The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1871-11-04
The New Orleans Matter.

one or the most influential Journals IL
| the Northwest, says:
I We have been called upon by for.
mer resident of this State and an
alumnus of our University, but now
a leading attorney at New Orleans
and one of the members OF the com.
mittee recently sent to Long BrancI
to formally protest to the President
against the course pursued by sundry
United States officials at the Republi-
can Convention of Louisiana, which
was held at New Orleans during the
summer. We have already published
a statement of the facts in regard to
this matter as given by eye-witnesses,
and have expressed our thorough con-
demnation OF the government officials,
and cur earnest conviction that it is
the duty of the administration to not
merely disavow all responsibility
I therefor, but to properly punish the
men who were thus guilty OF an out
rageous misuse of their official powers.
From documents furnished us by our
informant, we give the following sue
cinct statement of the grievances of the
Louisiana Republicans who refused to
participate in the so-called Custom
house Convention:
First-That President Grants fed
eral appointees in Louisiana called a
State convention in the Custom house
without reason, against law, contrary
to decency, and to the great scandal
OF United States authority.
Second-That they barred and lock-
ed the Custom-house against the pub
lie, and against the legitimate business
to which it is appropriated by law, for
one entire day.
| Tbird-That they filed it with a
crowd of deputy United States mar
shals, armed with loaded revolvers.
Fourth--That they called out and
stationed in thorotunda of the Custom
house two companies Of United States
troops, with. bayonets, in such man
ner as 10 bs4rricade, against all corners,
the entrance to the United States
court-rOomt where the convention was
summoned.
Fifth-p-That their own retainers,
and the contestants whom they had en-
gagged III their own interest to contest
the seats of delegates, were admitted
at an early hour to the CUSTOM house,
and were closeted in q secret caucus,
in room adjoining the courtroom,
and communicating with it by an in
side door, while the other delegates, a
majority fthe convention, were forci-
bly, detained on the sidewalk, outside
| of the Custom house, by locks and
| bars, United States ma9shals and Uni
ted States troops
| Sixth That these United States of
| ficials made a roll of the convention,
/ and assumed to decide who were del
egates and who were not, who should
be admitted to the floor of the conven-
! ton and who should not, who should
vote in temporary organization and
who should not.
That the real use of the armed mar
shals was to arrest any delegates who
should demur to this arrangement and
assert their rights.
Of the United States troops to back
the United States marshals in the ex-
ercise of this power.
| And that the object in the use of the
Custom house was to have building
in which the United States Marshal
should have the required jurisdiction.
Seventh-Thata a United States mill
tary officer interrupted Governor War
moth, delegate to the convention, in
a speech to his brother delegates, by
insulting comments and by command
ing him to desist, and that this was a
high-handed intervention by the mili-
tary of the United States in the affairs
of a political meeting, which is unpre-
cedented, dangerous, and not to be
tolerated, and which calls for prompt
disavowal and rebuke by the Presi-
dent. M
Eighth--That these usurpations of
federal authority, and these outrages
upon the right of public assemblage,
were met in firm but peaceful and
dignifed manner by the adjournment
of a large majority of the delegates in
a body, upon the motion of Governor
Warmoth, to Turner Hall, where the
convention was held.
Ninth-That, upon reflection, SO
disconnected and dismayed were the
small band of Custom con-
spirators and their retainers at the
consequence of their lawless acts, that
they did not venture to take even a
recess, or to trust their own members
outside of the walls of the Custom
house, lest they should be deserted
altogether, but after a short session of
two or three hours they dispersed,
without.an attempt to assemble again,
or even to hold a public meeting to
ratify or sanction their proceedings.
Tenth-That ON the other hand the
convention at Turner Hall held a
spirited but harmonious session of two
days, crowded by the people, passed
resolutions eondemning the course of
the federal officials, and appointed a
committee toIvait upon the President
and in the name of the Republicans of
Louisiana demand their removal; all
of which YlranaodinrC xvarn ratified hxr