Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1872-06-29
Gov. Warmoth Letter.

hOoeiOu -hCCtliSs
Gov. W2rm0th Letter.
STATE OF LOUISIANA, }
! Executive Department,
I New Orleans, June Ii, 1872. }
| DEAR SIR-In returning thanks Il
the convention over which yOu pre-
side for the distinguished compliment
extended to me in the unanimous pre-
sentation of my name for reelection
to the Office of Governor, justice tt
you, no less than to myself, requires
that l should, frankly state the -rea
sons which force me to decline the
honor thus rendered. Whilst / value
highly the confidence of any portion
of the public, can not conceal from
myself that the convention is about t.
assume an attitude entirely incOnsis.
tent with the views of State and
national policy which l had already
expressed; and with the course which
l had determined to pursue, could
not become its candidate without
doing violence to any dearest cOnvic.
tons, and sacrificing principle for
| which, i'm common with yourself
have 50 e:nestly contended during the
last year.
Il now appears to be the intention
Of the majority Of the members of the
convention, on its reassembling at
Baton Rouge, to attempt an alliance
with the CustOmhouse party, which is
to meet at that place on the same
day for the purpose of reuniting with
those whom l consider the most
dangerous enemies of the country and
the State, with the arrogant, dictate
rial and corrupt administration of
Grant. and with the party which IN
der the leadership of his followers and
agents, would subject the State to a
continuance of a rule of ignorance,
venality and corruption unparalleled
in the history OF any other communi.
ty. The success of General Grant at
the ensuing Presidential election would
be calamity such rs can not be con-
templated without alarm. 1t would
be the perpetuatiOn, perhaps the
permanent establishment in it's worst
form. 1t would be the commencement
of imperialism in politics, and the
utter and hopeless degradation of
political morality. 1t would I've the
continuance Ut an OdiOus executive
and Legislative tyranny which tramples
with equal Indifference upon the
rights of persons and of communities |;
which overturns all thu muniments Of
public liberty, and drags thousands of
peaceable citizens to the common jsii
on false pretense of secret conspira-
cy which uses the bayonets of its
sOldiery to overawe a convention of
the people, aud prostitutes the courts
of the country and the officers of the
law to the service of an aulaciOus
attempt to overthrow the government
of q State.
sat was in order to avert these evils
aud to join in the general protest
against these infamous acts, as well as
to save this State from the further
depredatiOns of the. ring IF federal
officials who have persistently used
their personal and political power to
subOrn and corrupt the Legislature.
that / went to Cincinnati and partici
pated in the nomination of Greeley
and Brown. tits with the view of
assisting to prevent the triumph in
this State Ofa party whose success
would fill the Legislature with the
representatives. of organized ignorance
and unblushiDg venality, would cause
irreparable injury to our commerce.
would irretrievably ruin our credit,
and bring contempt and scorn upon
even the beneficial results of Republi
can policy, and upon the whole scheme
OF Republican reconstruction, that /
have resolved to devote all my ener
gies to the service Of the Literal Re.
publican party and the allies who
may act with it in this contest.
! believe that the country can be
saved from Grantism with its attep.
dant tyranny and corruption, and l
believe that the State can he rescued
frOm the nameless evils which the
triumph of the Grant. Customhouse
party would inflict upon it. / briievc
that a thorough union of the parties
and portions of parties which have
this object in view, will suffice to &C.
complish that end, and l think you
know me too well to suppose that any
purposes of personal advantage or
any allurements of ambition could
swerve me from MY purpose to op-
pose with all the igor of my nature
the party with which, unfortunately,
you are about to ally yourself, and to
support with equal zeal and determi.
nation the party which alone. in my