New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-08-20
THE CUsTOAIH0USE WRONG.
Rrsuinus or the press
From the New York Evening Post.l

| OpfHI0us Oh tuc ETcsss
From the New York Evening Post.l
| A GOOD PLACE FOR CIVIL SERVICE REFORM
As a rule, the United States officers are
| active in their efforts to control the party in
| the States where they are appointed tu
serve They have been known to ''pack
caucuses, and in primary elections to throw
| in or take out of the "hat' handful of bal
| lots at time. But it renamed for Collector
| Casey, Marshal Packard and other United
| States officers in New Orleans to pack a
enforce harmony by the use of artillery. 1t
was novel conception of theirs, too, to call
| the convention, which ''unanimously'' ap-
| proved their course, in the Customhouse,
where they might not be disturbed by spec
tators This new mode of holding a caucus
| is clearly success, for the meeting, having
| no fear of other factions before its ewes,
easily nominated candidate for President
l'by a resolution, defeated all its enemies,
and limited the Republican party to a score
| or two of men.
| This is not, however, good precedent
| for the future Even now the authors of the
stratagem are surprised at the popular
| indignation toward them for so trifing a
novelty in electioneering. 1t seems that this
Indignation did not end with the protest of
the opposing faction and the resolutions of
a mass meeting, but public opinion in New
Orleans demands the removal OF Casey and
Packard. A large petition 10 that effect
will be sent to the President.
General James Longstreet, Surveyor of
the port of New Orleans, Superintendent
Sypher. q Customh0use contractor, and
others in authority, assert that there was
no excuse for the collectors conduct
We commend New Orleans TO the Presi-
dent as a suitable place 70 begin the long
promised reform in the civil service. With
out speedy change in the management of
public office and of the Republican party in
Louisiana, it will soon be Democratic
State; and what is worse, the political strife
between parties and factions will be embit-
tered, and the restoration OF permanent
order and peace will be indefinitely delayed.
From the Empire Parish Register.l
No one can. for moment, doubt the i'm
propriety OF selecting a building exclusively
within the jurisdiction of the. United States
government as the place for the assembling
of a political State convention. Such a thing
has never. before occurred in this country
since the formation of the government
Improper as was this proceeding, vet
when it is remembered that it was done by
federal officeholders, citizens of this State
and controlling the State Committee, for
the purpose of etfecting the disruption OF
the Republican organization. and thus de-
stroying all hopes of success in the next
general election, it does not appear strange
or unnecessary that such course should
be pursued. These men knew well that the
Customhouse was outside of the iurisdic-
ton of the State, and that they alone had
control therein. The designation of this
building would, they thought, be the final
stroke for the overthrow of the party to
which they claim to belong, as political
organization. This overthrow was their
cowardly and damnable intention.
The selection of the Customhouse was not
all that was done by these unscrupulous
men, Marshal Packard, chief in command
of the building, gave notice that on that
day the public would be excluded, not only
those who desired, as American citizens to
attend the convention, but also those whose
commercial duties and interests called them
there. This was the most high-handed out
rage ever perpetrated in this country. In
the first place, this building was never in
tended to be used for political purposes by
any party; and to close it, during business
hours, to commercial men who pay the rev.
enue tax of the government. is an occur
renee before unheard of in any country.
To make this exclusion of the public and
commercial men more effectual and the
more outrageous, Marshal Packard, as an
officer Of the government, ordered into the
building three companies OF United States
infantry soldiers, and had stationed near at
hand section of artillery.
If such acts as these are tolerated, then it
is full time for the American people to cease
to boast of living under Republican insti-
tutions. 1t will be frivolous to claim TO be
freemen. Their government will deserve
no further regard as being the one estab-
ished by their fathers. 1t will be hereafter
looked upon with apprehension-feared as a
huge engine of oppression. The love of the
people for it, which has remained warm and
steadfast through trial and peril, will be-
come cold and assembling, ard grow, per-
haps, into aversion. The history of it will
cease to be part of its glory. The future,
heretofore so bright and inviting, will grow
into fearful shadow. Like the ancient
Roman who, when his government forgot
liberty and law, fed his home. and prefer
red the rude, wild hospitality of barbarians
to the protection even of his country, the
American citizen may see the day, if such
outrages continue when he would shake
the dust of his native land from his feet
forever without regret.
Not only were armed soldiers and shotted
cannon stationed at the Customhouse on
this occasion, but there were in attendance
about one hundred men loaded down with
revolvers, and sworn IN as United States
deputy marshais. Their insolence was more
excessive than that of rowdy policemen at a
ward election. They were a disgrace to
themselves as men, to their oaths of office,
and the flag of their country. They acted
more like set of banditti, intent upon rob-
berry and bravado, than as a batch OF United
States ministerial officers.
The conduct of Marshal Packard, Col
lect0r Casey, Postmaster Lowell, and Inter
nal Revenue Collector Stockdale, all federal
officers, Is in the highest degree reprehen-
sible, and II not renounced by the Wash
ington authorities, will operate very in
juriously to the cause of Republicanism. If
such proceedings are not stopped, the party
which has administered the affairs of the
government for more than ten years, and
saved the life of the American Union,
making the starry symbol of its nationality
feared throughout the world and loved at
home, will be driven from power in the
presidential election in November, 1872,
and its enemies will reap the rewards of
victory. Such a result will be Disaster
a calamity to the country. What has been
built up by the Republican party in the ad-
vancement of civil liberty, will be over
thrown. The fabrics of liberty which have
been engrafted upon the constitution like
so many pillars of beauty and strength in
some splendid dome, will be torn from their
places and powdered into atoms. Let not
the Republican party for moment think
that its vlgor will remain if it becomes dis
cordant, belligerent and rent with feuds.
To preserve its principles, it must have sue
cess, and to insure success it must have
unity and concord. Without these, nothing
remains but peril and disaster. Eternal
vigilance is the price OF liberty"
Rice Gathering.