New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-01-11
WHO Is CAPABLE OF REFORM

Why is it perpetually demanded by the
Democrats that Governor Warmoth should
make the reforms which they insist upon,
when they do not credit him with what
he has made to corrupt ieSlsla-
ton? He is not the Legislature, and al
though he is vested with the veto power, a
two-thirds vote is sufficient to defeat his
to any bill, however fagitlous
its provisions may be. The records OF the
Legislature will demonstrate that the Gov
ernor has been a greater enemy to specu-
lative bills than any other officer OF the
State; and an investigation of the opposi-
ton that is now SO fiercely arrayed against
him will establish that the spectators
whom he has defeated are now his greatest
enemies. No excitement or special plead
ing can destroy this great and solemn fact
for it can not be denied while there IS a
printed record of the Legislature left to
tell the history of the past three years
From the time that Governor Warmoth
was inaugurated down to the present day
he has been engaged in an rnremlttlng
contest with men who either did not know
or who did not care what manner OF meas
ure they influenced to a passage through
the Legislature First, he had his friends
to oppose, by persuading them that they
were wrong; then he had his enemies to
defeat, for they sought to make him odiors
to the country by the iniquities which they
attempted to make him responsible Tor.
And lastly, he had selfish combination OF
both his friends and his enemies to watch
and defend the State against, for the cor
ruption which had originally been
ignorantly OF maliciously set on foot be-
came controlling motive with members
because of the illicit gains that it brought
them. At the outset speculation was mod
est, because even its friends were afraid to
carry it too far; but in the course Of time
it grew bold and audacio,ls, and from dep
redating upon the contingent fund, 1t adj
vanced its pretensions to swallow up the
rights of the people by wholesale. Its first
assault was made in the shape Of the
slaughterhouse bill, which the Governor
vetoed its last was in a fraudulent attempt
to swallow up the property of the city OF
New Orleans by the proclamation OF a
bogus law.
The enmity of the people, therefore, is
Justly due rs against the Legislature
which made these fagitious laws and its
charity and friendship is justly due to the
Governor, who has defeated or attempted
to defeat them by the use of his sole and
only weapon, the veto power. Every
measure against which the citizens or the
Democracy complain is direct emanation
from the Legislature, and every demand
for q reform of these laws should be pre-
ferred to theonly power capable Of modi-
flying or repeating them. The Governor
is only capable of advising as to what
ought to be done, or Of vetoing what has
been done After he has exhausted him
self in these two efforts, it then devolves
upon him to enforce the law, however q
jectionable its provisions may be to his
sense of justice.
That he has advised well lis messages
fully establish; that he has vetoed well the
public must be satisfied, for even his bit
terest opponents confess that much; that
he has enforced the law, the bitter com
plant of those whom it has affected is the
best evidence. In these three particulars,
then was all his duty; and that it has been
discharged, let the record Of his admins
tration testify. What an officer could do
beyond this is for men who have demanded
bad legislation and hasty action to deter
mine. He might have enriched friends by
speculative jobs, and thus injured the pee
pie, it is true; but the people are not to be-
come his enemies because he did not do
so. He might have assisted to create IN
lust and unwholesome corporations to ruin
the State, but the State should hold him
blameless if he has declined to serve its
enemies in this respect. He might have
made partisans if be had lent his signature
to corrupt legislation, but the country is
not to desert him because he preferred to
make enemies to himself in it's defense. In
fact, be might have been the leader Of the
ambitious and the inscriptions men who
now assail him, if he had not been faithful
to his duty as the sworn and honest de-
fender of all the people Of the State.
1t is time, then, to discriminate which is
the guilty party and which the innocent.
As the Governor would have done nothing
without the Legislature, and as the Legis-
lature could and did DO all things without
the Governor, if evil has been done let the
principal be held responsible. It is an I'M
grateful part to charge Governor Warmoth
with what others have been guilty Of in
his despite, and it shows either want Of
judgment or depraved disposition to
forgive the principal wrong-doer and to
assail the agent who has ever protested
against the wrong.