New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-01-18
OPINIONS OF THE PRESS.
Louisiana Political Affairs

The Buffalo Courier, Democratic paper,
says:
The Radical panacea for all ills of the
body polite, martial law, is recommended
for New Orleans, the mayor of the city
uniting with General Emory in an appeal
to the President for the boon. Thus it is
proposed to punish the people for the crimes
and violence and incapacity OF their rulers.
For, be it observed, the squabble in New
Orleans is one in which the citizens have
participated only as spectators. They have
quietly looked on while the rOwdy hosts of
the rival faction leaders have plunged their
city in the widest turmoil. 1t is like re-
vival of the barbarOus times when the armed
retainers of warning families were wont to
sally out of their strOngholds and fight their
battles in the public streets. The people
have no interest, or but little, in the feuds,
for both Carterites and WarmOthites are
their enemies. and turn upon the common
wealth for plumber the instant they cease
fighting each other. American history fur
nishes no parallel for such a condition Of
things unless we cross the border into
Mexico A State is torn to pieces by the
conflicts of imported scOundrels. A COM
munlty is first robbed to poverty by taxa
ton and debt, and then delivered to an
archy. Is there NO remedy for this kind of
thing except martial law
AHC &AlohAy LCeIttNJ cO"hut, III ulsSuoo'
ing affairs here, says:
A single fact within our own knowledge,
upon excellent authority. and to which we
have already alluded, illustrates the char
acter of the political management there.
The Governor possesses extraordinary
power. He appoints the vast majority OF
the officers of the State, down almost to
the justices of the peace. In making his
appointments, it has been the practice OF
Governor WarmOth to demand at the same
time the resignation in blank of the APP
pOintee, which he could hold and make
valid at any time by the insertion of a date.
This he has used as a club over their heads.
The weak point in this statement is that
the "single fact is falsehood. Governor
Warmoth has not demanded the resigna-
tion in blank of an appointee. That story
is Democratic fiction, and it is surprising
that Republican paper like the Journal
should credit such an absurdity.
The Coushatta Times has an editorial
which we reproduce:
Viewing as a citizen and a patriot the
extraordinary action of the President of
the United States last August in dispensing
or preventing by military power the peace
ft,l assemblage of political convention in
later the unparalleled and astounding &C
ton of the same power in aIresting last
week, in the city of New Orleans, the Gov
ernOr and other executive officers OF the
sovereign State Of Louisiana, and also
number of the members of the Legislature
of the State while attending upon the SEES
sion of the body Of which they are members.
and therefore constitutionally privileged
from arrest under the charge preferred, we
must say that the time is not only coming,
but it is already at hand, when every man
who feels himself free citizen of this
country should speak for that country and
for its liberties.
As regards the Presidents conduct in
reference to the Republican convention last
summer, it was undisguised, and an open
violation of the rights of the people. The
conduct of his instruments on that occa
sion have subsequently been fully Endorsed
by the chief magistrate of the Union by his
mastery and most remarkable reticence ON
that question, and by his absolute inaction
toward the super-serviceable officials who
executed the plan undoubtedly adopted
previously with the cognizance of his ex-
cellency. 1t matters not to the free people
of this government whether the Presidents
action on that occasion was in reference to
a convention of the Republicans, the Demo
Gratis or any other particular political party
of the nation: it was a gross and premedl
of the citizen, and his action i'll that respect
has passed into history as the first overt
military act Of a chief ruler of this country
to repress the free sentiments ana move
ments of the sovereign people
Much more obnoxious and reprehensible
was his recent attempt upon the liberties,
dignity and sovereignty OF the great com
monwealth of Louisiana when one OF the
Presidents subordinate officials arrested
A. ap6 in the OF the
United States the chief magistrate OF
this State and number of the members OF
the General Assembly in waiting upon
the lawful session of their body. The pur-
noses of that arrest need not be here dis
cussed Neither does it signify to what po-
litcal party the Governor of this State and
the members of the Assembly belong: we
take the stand that it was tiagrant act of
usurpation of power done to the people OF
Louisiana through the officers who lawfully
compose in part her government. AS such
we trust that the voice of the nation, IRE
spective of party, will be heard in con-
demnation. As SUCH we feel that Henry
c. WarmOth. as the chief magistrate OF this
State, will, in the name OF his people, pro-
test against the same as dangerous to ana
destructive of the constitution and Union:
and that SO far as he has power, he will
lawfully resist such an aggression upon
the federative system and upon the free
guarantees of our organic law. AS such,
we trust that every patriot will be a unit
in opposition, considering that to GER
tainity these acts be but a prelude to that
grand drama which, if not successfully
combatted will soon end in the annihila-
ton of free government and the erection
of a powerful and despotic Capitalization.
The Times also says:
One of the anomalies of the present
political imbroglio in Louisiana is that while
the Radical party is divided, the Demo
cratic party of the State is also to all APP
pearance about to be hopelessly split into
three distinct factions. The first, headed
nv Senator Blackman, as it is now under
stood, is firmly married to the late Dunn or
Carter party. The second under the head
of the Natchitoches Times, goes in for Gov
ernor Warmoth and the third, marsha1ed
by that old Democratic war horse, Judge
Head, of the Sparta R,rat Times, and by
the editor of the Mansfield Reporter, who
stoutly cling to the old Democratic plat
form with uncompromising tenacity. Verify,
when the bell-wethers disagree, whittier
shall the flock go!
The Opelousas Courier, Democratic
journal, justifies the Democratic Carterites
in the following editorial, which we advise
our Republican friends to read:
Some of our citizens may be disposed to
censure our Conservative and Democratic
Representatives for aftiliating and voting
with one of the wings of the Republican
party Yet if we look at the situation OF
affairs properly, they will at once perceive
the wisdom of the role adopted.
The Democrats and Conservatives being
largely in the minority as distinct organi-
zation. could not possibly do anything,