Semi-weekly Louisianian., 1872-02-08
TRICKS OF brief AU-
THORITY."

>Se~~<AASsSO esAsAAOAA6SA ~
Congress to come to New Orleans
to institute certain enquiries, appear,
from the unlimited range OF their
scrutinies, to have formed a vastly
erroneous idea of their legitimate
powers, the purposes of their mis-
sion, or else a not very exalted esti-
mate of the character, respectability
and intelligence of the business
men and officials into whose affairs
they have been go unjusti6ably pry-
ing. Nor is the inquisitorial mode
of their investigation calculated to
do aught than to compromise the
dignity of their mission, and des-
troy respect for their conduct and
all regard for their integrity.
Either they or the public have
greatly misconceived the object of
their mission here. Their conduct
has been of such a character as
rather to impress the observer that
they are better pleased with those
statements which are personal and
vindictive and for the qualification
of partisan malice, than with those
which show the exigencies under
which the State government re-
Gently was pushed to the use of ex-
traordinary means to preserve its
vitality and existence, and the con-
duct of Federal officials at that time.
And the manner in which they
have been pushing their curiosity
so far beyond the legitimate sphere
Of their duty we think iusti6es this
accusation. Many of the avenues
Of their enquiries lead to the con-
sideration of subjects utterly and
beyond the control or en-
luiry of Congress itself and lie
within the exclusive control of the
State. And the indulgence in
he vein which has marked the in
'estigation hitherto il only the pal
,able abuse of "a little brief au-
hority," which we had not expect
d from the hands of the gentle
nen constituting the Committee.
md, if we mistake not, before they
'et to the end of the string they
fill be reminded from Washington
f the purposes for which they were
ent to New Orleans.
While we have to complain of
his matter in this manner, we have
cen pleased with the unreserved
node adopted by the witnesses, and
Ie say this without reference to
ny particular class of them. They
ave all gone or been led beyond the
mits of evidence in such cases and
lade such statements as they con-
idered damaging to their political
pponents, to the evident huge
of the commissioners,
tho seem to look upon the whole
hing as a fit subject for their mirth,
nd proper occasion for the indul-
ence of their curiosity or party
pleen. 1t may be advantageous to
1e State and the nation that the
lalpractice of their servants should
e exposed and the perpetrators
rought to condign punishment,
ut their are well established and
efinite methods by which these
lds are to be accomplished, and
le pursuance of the courses lead
g to these ends are generally char
by a becoming gravity and
rcumspection.
But there appears in all the do
gs of the Committee, since it COM
enced its sittings, disposition to
low how completely silly and ,
lildish the people are here, how ,
natural Republican institutions
e, and how unfit and unable we ,
e for self-government, and we
all not be much mistaken to find
e principal part Of their report to 3
a delectable dissertation on these .
pics, instead of an enquiry into !,
e causes and conduct of the re- !,
mt imbroglio.