New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-08-16
THE NEW-ORLEANs OUTRAGE.

Details of the late political difficulty at New
Orleans show that moro disgraceful state of
affairs attended the DISCRIMINATION Of the
Republican Convention in that city than could
have been imagined. We learned by tele-
graph that the Convention was held in
the Custom-HOuse and that the United
States troops were employed to stand
guard around tho hall in which the
delegates were to be convened. But it seems
that nearly all tho Federal officials were con-
cerned in the shameful attempt to make a
close corporation of the ConventiOn-Or, at
least, of that part of which they had control.
The Collector and Marshal having agreed to
use the building of the United States, the
latter functOnary, in advance of the appoint
ment and action Of a Committee on
Credentials, constituted himself an authority
to decide who were entitled to
seats in the Convention, and gave notice that
he would issue tickets of admission to mem
bers only. Marshal Packard was to decide who
should pass the Gordon of troops which had
been drawn around the place of meeting. The
Postmaster was brought into active service.
his share of the labor being to peddle
out Marshal Packards tickets. But the
Postmaster's feelings would not permit
him to distribute the coveted cards
through the mOney-order department of his
Office as first contemplated, 80 he gave them
out of his windOw-a surrender of convent
ence to decency which we cannot sufficiently
admire when we contemplate the spectacle of
the United States Custom-HOuse garrisoned by
troops, defended with artillery, and the custO-
dams Of the property clOseted Ii private
caucus, while delegates to the Convention
were vainly begging entrance into the interior
of the building. U...F u.
Just now, we have nothing to say about the
relative merits of the parties to the unhappy
quarrel which divides the Republicans of
Louisiana, but every Republican must feel
indignant at such an indecent and wan
ton perversion of authority as that which
resulted in the organization of two Con-
ventiOns at New Orleans. To call
Convention in the United States Court
room, in the House building, was q
gross political outrage, unprecedented in the
history of the country. To hide behind bat
talon of Deputy United States Marshals and
another of United States infantry was cow
ardly and scandalOus. And to attempt to
exclude respectable and well-behaved citizens
from the room in which the Convention was to
be held was q violation of the plainest
principles of popular rights. No wonder that
the men who had conspired to bring forth
these high-handed measures were willing to
shoulder the responsibility for their acts upon
some "higher authority" when overtaken by
storm of popular Indignation. But we re-
toice to hear that the President promptly repu-
dates the doings of his New-Orleans sub
ordnates, land. as now reported, proposes to show
his appreciation of their misconduct in Office
by turning them out. We are sure that the
President by this course can do much to take
away the causes which have provoked the
split in the Republican party of Louisiana
at least, he can teach meddllng and super
seryiceabls officials that they cannot even in ]
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