New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-06-15


could not 60 with his associates into any
convention that proposed to support Gen
eral Grant and his appointees in this
State; and we do not believe that any sin
cere and capable citizen of Louisiana ever
believed he would do SO. Governor War
month is bound in honor and upon prin-
eiple to use every effort to defeat Grants
reelection to the Presidency.
There are other reasons that justify the
position which Governor Warmoth has
assumed, and he expresses these reasons
in a manner so clear and manly that his
most untiring enemies must admire. He
opposes the Grant party because its sue
cess viii I'll the Legislature with the rep
resentatives Of organized ignorance and
corruption" Governor Warmoth knows
whereof be speaks. He has had to do
with four regular Legislatures, and he feels
that four more such assemblages would
ruin the State. The venality that has al
ready done 50 much wrong will grow into
an epidemic next year if it succeeds in the
ensuing election. During the first two
sessions Of the General Assembly under
the constitution of 1868, there were but
few improprieties committed, because the
Legislators had not then become debauched
by the lobby. The next two were frightful
in their ignorance and greed The one be
fore the last was SO utterly infamous and
unblushing in its thefts that it required
the courts and the entire weight Of execu-
tive influence to prevent a bold and
shameless robbery of the public treasury
by the members themselves through the
issuance Of certificates of Indebtedness to
committeeman. The next was almost as
bad, and would have been much worse
but for the determination of the Governor
to compel the expulsion Of the ablest ras7
Gals in that body The people will never
know the sum of villany that was defeated
when G. W. Carter was ousted from the
Speakers chair in January, for the mem
bers had their pockets full Of schemes
that they intended to sell before the last
session in which they were to serve was
brought.to a close. And the Governor
dared not call an extra session through
apprehension that the robberies which
were left incomplete last March might be
made into laws before it would consent to
adjourn.
Knowing, as Governor Warmoth does,
the various elements that are now aspiring
to obtain control Of the State, he could
not consent to tolerate any connection
between himself and the men who are
proposing to direct the Baton Rouge con-
vention in the name Of the Republican
party. If he felt so inclined, he might |
make any terms with that corrupt and ig-
norant assemblage, for most Of the dele.
gates are sensible that his record would be
of service to set off and cover up their
dismal history of crimes and populations.
Most of the negroes feel that they are in
bad hands; they know that they are being
abused by a set of scamps; they are in
doubt about everything; and, as last re-
sort, they are trying to rally on them
selves. They have chosen General Grant |
as final refuge, and this is the very |
which they should have
Stunned, for Grant is too far away from
them, and he is too selfish to be of any
service. We deplore their error, for it |
will tell upon them when the desperadoes
who are among them have fed the State
and turned against them.