The Opelousas courier., 1872-02-10
Gov. warmoth's Impeachment.

The investigation now going on in this
city, in presence of the Congressional
Committee. amounts to an Impeachment
trial OF Governor Warmoth, and the tes-
timony adduced against him is perfectly
damning in its character. The policy OF
the Governor and his accomplices in con-
ductlng their defense is simply to confess
their guilt and accuse their political op-
ponents of the same crimes that are
charged against themselves. This as
sumes as a fact that it is only the politi-
cal opponents of Gov. Warmoth who are
the aecusers in this trial. But the
charges to which the Governor is now
answering have been made by the peo-
pie of Louisiana as whole. They are
the parties injured by his administration,
and not any mere political faction.
! These charges the Governor must meet
/ i'll direct manner and disprove or sub
init to a Judgment of condemnation. The
people of this State are we'll aware that
some of those members of the Legisla-
ture who call themselves Democrats
perhaps the majority of then,-have par
ticipated in the corruption which has
prevailed in that body since Gov. War
moth came into power. But, admitting
that Democrats are equally guilty with
Republicans in prostituting their legis-
lative functions, what does that prove?
That the people at large are corrupt
By no means. We must call to mind in
what manner the elections for members
of the Legislature have been conducted
since the Republican party governed the
State. We must remember that the
mass of the intelligent voting population
Of Louisiana have taken little or no in
terestin public affairs since the DAYS of
reconstruction, and that they are not
fairly represented in the General Assem-
bly,. Whether their abstention from vo-
ting be right or wrong the fact is there.
Because they regarded it useless to at
tempt turning the tide of corruption and
mal-administration which they saw set
ting in with great violence, that is no
reason why they should be made respon.
sible for the crimes of others. Why does
not Gov. Warmoth show to the Con-
gressional Committee and to the public
of this State what services of beneficial
character he and his colleagues have rem
dered during his administration of the
government? Why does he not exhibit
the results of the enormous expenditures
made by the legislative branch of the
government since he has been in power
and dictated their proceedings Why
does he not turn up his accusers and
show what there is of value for the i'm
mense increase of the public debt!
Where are the positive benefits confer
red by him upon the State and her peo-
pie? When the people tell him he has
stabbed public and private virtue to the
heart he knocks and jeers at them and
says, "You are as guilty as am. Your
politicians and leading men set me the |
example and united with me in doing
that of which you complaint Is this a
sufficient defense to an indictment such !
as the hanest portion of the community
have preferred against Gov. Warmoth?
Gov. Warmoth will have to make a
better answer than this to the charges
made against him if he desires an ac-
quittal. The bravado of himself and his
Campbell, Dibble Carr and
others, deceiyes nobody, nor will the
TACT that prominent lawyers and other
citizens seek favors from Republican Off
GERS and to certain extent associate
with them, be sufficient to overcome the
with the honorable portion
IF the community feel towards the off,
,ers of the State Government. 4
Gov. Warmoth's administration, we
'epeat. is on trial and must stand or fall
according to the results it has achieved
or the people. IF on the whole this ad-
has been injurious, we do
lot see why Warmoth should escape from
he verdict Of his judges that he has been
N unfaithful servant, because preceding
have failed in their duty.
The Republican party undertook to re-
orm the State Government. Itwas will
ing to be judged by results We hold it
o this self-imposed contract.-N. O. Bee.
p There is a proposition. or rather
cries OF propositions, to create new
'arishes. As there is no necessity for
llese measures so far as relates to the
onvenience of the people, the motive
supposed to consist in some political
move to further the interests of indi- +
lduals. a similar experiment was
nade at the last session, which nearly
ne entire population of the newly Great p
d parish petition the present Legisla-
ure to undo. The propositions involve
vast expense, which in the absence of
verruling necessity the financial condi-
ion of the State will not allow. a
N. o. Picayane.