Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-12-19
STATEMENT or ATTORNEY GEN.
ERAL WILLIAMS.


The following is statement made by At
torney General Williams relative to affairs
in Louisiana:
According to the laws of Louisiana, Gov
ernor Warmoth, Lieutenant Governor Pinch
beck, Secretary Of State Hernon, and Messrs.
Lynch and Anderson constituted at the late
election the returning board, with power to
canvass the votes for Presidential electors,
members of Congress, State officers and mem
beers of the Legislature. Pinchbeck and
Anderson were candidates on the Republican
ticket, and therefore resigned their seats upon
the board, and to fill the vacancies Longstreet
and Hawkins were elected by the remaining
members, as provided by law. Warmo,h
then pretended to remove the Secretary of
State from Office and appointed in his place
a fellow by the name of Jack Wharton.
Warmoth and Wharton then repudiated the
election of Longstreet and Hawkins, and APP
pointed in their places Hatch and Daponte.
This board so constituted was proceeding to
canvass the votes when, on due application,
their proceedings were perretuallv enjoined
by the Judge of the Eighth District State
Court, whose jurisdiction in the case was I'M
questioned. Warmoth thereupon forcibly
elected the Judge granting said injunction
from his office, and another was installed in his
place before the votes were canvassed or it
was legally known who was elected Demo
cratic candidate for the Judgeship in that
District at that election. Proceedings were
then had in the Supreme Court of the State,
by which the validity Of the change of Judges
was brought in question and the Court held it
invalid, and in effect decided that Warmo,h's
Board was illegal and its acts void
These decisions by the State Court were
treated by Warmoth with perfect contempt.
The suit was commenced on the equity side
of the United States District, in Which an in.
junction was asked and obtained against the
Warmoth board; and this Injunction was also
treated by the Warmoth board with contempt
Instructions were then given to enforce the
orders of the Court, and troops were placed
at his service for the purpose. Meanwhile
the Board of Canvassers organized according
to law, and majority of the canvassed votes
returned showed that the Republican candi-
dates for Presidential Electors and State Off
GERS were elected, and that certain persons
were elected to the Legislature. Warmoth
having called an extra session of the Legisla-
ture, the persons returned as elected by the
regular board assembled in the State House,
and, after organization, made formal requ-
sltion, under Section 4, Article ), of the Con-
stitution OF the United States, upon the Pres
ident to protect the State from domestic
violence. Resolutions of impeachment were
also preferred by this body against Warmoth.
and under the Constitution of the State, the
Lieutenant Governor became acting Govern
or. Another body assembled at Lyceum
Hall, New Orleans, claiming to be the Iegis-
lature of the State, and vas recognized by
Warmoth. Two organizations were thus
made, promising nothing to the State but dis
cora and anarchy. Not doubling that irregu-
larities had occurred on both sides, but be-
lieving that the Republican ticket had re-
ceiyed majority OF the votes of Louisiana,
and acting IN conformity to the returns of the
regular Board of Canvassers and the decis
ions of the State and Federal Courts, the
President decided to answer the resolution of
the State House Legislature by recognizing
the organization with which it is connected
as the lawful government of the State.