New-York tribune., 1872-12-09
have the temerity to force decisive quarrel
to-day upon the President md the nation.
IOUJSIANA RECONSTRUCTED.

Since the close Of the Rebellion there mas
been no such inextrcable, tangled skein OF
law and politics as that now beheld III Louis
lana. The main facts in tho history OF the
case have already been sketcbed in TnE TRIB-
UNE our Washington correspondence gives
a more minute account, which increases tho
gravity Of the aspect of the case, while 1t does
not give much hope of any Immediate un-
ravelng of tho whole complex trouble. The
main fact which will attract attention, how
over, is tho hold which United States Court
has got on the State Government. Here are
persons who claim that n certain Board OF Can
yassers is not established according to law I;
they apply to the u. 5. Circuit Conrt iOr
and procure an injunction on that board
armed with the document, they shut up all
proceedings under the Board, and substitute
for them another set of proceedings from an
organization of their own. This virtually
takes out of tho hands of the State author
tiles, on q mere pretext, the election re-
turns. election officers, and everything there
to appertaining 1t substitutes another
set of officers, another class of returns, and
deliberately sets aside all that has been done
by the State authorities. Observe that
candidates did not receive majority
of all the votes cast; 1t is only
claimed that the Republican candidates
would have been elected if there had been
fair election; and it is claimed that the
election was not fair; that the canvass IS
illegal; and that therefore. the Republican
nominees were elected On this slender basis
the Custom-hOusc party have upset the State
machinery, with the aid of the United States
Courts, and have procured the success OF
their candidates who were defeated at the
late election.
There seems to he no explanation or defense
of Wamotl's substitution of Returning
Board, organized under q new law, after he
had commenced proceedings under an old law.
TO take up and sign that law because it
suited his present purposes, after he
had begun the work of canvassing
the vote under existing statutes,
looks very much like an unworthy trick.
Nor can there be any objection to the course
of the Attorney General in declining to inter-
fere in the decisions of the U. 5. Courts in
Louisiana That officer is not authorized to
review the proceedings of the Courts; the
only recourse of the nOn-suited parties Is to
the United States Supreme Court. And
right here comes in the great hardship
of their case. TO put Governor Legislature,
and State officers into a State House by q
simple decree from the bench, and then cOOlly
inform the officers who claim to have been
elected that they must go to the Supreme
Court for their rights, seems like q
mockery. Yet this is just what has
been done in Louisiana. We all
know how hopeless is cause which once gets
into that maelstrOm of lawsuts-the u. 5.
Supreme Court; and while this slow eddy is
sucking down the Louisiana case, possibly
fraudulent Governor would take lis seat
organize Legislature which would carry on
q sembance of government. elect u. D.
Senator, and do all the irreversiJle acts of a
regular and legitimate government. This is
monstrous; but it is n construction of law.
Those who have paid any attention TO the
proceedings in Arkansas will see that there
is q strong similarity between that and the
Louisiana situation. But in Arkansas the
Republicans are in possession, and, 1t Is
claimed, illegally give the election to their
own party. The Liberals are much more
confident that fraud has been perpetrated
than are the Louisiana Republicans. As yet
the Arkansas Liberals have not appealed TO
the U. S. Courts for injunctions and
other inventions to defeat the adverse party.
Perhaps they have not so much confidence
in the U. S. Courts as the Louisiana
Republicans have. At any rate, U. $. Marshal
Packard, who is also Chairman of the Repub-
lican State Committee, cannot conceal his ex-
ultaton that U. s. Circuit Judge Durel las
enjoined the Legislature from assembling, the
Lieut. Governor and Clerk of the Assembly
from calling the roll, the New-0rleans police
from interfering, and the Governor from doing
anything to recognize the Legislature. To
crown all, this same U. S. Marshal is in pos
session of the State House with two companies
of United States troops. This may be law !;
perhaps it is but it looks like a great and
successful game of grab.