New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-01-05
LOUISIANA.
TIE MYSTERIES or IT'S POLITICAL FAC
TrONS

.. TONS.
EXPECT or TIE DEATH or LIEUr.-Gov. puss-
rrY wARMOTH FACTION AND THE offoo'-
TIoN--THEIR sCHEMEs-THE LEGlsLAIohh-
IMPEACHMENT PRoJEcrs-A cosFIicr w
AUTHORITY.
rypoa AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THs THboshi
NEw.ORLEANs, La, Dec. 3.-The sudden
death Of Lieut. Gov. Dunn has somewhat compnea'eo
the political situation In this State. In MS oea'n' was
felt that party I'm opposition TO Gov warmo'h sau
met with IN almost irrerievable losa on INC o'ne,
hand, the adherents OF the Governor ioan"
sbemselyes In o most embarrassing posieon'
The demand general political reform has become 70
widespread and pressing. and the grievances eompneo
Of an palpaby beyond endurance, that even the 1ae
officials felt themselves forced 70 yield somewhss 10 sno
demand The agitation OF grievances among the peop'o
had led 10 the formation of so-caed Ctizens Asso-
oiation" Between the Committees OF this Assooa.'on
and the Governor several meetings and discussions haa
at.n Mace In these tho Governor had pledged himself
In various ways In aid Of reform measures IL Is
charmed that In doing ne was seekns 'no
support OF the In the coming canpasn' ous
whatever may have their motives the "ero
certainly distinctly gwen Not the least OF tnese was ~
speeeh made at supper gwen for the occasion az inc
osaense ~ citizen OF some considerable prominence
Tn this IA have il from leading gentleman present. tue
Governor promised his and in curtaing the growing n
uuepee and power the negroes in their Demands iOr
Office n,
The death OF Iieut-Gov Dunn, following, as u old'
Immediately after placed him In predieament. Inc
ooes rcnresentpg es they do almost the entire Re-
nubliean vote were not be sighted with impunity.
Lieut. gov Dunn had succeeded TO large
In alternating them from the Governors support ana
uniting them with the opposition somethng must pe
done n the choice Of successor TO create diversion III
Gov Warmoths favor. TO make the matter sui more
embarrassing there doomed up In no small proportions
the cloud OF impending impeachment. That thls'
within the bounds of possibility was to be eneeted NJ
all hazards by the opposition was foregone CONCLUSION
something must be done to ward on tho blow 10 DreaN
faith with the Citizens Association was to drive inc
Democratic members OF the Legislature TO the support
OF the opposition To keep IT, on the other hahd WAS "
lose all hope of creating diversion among the negroes
ana unite them In solid phalanx against him.
Nor was bs by far the most embarrassing feature OF
the case BY the Constitution OF Louisiana, the simple
passage Of articles of impeachment suspends from ONCE
The session OF the Legislature, too, s lmed TO 20 days.
Provision made for the disposition OF articles OF
impeachinent In case Of adjournment AS the next
Legislature brings in Governor 1t s seen that his
suspension carried by little maneuverng to the close
Of the session, efectualy disposes OF Gov Warmoth
That such exactly tho programme OF his opponents
well known. plain that 1t offers no less bride than
fhe Governors position to him who legally Nils the Lieu
tonantGoyernors chair The great point. therefore,
with Gov warmoth selecting successor TO Lieut.
Gov Dunn was 10 secure one who either would
not or could not sell out to the opposition
To find one who pOuH not was declared at once 10 De
be yond the bounds of possibility In louisiana This was
virtually admitted by the Governor in an interview De-
tween committee OF the "Citlzens' Association" and
hmself Immediately following the death Of Leut-Gov
Dunn.
Tho Committee, having IN view his pledges, called TO
impress him with the opportunities presented for their
fuallment. The Committee claimed that the power OF
appointment vested In the Governor and denied his
right in the Constitution, to convene single branch
Of the Legislature for such purpose In either case
however, they insisted that the Governor cause TO De
elevated 10 the position person whose character and
standing should be in accord with his the Goyernors)
professions. The Governor replied IN enect, tat ~
could agree TO their demands tnat any man he couu
select acceptable TO them would at once sell out 70
the opposition Join in the move for Impeachment, ana
thus become Governor. To ward OF this threatened
danger was evidently the first consideration. .,.
For a time as understood, it was m0oted question
OF an appointment to leave II with the senate 10 III
the Vacancy just fear that the senate ngne prove
somewhat refractory regards confirmation seems 70
have decided the An extra session Of that body
was proclamation ON the 9th OF the present
month for threefold purpose. The seec ton OF sue
eessor 10 Lieut.. Dunn the confirmation OF Ex
and accounts OF both Houses Of the last Legislature,
were the designated objects Of the session. k,,.
From the Of the CALL the warrant or authority OF
law for converting single branch of the General As
se%bIy Was denied by me opposition. 1t was claimed,
covered by any section Of the or by any law
either specific or implied Ihat tne on TG rs
their strength in the main was in the lower House The
god OF the Governor who had scattered appoint
ments among its members with most lavish hand
Not few Of Them in fact held two, aud even three posi-
tions at the time Others were well understood to
control their parish appointments: which they In true
Louisiana style farIned out again. In all previous con-
tcss the Governor had generally managed 10 control IN
measure the Democratic vote The opposition had,
Senate They had, however been making use OF sueA
as @ %s SGnd The sgency Of
the summer months in somewhat impecnno1s posi-
che "A Custom House.
As the time for converting the Senate drew near, IL
BECAME understood that the Governors candidate was
Mr. p. b. g. Pinchback. Perhaps no man who could
have been selected would have been more objectionable
to tho Democracy. He was, 10 begin WITH, solored
man which OF itself strong appeal TO their preju
dces This. however, was not an nneooqneiaDle opee-
all Mr.. Plnehbaek seems TO have been personally I'M
popular only among the Democracy but among the
rally known that between the mulattOes and
the negroes Of darker hue there ere CO.. eSlsts
Lieut. Gov. Dunn quite dark Mr. Plnchback, on
the other hand %SoIS pags he two We're ooke
upon representatives or their respective classes MI
prominence aud popularity OF Mr.. Dunn; Leut.-Goy
Dunn with but lite confidence In the purity OF motive
~ n NAV the colored followers OF the late Lieut. Cover
nor 40 Jar least have little faith In his successor Az
the same time the whites VI the oppodton profess an
Ia view OF these facts, the Governors reasons for
comprehensive IL was boldly charged by the opposi-
on from nrs that these reasons were based on tho
said was so personally Objectionable that he could not,
II he would sell out 70 the opposition In repeating THIS
am merely giving the case stated ny the Latter party
The eve OF the session found the parties very evenly
balauced Between the Democracy and the opposition
coulIti0n was readily effected. Even had they been
disposed TO temporiEe the pressure OF pubic opinion et
senator Copeland who is generally repnted as one OF the
few untaDled with the shadow OF corruption, was
UNANIMOUSLY agreed upon a candidate for Lieutenant
Governor This, and the pledge TO repeal or
@Odiiy the registration and - election Laws,
together with the public printing bill perfected the
coalition The opposition ne thus organized counted on
The eve OF election force OF II votes This gave an ex