The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1873-02-15

TO palliate tho outrageous tlOings of tho
Lynch Board because OF the belief said
to be felt by the Board that the State,
in fur election, ought to have gone
Republican. Wo had hoped from what
Senator Morton had done in having
the frauds Of tho Kellogg party expos
Cd, and his manifest purpose not to
shield the perpetrators, that no would
tako tho law and tho facts for his guide
and arrive Mt a decision FREQ from par
ttsan bias and just to all parties. While
he has not entirely destroyed this hope,
he has nevertheless stimulated the be-
lief that his fairness hes been olissem-
bled and that no will finally take sides
squarely with those who have been in
strumental in overthrowing constitu-
tfonal government in Louisiana.
Tho effect the exclusion Of the Elcc-
toral vote OF the State will have upon
tho settlement of the two remaining
questions now being considered by the
Senate Committee, namely: the Sena-
torial contest, and the fact whether
there Is legal government in this State,
Is not necessarily disastrous to the
hopes Of the Fusionists; but we must
admit that tho prospect for our SUCCESS
before Congress is greatly clouded, if
not entirely obscured, by the declara-
ton by Congress that there was no
election for President in this State. The
objections to the Greeley electoral vote
were simply upon form, IL they do not
lilo equally as strongly against the cleo
ton for State as we'll rs National off,
Gers, and If they were only as to forms,
the only purpose or value was to smooth
the way to undoing the election entire.
We, therefore, are unable to reconcile
the action Of the two houses in rejecting
Louisiana's vote consistently with a
ratification OF tho election for State
officers. Even in this view OF the ease,
however, and, In fact, in all others we
may take of the Louisiana troubles, we
may safely rely upon the one consoling
fact that the kellogg government is an
admitted nullity, with not IL friend to
uphold it.
Referring again to our kilograms, the
reader will find that to provide for a
new election In Louisiana is matter
not unattended with grave legal din
cultics. Tho allegations Of fraud in tho
election, or the still stronger objection
Of frauds proven, are not, as all know
who arc familiar with tho practice OF
Congress and the scope Of its authority,
sufficient grounds to justify Its interior
enee in State affairs, to the extent of
annulling an election held confcssscdiy
under tho laws OF the State, which was
tho case in Louisiana. The unvarying
rule In election cases, even where only
tho right to scat in Congress has been
in contest, has boon to eliminate tho
fraudulent ballots, and to count those
admitted to DO legitimate and fair
Will Congress devour its own Offspring, |
by applying to Louisiana harshcr
rule, and declare that there has been
no fAir election in this Statc,-particu-
iarly when, according to both sets Of
returns, n sufficient number Of members
In both houses OF the General Assembly
are elected to constitute quorum to
transact business, and, therefore, to or
ganizc legal State government? We
believe that tho record on both sides is
fatal to tho plea now set up that thcro
has been no election In Louisiana. The
returns of both Boards negative such n
charge, and these returns cannot now;
in decency, or without gross violation
OF law and equity, be so disregardei
by Congress as to declare that they
agree only as proof of fraudulent cleo
ton.
But, it will be urged probably, on
behalf of a new election, that Louisiana