New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-09-08
THE WEEKLY REPUBLICAN
Letter from Judge Dibble- Louisian,
PaIifics.

Politics.
We copy from the New York Times the
following letter addressed to the editor Of
that journal:
Il LONG BRANCH, August 3l.-Permit me to
reply to the letter published in your paper
this morning, purporting to have been adj
dressed to Hon. b. K. Cowan, by some one
in New Orleans. The manner in which your
correspondent at Washington introduces
this letter is calculated to give it credence:
he characterizes its writer as man of abil-
ity, who went South Democrat, two years
ago and who is now engaged in the prac-
tice of his profession. will not do your
agent the injustice to doubt the genuineness
of the letter, though from my acquaintance
with the professional men of New Orleans
j am satisfied that there is no one there
who will fully meet the description given.
believe that the statements made by the
writer of the letter in question are in almost
every respect untrue; l know that several
of his assertions are false. Therefore, as a
friend of Governor Warmoth's, and as q
Republican representing in some degree
the party in Louisiana, ask permission to
answer the charges made in the letter.
1t is not necessary that l should defend
the personal character of Governor War
moth, or that should notice the personal
attack made in this letter. l am ready,
though, to defend his political acts. At the
proper time / could convince the writer of
the error in his opinion of Governor War
moth.
1t is charged in this letter that Governor
Warmoth is at the head of movement to
create white mans party, and to sell out
the Republican party to the Democracy. I
am an intimate friend of the Governor. |
know his political plans and associations.
There is not a word of truth in this state
ment. Governor Warmoth is one of the
most ardent and consistent Republicans in
the country. He has far less of prejudice
against the blacks than most of their
champions whom have met. He is an &C
compiished politician, and not likely to ever
make the mistake of Tyler and Andrew
johnson.
Governor Warmoth and his political
friends and associates are sustained by four
ffths of the colored people of the State In
the recent contest for delegates to the con-
vention we carried nearly all the Repub-
Lean parishes. Most of those districts in
which the colored vote is large, and where
we roll up the twenty thousand majority,
the administration delegates were almost
unanimously chosen Among those dele
gates were many of the leading colored
nlen of the State nearly all of whom are
political adherents of the Governor. This
does not look like trade with the Democ-
racy or the formation of "white mans
party"
The writer of this letter attempts to JUS
tify the conduct of the federal officials in
New Orleans, who called the State conven-
ton in the Customhouse with the view of
controlling it by force-by the presence
and use of armed deputy marshals and
United States troops. 1t is charged that
Governor Warmoth used the State militia
and police of New Orleans to carry the
elections for delegates, and that threats of
violence justified the use of troops. The
charge is not true. During the canvass in
the wards and parishes not a man was hurt
Not single militia officer or militia man
was on duty or present in uniform, or with
arms, at any public meeting or ward gath |
ering. could recriminate by saving that |
the collector OF the port increased his rolls |
by the employment of men who went |
around from ward to ward and created |
whatever of disturbance there was. Mar
shall Packard and his coadjutors had no |
fears, except of delegates they needed and |
used force only against them.
1t is claimed for Mr.. Packard that he
used troops under the act of Congress
known as the enforcement bill | have
studied that law. and | am willing to risk |
my professional reputation upon the state
ment that there is not a line in the act |
which can be held to authorize the nae of |
the army as the troops were used in New
Orleans. The first rule of Interpretation ia
TO know the intention of the law makers
When Congress passed this law il made
temporary provision for the protection of
life and property in the South against the
banditti organized upon the ruins of society
which was shattered by the war. 1t was
never intended to provide means for carry
ing political conventions at the point of the
bayonet. have been happy and proud to
see how universally the press and the peo-
pie of the country have condemned this
first attempt in violation of law They
know little and care less about our family
quarrel, but they exclaim at once against
any act which indicates purpose of sub
the civil to the military power.
1t is but Just to the President to say that
We believe that the federal officers in New
orleans acted without his authority or
The committee appointed to wait upon
he President will have many things to say
o him which | would not be justified in
stating here.
make this communication more partlcu-
arly as friend of Governor Warnoth. |
believe he is one of the ablest and most up
rlght OF our public men. The people of
LOUISIANA believe this, and he will be re-
'lected as the next Republican Governor by
twenty-five thousand majority.
Very respectfully,
HENRY G. DIBBLE
Petroleum Nasty mada IL E..4 ..o...- |