New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-02-06
Answer-In the session of 1870.
Question-Where is the civil rights bill !!
Answer-In the journals of the same ses-

QuestiOn-Where is the civil rights bill !!
Answer-In the journals of the same ses-
sion.
Question-Was this the only one!
Answer-NO; there was one passed at the
session Of 1868, which vetoed in 1869. 1t
contained many Objectionable features, and,
as l think, impossible guarantees. l re-
garded it as bad measure, andwithheld
from it my approval The next till was
better, and conferred more assured rights
signed it. The first civil rights bill went
over from one session to the next by opera
ton of law. 1t was in the meantime that
this convention was got up, and was de-
nounced for not signing it.
QuestiOn-HOw long has it been since
your friendly feelings with Mr.. Casey
ceased!
Answer-Since 1871; since, indeed. re-
fused to support him for the Senate.
QuestiOn-GOvernOr, about what time did
you get here the ninth of August. the day
Of the convention!
Answer-It was while after eleven
o'clock; it conld not have been later.
Question-YOu were told by two persons
that you could not enters
Answer-Yes, sir.
QuestiOn-Did you know them
Answer-Perfectly well.
Question-Why did you want more than
one hall that day for the use of the cOnven-
ton!
Answer-So that it could not be said there
was no place to meet in.
Question-What steps did you take to
have armed men present that day!
Answer-NO steps at all. There were no
armed men with me, except such arms as
gentlemen usually carry. Everybody wears
lieve.
The Governor then explained that his
delegates would at any time have been
willing to fair adjustment Of the political
imbrOgllO. But they we're determined not
to be Overawed and controlled by United
States marshals and soldiers.
Question-You gave the names of a num-
ber of delegates who voted by proxy at the
CustomhOuse: do you know if they were
resident of the parish they sought to re-
present!
Answer-Yes, sir, l do know. Senator
O'Hara, j. A. Walsh, Mr.. Todd and others
were illegal delegates. Mr.. Wharton, of
Union, another delegate, was a mail agent
on the Mississippi river.
Question-Who Is the Mr.. BOvee, said by
you to have offered a bribe!
Answer-The ex-Secretary Of State; he
was elected at the same time l was; he is
the man suspended from Office. At the
session of 1870 the Legislature passed a bill
known as the Crescent City Waterworks
bill. 1t purpOrted to invest the franchises
of the WaterwOrks in a company, without
the consent of the city. On the Saturday
night preceding the adjournment the blu
was sent to my house, and left with the
lady of the house. In my judgment it did
come within the constitutional limitation,
and l declined to recognize the bill or
When he promulgated this bill suspended
him. 1t was done by virtue Of the cOnsti-
tutiOnal provision which charges me to
'see the laws are faithfully executed" A
Democratic Judge, of great learning and
ability, has decided in this State that the
executive has, under this provision of the
constitution, the power ''tO suspend dis
honest and corrupt official"
QuestiOE-What reason have you to sus-
pect the gentlemen opposed to you are not
sincere in their pretensiOns OF reform!
Answer-Their acts do not justify me in
the conclusion that they are sincere. They
drafted the laws and urged their passage.
Question-What do you think Of these
laws!
Answer-I think that the registration and
election laws should be greatly modified.
While am Governor know they will be
correctly administered. But, then, bad
man might possibly succeed me.
Question-Was not the Chattanooga rail-
road bill bad measured
Answer-I do not think so. There were
bad laws enacted: for instance, there was
the Crescent City SlaughterhOuse bill; it
was engineered by the New Orleans
Times. I think this bill owes its
passage greatly to the interest that
paper brought to bear to effect it..
There was also an attempt made to obtain
new State bonds for the seven millions
loaned the State during confederate times.
1t was defeated on the ground that the law
was unconstitutional.
The Governor then submitted documents
showing that he had been restored to his
rank in the army, and that the order Of his
dismissal had been revoked, the Judge AdvO-
cate General prOnOuncing the dismissal un-
warrantable, an act of great injustice and
wrong to a meritorious officer.
To the question, if he had ever been in
dcted in Texas, Governor Warmoth said
yes: that he was sent to Texas in 1865 as
cotton agent; he was on duty twelve days;
three years afterward was indicted in con-
junction with Mr. Morris, and was com
pletely and thoroughly exonorated by the
decision of court ofjustice.
The Governor was then called upon to
give an explanation of the We'll claim,
which was funded under an act of the Leg
islature. amounting to $4,000. The certi-
ticates Of Indebtedness which represented it
were taken up by the Fiscal Agent, and put
with other indebtedness. 81 think it was
right to be treated as other debts, and was
included under the provisions of the law"
The Governor then alluded to specific
charges made against him by Marshal Pack
ard of fostering monOpOlies. 1t may be
that have done 80 but one monopoly did
not assist in, that in reference to the Nicol-
son pavement bill. Because l would not
sign that bill was the cause of Mr.. Packard
and my disagreement One other matter
desire to call the attention of the committee
to. 1t is in reference to letter with my
signature submitted here by Mr.. Casey. My
signature to that letter was obtained by
false representations. l did not read it be-
fore signing it, understanding it to be sim
ply recommendation for appointment
At the request of Mr.. Archer. the Gov
ernor explained the condition of the State
debt. He estimates it at $l9,0O0,000; there
are contingent liabilities which make it
$25, 900, ,O0O-the constitutional limit.
QuestiOn-DO you not think that the
hostility to the registration and election
laws proceeds more from the manner of
their administration than the laws them
selves!
Answer-From both causes. There are
objectiOnal features, and in some instances
they have been badly administered.
QuestiOn-In one day four of these laws
were repealed; has any further reform
measures been pushed forward!
Answer-NOt that l am aware of. The
CustOmhouse revOlutiOnist have kept up
such a row that there has been no chance
for it.
Question-Did Senator Gallup accept the
bribe offered by Mr.. Bovee!
Answer-No, sir.
Question-Did anybody give him money
to stand firm9
Answer-No, sir.
Question-Why have you not ordered an
election to fill the vacancies OccasiOned by
+ha 1oo+bs of Senators Fish and piercel