New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-09-15

EDI1Oh hEPUBLICAN:
:. The federal officials having obtained COZ
troll of one branch of the LegislatuFe-th
House of Representatives by the displact
ment of Carr and the election of Garter
emboldened by their success, they mex
essayed the censorship of the Republical
press. Under the public printing law tn
Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Speake
OF the House of Representatives are con
stituted board of printing commissioners
with power to make or annuI contracts
with newspapers throughout the State fOl
the publication of the laws and parOchia
and Judicial printing. Dunn, Iieutenan
Governor, and Carter, Speaker Of the House
constituted majority Of this board, and
I editors were personally requested by them
to make their newspapers more "indepen
dent and to be sparIng in their "prase OF
Governor Warmoth." There were editors in
the State, swayed by bread and butter
persuasion, and they contributed their
mites N defamation of the Governor; but
there were others, let it be said to the credit
Of journalism, who believed there was no
Independence in muzzIed press, and
who regarded the petty intrigues of the
schemers against a Republican executive as
unworthy of countenance.
Messrs. Dunn ard Carter revoked the
contracts OF several Republican newspa-
pers because of their refusal to comply
with the request; issued contracts to De-
mocratic newspapers unfavorable to War
moth, and for the publication of laws to
favorites at an almost criminal expense to
! the State of thousands of dollars.
| About this time James F. Casey, col
lector of the port and Grants brother-in-
law, appointed to Office on the ground of
his relationship, began to sound the chances
for the reelection Of bis distinguished rel
ative in 1872. No prominent Republican
whose button hole could be reached could
escape the significant. question: "Are you
for GrantF' The modest brother in law was
informed by the Governor that some time
would elapse before the canvass for a nom
mating convention, and he was not ready
to decide To the cry of unfriendIiness to-
the negro raised against the Governor was
now added, he was mot for Grant" Mr., Ca
sey, a Kentucky Democrat for the using of
his patronage in favor of Democracy. was re-
commended for removal by S. B. Packard,
president of the Republican Executive
Committee, and by the Republican press
convention of 1870 When on the point of
official decapitation, Casey begged War
moth to intercede with the President in his
behalf, AMI on the promise that Casey
would allow Republicans portion of his
official patronage, Warmoth requested
President Grant to retain him. and he was
allowed to remain in office. Casey after
ward violated his pledge; removed the
friends of the Governor from office; became
interested in sugar-shed monopoly; the
custodian Of bribery fund for legislative
The Governor refused to sign |
the bill. Casey became a leader in the on |
position, and gave to it the patronage of 4
the New Orleans Customhouse.
Possessing the House of Representatives.
the federal patronage, the combination in
tirtherance of their schemes called con
vention of the Republican press. 1t met
July II, 1871. Federal officials appeared as
proxies for bona fde editors and proprie-
tors, Speaker Carter for newspaper that
never existed, aud a Democratic newspaper
was allowed representation. It soon APP
Deared that the convention was called. not
sor the legitimate interests of the press, but
or political contest. The committee on
Speaker Carter, Messrs Patrick
)'Hara, John E. Leet, Charles E. Merrill
md r. w. Francis submitted a majority
md minority report The minority report,
by Mr.. Francis, contained the
B. We heartily sustain and indorse the |
latlonal and State administrations. and
'ledge them our individual support in all
republican measures.
The majority report, presented by Speaker
}arteF, contained the following:
beSotucd, That President Grant has proved
lmseIt to be an honest public servant; has
zen faithful to the pledges he made to the
eople before his election; has reduced the
ubl1c debt, saved the nation from foreign
var, and introduced economy, retrenCh-
lent and reform into every department of
ne civil service, thus making his admins l
ration one OF the people, by the people, I
nd tor the people; therefore, we, the as =
embed representatives of the Republican
ress of Louisiana, recognizing him as the {
'uthful exponent of Republican principles, t
lu the representative OF the common \
'nse, pluck and hopefulness of the great q
asses OF the American people. do hereby
ledge ourselves and the papers we repre-
mt to support him for denomination for
resident IN 1872.
To secure the adoption of this resolution v
ss one of the prime reasons which r
'ompted the calling of the convention by Il
le federal officials. They sought it as po- r.
teal capital A year in advance of the ii
Ltional convention-before that body had c.
en even calIed-it was an extraordinary s
tempt to forestall public opinion. Rea- p
nable men are not in the habit of pledg- 7
9 their influence SO far into the future: y
t, determined not to be outwitted by the &C
ecious crew that now claimed to repre- kl
at Republicanism par excellence, the th
ends of Governor Warmoth voted
the resolution, and it was unani-
usly adopted. Judge H. c. Dibble
N introduced a resolution indorsing the al
ire State administration and Repub- gu
an measures advocated by them-War vi
tn, Dunn and Carter-to secure a united ba
publican party, but through the influence II
Carter and other federal officials it was CT,
ed down by vote of twenty to four bu
n. They were ready to sacrifice the Re- ful
oliean party to crafty motives Of revenge CO..
inst Warmoth. pa
he combination did not procure the di- ma
{ dennunciation of Wormoth they hoped tut