Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-12-18
WOBCBsTER
WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER Is. 1873.
rhe Loui.iana Rnsiness.

much misunderstood as well as wilfully misrep-
resented. Attorney-General Williams state
ment, which we published yesterday, gives a
brief and ineligible history Of the events which
have led to the present unfortunate condition Of
things The state laws establish a board of
canvassers of election returns composed Of GER
tain state officers and prescribe the method of
filling vacancies. Two members of this board
resigned because they were candidates for office,
and could not properly assist in deciding ques-
tons involving their own election or defeat; the
vacancies were filled in the legal manner;
but the board as thus constituted did
not suit Warmoth, and he therefore
assumed 10 repudiate the election OF the new
members, and to appoint Others on his own au-
thority, for which, so far as appears, he had no
warrant of law whatever. This pretended cam
wasting board as thus constituted, was proceed
ing TO canvass the returns when ii was enjOined
by process issuing from state court. War
moth Immediately iorcibly elected from Office
the Judge of that court, and installed in his
place the democratic candidate for the judge
ship in that district, although the votes had not
been canvassed aud there were no legal means
of knowing whether or not he had been elected
The supreme court of the state decided that tle
change of judaes was valid, but Warmoth treat
ed its decision with contempt.
So far there was no question OF interference
bv the national government or BY authority OF
United States laws. But the party opposed to
Warmoth, seeing that he SET the laws and courts
of the state at defiance, determined to seek pro-
lection in ihe United States courts. The district
.1o ,ay,3rt IL
cided that it had jurisdiction of the case and
that an Injunction ought 10 issue against War
moths board of cauyassers; Warmoth disre-
garded the process of The court, and the marshal,
with the aid OF troops placed at his disposal by
the military officer in command, enforced the
order The regular board Of canvassers met,
counted the votes, and declared the republican
candidates for state officers elected. War
moth called a special session Of the legis.
laiure. and the members declared elected by the
regular board, met, asked of the president, I'M
der the constitutional provision for that pur-
pose aid against threatened domestic violence,
and proceeded to impeach Warmoth, by virtue
OF which measure the lieutenant governor,
Pinchback, became acting governor Another
body, claiming TO be the legislature of the state
also met in another part of the city, was recog-
nzed as the true legislature by Warmoth, and
acted as seemed best to itself. The president
decided TO comply with The requisition of the
legislature, and furnished the aid desired against
domestic violence.
This is the attorney generals statement. The
facts are given upon his authority as the result
of his inquiries, which have no doubt been ex-
- eE,vb of
their truth. Made upon his official response
bility, the statement is undoubtedly more trust
worthy than those of heated partisans or
anonymous correspondents. Yet on the strength
of these opposition journals accuse the president
of inscriptions partisanship, of despotism, of
the INVASION OF constitutional rights and the
forcible overthrow of the state government.
This ierocious abuse seems to us not only I'M
just, but very foolish. General Grant
is denounced for interfering unwarranta-
bly, in the affairs of the state Of
Louisiana, when, in fact, he has done
nothing but to direct the enforcement OF the or
ders of United States court, and afford the
protection asked for by the state legislature
The courts, both state and national, have pro-
nounced upon the questions which lie at the
bottom of the difficulty, and, accepting their
decisions, the president has done nothing but
what the constitution requires him TO do. When
he is asked TO reconsider his determination and
countenance tue other party, or leave the two
factions TO fight out their quarrel, he is asked in
effect either to review the decisions of these courts
and decide the questions Of fact and law for him
self, or TO abstain from doing what the constitu
zion plainly requires him to do.
The question is not whether Warmoth is a
better mau than Pinchback, whether the War
moth party or the Pinch6ack party has the
stronger claim upon the confidence oil good citi-
zens generally, nor even whether the president
might conclude, aIer an Independent inYest-ga-
tion, that Warmolh and his legislature, or
Pinehback and the other, have the better title to
be considered the regular and awfal govern
ment OF the state, but whether, the dues-
tons involved, having been submitted to
the courts the president is al liberty
TO review or ignore their decisions. The
supreme court has decided that it cannot inter
fere at the present stage ofthe controversy with
the action of Judge Durell. 1t Is possible thai
when the case has been brought 10 inal judy
ment before him, so that an appeal can be taken
TO the supreme court, his decision may be re
yersed; but thaG will not condemn Gen. Grants
action 1t is the business Of the courts 10 inves-
tigaie and decide questions brought before them
tits the business OF the president TO see thai
their orders are executed. In doing this he
does only his duty, which he has no right to
evade.
It's easy to rail at him, TO accuse him oil
tyranny, 10 call him stupid dolt," aud II
assert that he has cheated the state officers out
of their election, but il is not SO easy TO show
the existence Of any adequate motive for such
acts Of injustice and oppression as are charged
upon him. To say that his motive was TO secure
an advantage TO his party can hardly be a salts
factory explanation. Of what importance to
him personally is republican or demo-
cractic ascendency in Louisiana? He
has nothing 10 gam or lose by either. The
only apparent motive that could have Influenced
him, aside from general sense of duty TO see
the laws faithfully executed, is desire to pre-
vent the violence and bloodshed that experience
has shown to be the natural consequence of
heated political controversies of doubtful issue
in a population SO excitable as that of New
Orleans.
Three or four weeks since, an elderly lady
died at Deptiord, Eng, on whose coffin was in
scribed; Eliza Cook, born September 2, 1903;