New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-01-05
THE LOUISIANA CONFLICT.

Popular constituencies 70 bterIercnce ia
State and local politics by Federal officials
will direct instant and jealous attention to
the tumult in Louisiana. Whether the sus-
pieion be well founded or not, there is no
question of the prevalence of feeling that
this meddling, always resented, was never
so alarmingly pertinacious and offensive
as now. 1t is undoubtedly true that great
deal of the virulence of the Louisiana dispute
is attributable directly to the persistent at
tempts of certain officials of the General Gov
eminent to obtain control of the State Gov
eminent. At this distance we cannot pretend
to decide as to the relative merits OF the quar-
rel but it seems nothing more nor less than
a conflict TO obtain possession OF the political
machinery of the State.
On one side is the Governor with his
friends in the State Government and Legisla-
ture; Oh the other are the CustOm-HOuse men,
who are all Federal officials or their personal
adherents 1t Is proposed to impeach and
remove Gov. Warmoth by the Custom House
faction in the Legislature. and, In order TO
make clean sweep, it is also proposed to
remove Lieut.-Gov Pinchback, who was chosen
in the interest of Gov. WarmOth to fill the
vacancy created by the death of Lieut.-GoV.
Dunn. This done, Speaker Carter, who CLAIMS
TO be the legal successor OF the deceased
Lieutenant Governor, is to be placed IN sue
cession. and so become Governor by the re-
moval of Pinchback and impeachment OF war
moth. To secure this, majority IN
the Legislature is necessary, and the
Assembly has already been captured by pro-
cess which is described in our New-Orleans
dispatches to-day The WarmOth men being
drawn off by the device of arrestlng the Gov
ernor and some of his coadjutors by United
States officers, with United States troops In
reserve on charge of conspiracy, the House
was organized and enough members unseated
by resolution to give the custom
House men control of that body. But
the Governors party still hold possession
of the Senate, or would if it were organized;
this is prevented by the absence OF enough
Custom House Senators, who amuse themselves
and the town by sailing up and down the
river OH the revenue cutter Wilderness, out
of the reach of writs, and thus prevent
quorum. The Butcher of the fight is little band
of Democrats four in all, who are expected to ar
rive from the interior districts and assist in
the perfection of the programme marked out
by the Custom House party.
1t is impossible to see where this will all
end. but there seems to be a pretty clear in
dication that the Government of Louisiana
will be completely revolutionized and thrown
into the hands of new political organiza-
ton, composed of Custom.Iiouse Republicans
and Democrats; or that there will be rival
Legislatures, and possibly conflicts even worse
than this.
The wholesaffair is disgraceful and deplora-
BILE IL is shameful if, as is charged, q
bad man is at the head of the Executive
Department, and cannot be removed with
ont the employment of the terrorism OF
United States infantry and Calling guns
1t is incredible that all the wrong-do-
ing is on one side, ard it is equally
incredible that the gentlemen who have
brought the ,Custom-HOuse machinery INTO
active service in Louisiana politics are moved
only by motives of high morality and public
virtue. There has nearly been bloody con-
fict in this miserable business. 1t will be
fortunate if Louisiana shall escape with no
more serious disaster than the peaceable re-
moval of the present Executive. Whether he
sbould 20 or stay, we do not undertake TO de-
eide. What we do insist on is, that 1t Is noe
the duty of L. 5. officers to be med
ding in the business. These New-Oreans
Custom House men disgiaced themselves and
us sufficiently, at their terrorized and dis
rupted State Convention. If then they had
been properly elected from Office matters
could at least have been no worse; they
might have been better, and we should at
any rate have been spared this renewed and
| unseemly meddling in a matter with which
| they have no concern, and in which their
masi-armed interference is as alarming as it
| is discreditabe.