1t
said from the postotice.
MT. Lowell: don't care about referring | I
that, as it was matter between Mr.. .
'ackard and myself.