, 1872-12-09
THE LOUISIANA IMBR0GLI0.

LIZ ANU4GldNh
The country had reason to hope that it had |
heard the last OF the revolutionary and disgust
ing political dishonesty in the reconstructed |
states But the latest ia perhaps the most dis
graceful that has taken place yet. Tho election
in Louisiana took place On Nov. 4. Political
parties had been singu1arly divided; but, some
time previous to the election, there was union
Of Democrats, of Liberals, and Of large body
Of straight Republicans in favor Of compromise
ticket for State officers, the end sought being
had been foisted upon the Republican party as
candidate for Governor by what is called
the Custom House faction in New
Orleans. The opposing candidate was
A1r. McEnnery, native Louisianian, and
man Of character and standing. By this ar
rangement, the State was also to get rid of War
moth, the present carpet-bag Governor. The
combination was successful. McEnnery was un-
qucstionab1y elected Governor, as well as a ma
jority ct the candidates supported by the saIne
party. The Governor, Secretary Of State, and
some other State officers constitute by law the
Board to canvass the vote. 4 majority Of this
Board announced it's purpose to reject the re-
turns as made, whereupon Warmoth removed
tie man who held tho Office Of Secretary Of
stato and appointed another person. The po-
| 1itical complexion Of the Board was thus
changed. An appeal was made to the State
Courts, and, pending that Warmoth, as Coy
ornor, issued q proclamation certifying who had
been elected members of the Legislature, and
conyening that body to meet on the 9th Of De-
| cember.
At this stage of the business, Kellogg applied
| to the United States Court for an injunction
restraining and prohibiting the meeting Of the
Legislature, forbidding the persons elected to
that body from claiming or exercising any Of the
duties thereof, and declaring the Board of Can
yassers, as originally existing, to be the only
! Persons competent to count and declare the re-
suit of the State election. The argument
upon this application, Judging BY the
reports, was complete farce; the whole
| thing had evidently been prearranged, and
the Judge granted the injunction
as prayed by Afr. Kellogg. The Court then Pc
remptori1y adjourned for three days. Tho Board
Of Canyassors, who had everything arranged,
declared the result, electing Kellogg, and kel-
1ogg ticket, and Kellogg Legislature. We
should have stated that, in granting the injunc-
ton to prevent the meeting Of the Legislature,
the Court authorized the Marshal to employ
force, and, upon his roquisition, United States
troops we're ut once marched into the city and
took possession Of the State House, and Of all
the streets and approaches thereto.
The United States MarRha1 telegraphs to the
authorities at Washington all the details Of what
he has done With as much complacency as if he
were experimenting strategic measures
against foreign enemy, and, in
IN offcial despatch, states that
the Kellogg Board counted Kellogg
and his friends in by including in the vote for
them tho votes of all the persons who by afd-
dayit appeared to have been refused registra.
ton. When President Buchanan graye1y inform
cd Congress that the votes Of all the people Of
Kansas who did not vote for or against the
| Lecomption Constitution ought to be consider:
ed in favor of that instrument, he VAS laughed
at even by the most violent pro-s1avery men
But for Canyassing Board to count the nameE
of 10000 or more persons handed in az persons
who had not voted, but would have voted unde
certain circumstances, and without my investi
CATION as to the truth Of the affidaEits, o
! whether such persons actually existed or not i
, q proceeding which We suppose is without prec
edent even in the many dishonest and disgrace
, ! ful transactions OF the reconstructed Govern
, | rnents.
It will strike the country as somewhat strang
that tile United States Court obtained juriBdic
, ton at all in determining who we're e1ecte
/ members Of the Legislature of Louisiana, Q
who wore entitled to count the votes and max
proclamation of the result. The United State
> Election lnw,-which il Of itself an enormou
stretch Of authority,-ie confined to mat
ters pertaining to the election Of mem
! bers of Congress. Even that law give
, no Jurisdiction to the Federal Courts except t
! ! appoint Supervisors +; these Supervisors have
authority except in matters Of counting til
q votes for members Of Congress. The Feders
:, | Court has power to punish offences against th
q PERSONS Of tie Supervisors but the law gives Z
r Federal Court, however remotely, any jurisdi<
- ton over the election returns OF any Stat
officers. The character Of this proceeding ca
t be best judged by bringing it home. We had O
y election for State officers here in Novombe
a Tho laws Of this State provide that the return
made by the officers Of elections shall be cert
fed to certain designated officials, who sha
9 open canvass: ead publish the same. 1t the
q provides mode by which aggrieyod person
=. may contest the election thus declared. Nor
@ every man in Illinois knows that, upon the II
e turns as made by the election officers, the ofic
d canyasgers will declare that Richard J. Oglest
9 waa elected Governor; that the other candidate
# On tho same ticket were elected State officers
t. and that large majority of members of the san
Q party were elected to the Legislature. How.wou,
= the people of Illinois relish the interposition