New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-08-26
THE cUsToMHousE WRONG.
Opinions of the Press.
From the New York Dispateb.l

throughout the country that Marshal Pack
ard has denied that any authority had been
received from the President of the United
States giving him and his fellow conspira-
tors power to use public building of the
United States for the meeting of a politisa1
convention, or the use of United States
troops to suppress opposition in the Repub-
lean ranks. Marshal Packard is not a
very Trustworthy witness. General HERON
states in letter TO the New York Tribune
| that ION the evening of the seventh instant
Marshal Packard stated TO General Camp
bell, Judge Dibble and Mr.. Fish. of the
REPUBLICAN,. that he had the highest au-
thority in the land for Using the Custom
house and troops, and has since stated that
General Grant authorized it,"
Whether Marshal Packard was correct in
his first or his second statement is of little
matter so far as he is concerned. He has
shown himself as regardless of truth as he
is of law, and shOuld he removed at once.
But it ia of consequence whether or not
the President of the United States granted
a political convention permission to use
public huildine for place of meeting. and
ordered United States troops 70 enforce the
behests of elique.slf the, President did give
such orders, he committed a grave otfense
against the liberties of American citizens
and a political blunder which all the efforts
of otficeholding admirers can not make the
people forget. If the President was not
guilty Of the crime against law, or OF the
political insanity with which he has been
charged bv Marshal Packard. the ONLY
course left for him TO take is 70 Immediately
dismiss all the federal officers who took
part in the bavonet convention.
A denial that he knew nothing of the
action which the federal officers intended
taking viii have no effect so long as the
men who were guiltv of the usurnation
remain in Office 1t will not do 10 make a
seapegoat of Marshal Packard. and retain
in Office Collector Casey, or any OF the other
heads of federal departments who conspired
to deprive the Republicans Of Louisiana of
a voice in the nomination of candidates,
and the formation of platform of prin-
ciples. In this case there is no need of
hesitation. 1t is undenied that public
building was used for political meeting,
that soldiers were employed to overbear
the representatives Of the members of a
political party, and that the federal Office
holders are responsible. The people of this
country will not quietly submit TO inter
ference, bv mob or soldiers, with the right
of peaceahle assemblage, and they can not
but hold General Grant responsible 80 long
as he retains in Office the men who con-
spired against one of the dearest rights of
American citizens We await the action OF
the President with great interest
From the Chicago Republican,
THE CRIME AT NEW ORLEANS.
1t is not denied, that for the purpose of
controlling y Republican convention in the
interests OF the Louisiana Offceholders,
chief among whom was the Presidents
br0ther-in-law. three companies of United
States troops were called upon. and about
two hundred especial deputy United States
marshals" were sworn in; that they did in
terfere TO exclude certain delegates from
the convention; and that the only purpose
In calling upon them was 70 prevent the
admission of a majority of the delegates
unfavOrable 10 the administration and its
carpet bagging pets. And now, instead of
telling the facts and denouncing such DrO-
ceedings, what are q majority of the party
organs doingl Why, simply announcing
that the Republican State Convention of
Louisiana indorsed Grant for reelection
Napoleon got just such an Endorsement
once, and, through precisely the same in
strumentality. ''Vote as VOu please. but if
you vote against Napoleon vou viii he
shot" Napoleon was elected. Endorse
whom you please" SAYS the commanding
officer at New Orleaus; "but if Won don't
indorse Grant. you can't go into the cOnven-
ton" And Grant was indOrsed
From the Milwaukee Sentinell
THwARTING THE PEOPLES WILL.
There is no doubt that the people in this
country neglect their first duty in remain
ing away from primary meetings, the
especial business of which is to select dele
gates to nominating conventions. Poll
ticians by trade take advantage of this
neglect, and manage, by ways that are dark
and tricks that are not altogether vain, to
substitute their own will for that OF the
voters. Their creatures are directed to pack
and send delegates in the interest
of a ring. When at length, the people are
called upon to exercise their precious fran
chise, there is often nothing left for them to
do but deposit ballot for a candidate
whom they never would have thought of
The only restraint upon eau
Gus manipulations is the exigeDce of pre-
senting men who are not SO obnoxious to
the masses as to endaDger defeat.
Sometimes politicians of the more daring
and inscriptions kind will undertake to
control a convention. A notable instance of |
this kind has recently occurred in the tur-
bulenbcity of New Orleans. The federal |
officials, who had neglected OF failed to Sc
cure delegates in their own interest, essayed |
20 reconstruct" q Republican State con- |
vention and make it subservent to their |
own wishes. The collector of the port and
the marshal of the district, assisted by the |
postmaster, concluded to make the conven- !
ton a close corporation, under their own |
u.
CustOmhOuse, in which he announced the |
convention would be held. The marshal |
constituted himself committee of one on |
and proclaimed that tickets of |
admission TO the hall would be issued to |
nome but members of the convention. The
postmaster gave out the tickets TO creatures
If the federal officials, and refused them to
others. The marshal drew line of United |
States troops around the Customhouse, and
1al rh<, 1In L. |
PASS. Outsiders were kept at safe dis
ance by bayonets, while the federal ''ring"
ictated the proceedings of the convention
within.
The little game, however, did not work
iuite satisfactorily. The arbitrarily ex
luded delegates procured another hall, not
lnder the jurisdiction OF the officials, and
un convention on their own hook. Such
9 the perversity of human nature, that
ven delegates TO a party convention will
ometimes exercise an inconvenient will of
heir own, This Is doubtless very fac
iOus procedure, but among the sons of
Adam it sometimes happens It may en-
langer partisan success, but officeseekers
an not always expect to be free from the
angers of human perversity. Delegates
rom the rural districts are generally sub
nissive to the prearrangements and sage
ordinations of a capital ring, but pawns
n the political chess board have sometimes
een imprudently marshalled so as to check
nate the sovereign piece in the game.
Republicans must everywhere regret the
nhappy division of the party in Louisiana
here is probably blame on both sides. The
all of a state convention in hall of the
sderaL customhouse was extremely repre-
ensible. To say the very least, it was in
hooking bad taste for United States officials |
} attempt to control the action of delegates
ent by the people to select candidates for a
zeal election. The array of federal troops |