The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-01-06
The warning Faclions in IOulsIana

the progress Of which Is reported by tele-
graph, Is a struggle for the political power
Of the State. A few words Of explanation
may assist the reader to q better >dnder'
standing Of the situation there than could
be CLEANED from the dispatches alone
The Republican party Of Louisiana, now
in power, is split Into two factions. Gov.
WARMoTH Is the head Of one, and at pres.
Gnt Mr. GEO. W. CARTER, the speaker Of
the lower house Of the Legislature, up.
pears to be the recognized leader Of the
other. Lieut. Gov. DUNN, who died q
few weeks ago, was hostile to WARMoTH
and had succeeded in pretty well uniting
the negro element Of the State against
him. For some time, apparently, the OPP
position have contemplated getting WAR.
MOTH out Of thelrwRy by impeachment.
AS the Lieutenant Governor would sue.
coed In that event TO the executive chair,
the importance TO WARMoTH Of filling
DuNN's place with friend was TOO obvi.
Gus 10 be overlooked He at once
convened the Senate in extra session
and by extraordinary means, as his enc
mics claim, succeeded in having PINCH
BACK chosen Lieut.. Governor, he being
so obnoxious TO the opposition that 1t was
believed he could not sell out to them if
he wished. (For be it observed, so fear
fully corrupt are politics there, that it is
considered every man has his price, and
the only security against betrayal IS to
find some one so situated as 10 make
trcachery impracticable for him) The
Senate was adjourned by WARMoTH's
friends Immediately on the election Of q
Lieut. Governor; and the programme of
the impeachers had received check in
that quarter But on the reassembline of
the Legislature few days ago the war of
the rival factions was resumed with great
bitterness The opposition claimed that
the Governor had no authority TO convene
Il single branch Of the Legislature, and
that the election Of PINCHBACK was
therefore illegal. That is the view
generally held by the lawyers; but
il Is conceded that the decision of that
question rests with the Senate. So nm
effort was begun to obtain n reversal of
the Senate's action, the opposition claim.
ing enough converts 10 secure it.
InAhe lower house the opposition have
long had undlsputed control, and the
Speaker, Mr.. CARTER, an able and ambi.
tious man, is recognized as WARMoTn's
most dangerous rival. It.seems certain
that nothing can prevent tho passage of
impeachment articles by the House, un.
less CARTER can be got out Of the way.
The mere passage Of articles would sus-
pend Gov. WARMoTH, and new Gov.
ernor will come in with the next Legisla.
tnre-so that his impeachment and an
adjournment before he could be tried by
the Senate would elIcctually dispose OF
him. This is known to be the programme
OF the opposiniOn. If they could elect
n Lieutenant Governor,N they would thus
come into the executive chair, but If no
new Lieutenant Governor should he
elected and the election of PINcnnAcK
should prove illegal, then Speaker CAR.
TER would be Governor.
The reader will understand from this
the anxiety OF the WARMoTIrIrEs to de.
pose CARTER, and the movement reported
yesterday to declare his chair vacant and
take him from it, by force, which was only
checked by the sudden appearance oil
armed men posted in his private office for
the emergency. 1t should also be under
stood that the CARTER party have the
sympathy and cooperation OF the Federal
officials, who reinforced Thorn Thursday
with the troops and Calling guns.
The following from New Orleans let.
ter Of the 31st ult., from an evidently well
informed writer, sheds additional light on
this unfortunate and disgraceful contest:
There Is more behind all OF this than
the struggle shows on its face. 1t has a
national bearing OF no slight importance.
We have here two separate and distinct
organizations, each claiming to represent
the Republican party. The one has its
head in the person OF Mr. 8. 3. Packard,
U. s. Marshal, as Chairman of the State
Republican Executive Committee; the
other, representing a convention, boiling
from the one called at the Custom House,
has its recognized head in the person oil
the Governor himself. Both naturally dc.
sire official recognition by the National
Committee. In the contest for possession
OF the State the officials Of the Federal
Government are found among the leaders
OF the opposition to Gov. WGrmoth.
The opposition claim, and with seeming
fairness, TO have majority in the State. |
Gov. Warmoth, on the other hand, Cluims
the facts as grossly misreprcsented on
their part, and that he alone represents
the strength Of the party. There is, there. |
fore, q struggle to obtain on the one hand,
and TO retain on tho other, The patronage
OF the General Government. To thisenS
II becomes necessary, on the pn,t Of the
Governor, to obtain control OF the LerisIa. |
turc. An overwhelming victory on lin
part, Overthrowing all opposition in the |
Legislature, is at once defeat and con(u.
sion to his enemies on every hand. II not
only gives tho lie TO all their representa-.
tions in the past, but, by retaining ALSO.
lutte power in his Stands renders them now
erless in the future. This once made eyi.
dent beyond doubt, their prestige in
Washington is gone. The Governor oh.
tains recognition Nt the hands OF the Ma.
tiOnal Committee, Heretains at the same
time the registration and election laws in
his own hands. Thus, with the electoral