The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1871-02-18
\ Distinguished Dinner Party.--Why the
Dinner Was Given.


Orleans, at which there We're present il
rather singular gathering. ~ contrib
utor to the Bulletin thus accounts for
the dinner, and gently raps on the
knucllcs some Of our aspiring Demo-
cratic friends for being found in bad
mpany,-knowing it to be such
Editors BuHietiu:-In my last I init
mated that a rupture between Gov. War
moth and the Democratic members of
the Senate was imminent. Matters be-
gan to assume SO serious an aspect that
it became imperatively necessary to
throw coil upon the troubled watcrs,'
and in the same way to assrage the
wrath of the little coterie Of Democrats
who held in their grasp the destiny of
Gov. Warmoth's political power in this
State. AS the rampant and terrible lion
is sometimes made tractable and docile
by filling his belly, the idea suggested
itself to His EXcellency that Il similar
treatment Of his political antagonists
would accomplish with them similar
result, and hence the secret of
THE HOWARD DINNER,
which took place at the st. Charles iIo-
tel, last Tuesday evening,ald described
with such accuracy by the Jenkins of
thePicaynnc. That politics makestrange
beti-fellows is clearly demonstrated by
this famous dinner. Mingling around
the ssgay and festive board,' tipping
glasses and quatfing the red and spark
ling wines provided with bountiful
hand, we find in close communication
Gov. WarmOth and Senator Blackman,
Senator HunSacker and Senator Thorn
as, Senator Campbell and Senator A n
derson, Representative Ong and Rep
resentativcs Stevens, Swords and Mon
cure, Lynch and Bowman, j. b. How
ard and l.. f. Lenarie, Col. Carter and
Col. Jack Wharton, Col.Jack William
son and Col. J. J. O'Fallon, with Col.
Hatch (not Frank but the other Hatch)
the Governors Judge Dibble and the
Governors jester and clown Gcorgie
Sheridan. Here now was Il motley
crew, i'll comparison with which, in
point of talent, wit and learning the
names of Ben. Johnson, Charles Lamb,
and Hazlitt can only be mentioned.
Now to analyze the congcnial spirits
that seemed to mingle so tremendously
on this memorable occasion, we must
begin wit Mr.. J. B. Howard,
TIE CHIEF DE CUISINE,
who having exhibited to the entire sat
isf;,ction of the Governor wonderful
adaptability for undertaking what no
one else could accomplish for lack ofim-
pudence, temerity and utter unscrupu-
lousness, was selected to act as master
OF ceremonies, and permitted to enjoy
the honor of having paid for that COM
plimentary dinner to his EXcellency
and the Democrat members Of the Leg
islature. The Impeachment of that
prince of Republican theieves who have
infested this State since the war, En-
Auditor Wickliffe, is still fresh in the
memory of every one, and especially
with Senators Blackman, Anderson
and Lynch, who voted for the convic-
ton of the notorious Wicklitfe. These
gentlemen will recollect, among the
charges preferred by Governor War
moth against Wicklitfe on his trial, was
"a collision with one J. Is. Howard,
whereby an appropriation Of the Leg
islature tor the Bureau OF Emigration,
of some ten or fifteen Thousand dollars,
WAS paid to the said Howard after the
amount had been previously paid to
DIR. NOycS, the Commissioner of En-
igratiOn, and successor to Mr.. Kath-
man." The truth of the charge could not
be denied, and yet we find Governor
Warmoth, Senators islackman and
Lynch accepting tn" Inequalities of
this Mr.. Howard, and joining him and
his crowd around the social board.
Oh, shame! where is thy blush? Again
these same Senators will rccollcct that
on a certain day in the senate chamber,
when bill was up for funding city
notes, Senator Lynch read from his seat
a written proposition from this same
Mr.. Howard to pay him (sSenator
Lynch) ttro thousand dollars for his vote
in favor OF the bill. OF course sshonest''
John was highly indignant at so infa-
nous a proposition, and promptly ask
ed for the cjectmcnt from the floor OF
the Senate of Mr.. Howard, who was |
then engaged in the nef;,riolS work of
bribing Senators to vote for his ssCur- |
rency bill.' And yet We find '.honest'
John one Of the gayeSt at the Howard |
and speaking,;ls the iicDttLiicon
says he always does, Gin favor of jus
tice, economy and ri,1,ts.'' l am in
clined to think from keeping such conf
pany, s'honest" John S;,eoks in favor Of
virtue, but does not practice II either by
precept or example. Such, then, is the
moral photograph OF ''mine host
whose smiles and Establishments seem
TO charm and scducc the little band of
Democrats whom it WAS expected would
have played the part OF SpartunS in
protecting their own honor and III dc
the integrity of their party.
even as the brave LconiG:lS fought for
the pass of rhcrmopylse.
And now we come to another choice.
spirit in the person of
SENATOR o. r. HtrNSA,'i<Eis.
whose record it would be we'll to keep
I l.