New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-06-17
TO THE RESCCE,


5 tives for so doing. 1t evidently consider
him in danger of being badly used, il
: fact, used-up man, and interposes i'll
7 support to save him. Had the Time.
nobly performed duty in doing this
7 had its greatness of soul prompted it te
come to the rescue of injured innocence
instead ola craving, as is Justly suspected
to usurp, through the aid of the Mayor,
the lawful rights of others, it might have
elected praise for disinterested conduct.
But in failing to convince the public that
the REPUBLICAN, in its efforts to correct
wrong, has been governed by selfish
motive, the Times clearly establishes that
. it is grossly and disgustingly selfish
and egotisticar' in supposing it
can screen the Mayor or save him
from the consequences that should
follow official misconduct. 1t is hard
to believe the Times has been cheaply
bought over to the support of Mayor
Flanders that the little patronage that
has been unlawfully bestowed on it by the
Mayor is all it expects in return for its de-
Tense of him against what it is pleased to
call the REPUBLICANS "abuse and sour
rility." The Times knows too we'll the
Mayors weak points. 1t flatters him for
the purpose of inspiring him with cour-
age to still further infringe ON the rights
of the REPUBLICAN, trusting, no doubt, to
still further profit thereby.
The REPUBLICAN has deeply regretted
the necessity for censuring the official
conduct of the Mayor, but the fact of his
being Republican shall not revent it
from speaking out in defense of right
We have deemed it right that the people
of this city shall be protected against in
undations, and consequently advocated
the passage of law authorizing an eff
fcient system of drainage and protection
levees. The law was passed by the Legis
lature, and the city government clothed
with power to enforce it, In the face of
this law, and the great necessity for its
immediate enforcement, the Mayor has
steadily opposed the work, alleging as
reason that in his opinion it is unneces-
sary. In refusing to obey the law in this
instance, we charged that the Mayor COM
mitted a grave offense. Is this abuse ?
In the next place, the Mayors fragrant
disregard of law in giving to
the Times printing that should
have been done by the REPUBLICAN,
compelled us to protest against such con-
duct, and in order to enforce our lawful |
rights we were put to the expense and |
trouble of instituting suit at law Is it |
abuse of the Mayor to characterize his
conduct in this instance as criminal? Is |
he so securely hedged in by power and
patronage that it is wrong to tell him
wherein he has been neglectful of duty? |
We think not, and we believe the popular
voice will sustain us in our course. If
the REPUBLICAN has had occasion to com
plain of the Mayors want of respect for
law where it conficted with his notions of
right, it has also had to find fault with
his passion for law suits, when he can
conduct them at the public expense. We
have styled him the friend of the lawyers,
and we have done so without meaning to
be abusive.
In the case of Mrs. Gaines, referred to
by the Times, we have said that the course
taken by Mayor Flanders was ruinous and
unjust. 1t is ruinous, because it is adding
additional expense to the city without the
of reversing judgment that has
been rendered in the United States Cir
cult Court in this city, and it is unjust,
because it is calculated to further injure
a lady who has already suffered much
rom the laws delays. For over thirty j
years Mrs. Gaines has travelled through {
courts of justice in this country to prove /
herself the lawful heir of her father. She {
It last succeeded against her enemies in {
in the highest court in the 1
and, her legitimacy. The United States t
supreme Court decided that Mrs. Gaines l
s the legitimate heir of Daniel Clark, and 1
Untitled to his vast estate in this city. g
This gave Mrs. Gaines the right to recover s
II property that belonged to him, after 7
lis debts were paid. By decision of o
Judge Bradley, Mrs. Gaines recently OBJ a
aimed judgment against the city of New O
orleans for over one hundred thousand c
ollars, for the use of property that has t,
cen decided to belong to her. Il
Lawyers have advised the Mayor to re- il
list this judgment of United States q
ldge, and the Mayor has employed them, il
no small expense, it must be presumed, v
n lawyers of their kind do not work for c.
nall wages, to appeal the case to the @
nited States Supreme Court. The Times tt
lys, in excavation of the Mayors con- n
uct in this case, that the gentlemen en- Il
loyed to attend to this case have special So
nployment by the city to defend its in ii
rests in all legal proceedings instituted N
y Mrs. Gaines. But does this signify n
lat they are willing to do it without pay?
e think not. And if the lawyers are Of
Ding to get the most of it by fight s.
g it in the courts, or if it to
again decided in favor of Mrs in
aines, and they are to come upon te
lie city for a large fee, say twenty-five to
lousand dollars, without being able to ST
III