The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1873-01-10

( lUB ouirus anu upon lills 'ef p0fN OF
der the Organization Of the General A.
scmbly, at time whcn he bad no shaJ,
in any offs siitings, was regulated on,
directed.
Since the meeting in New Orleans un
der which the committee WIS appointed
we have been met wish the suggestion
that these orders and acts are facts nc
complished, and that their revocation OF
rescossion would not restore the "stai,
quo, and that ourcomplainis therefore ar,
unreasonable. If tho opinion we have
be correct, such n condition ought not tc
affect our action or conduct. When tho
King Of Great Britain established arbi
trarily n government in enc of the colo
nies, the remaining colonies took alarm
lest it might serve as a precedent as well
rs an instrument 10 establish such gov.
enments elsewhere. Besides, mon arc
loss patient updor wrongful orders and
acts Of a Judiciary tribunal than even Of
violence from other sources of authority.
\ government which rests for its organi-
cation upon an Illegal judicial order, ex.
ecuted by the mar. aal with companies Of
soldiers, does not command rs much re-
spect or authority as if Judicial append
ages had been dispensed with and the army
had set up a government with q strong
and usurping hand.
The committee take the liberty TO say
that they have had no connection with
these suits rs parties or attorneys, neither
do they claim any Of the Offices in dis
pute. They have not heretofore been
concerned in the controversies among the
political classes which have endangered
the peace of and brought scandal upon
the State. They affirm that during the
last four years there has not been good
in Louisiana. There has
been extravaganza, prodigality, dishon-
esty and waste in public expenditures.
The public debt has been enormously in
creased, with but little corresponding
benefit. The credit of the State has
been given to speculating corporations
for personal aims. The taxes on proper
ty have assumed such proportions that
they might be called rents paid by the
to the the State for its occa.
patton and use. The taxes upon bust
ness oppress the commercial aud labor
ing classes. The laws to control elections
corporations, and pablic institutions stim-
ulate these excesses of office holders, and
the consequence is depression and discon-
tent. The State needs an honest. faith
ful, and responsible government, conduc-
led to attain public objects, and not to
enrich its members or toprepetuate their
power. There was an earnest effort 10
obtain such government at the last
election.
We affirm without fear of contradic-
ion that the foregoing statement exhib-
Is on the part Of the United States Court
he most unparaile!edand baeselers usur-
patton of Jurisdiction and authority of
Thich the annals of jurisprudonce afford
The action OF the returning
board, recognized and vested with all its
nowers by this court, has been equally
Without any Of the Of.
icial returns before them, without any Of
he official data on which alone their ac-
ion could have been rightly based, they
nave presumed to proclaim the results of
he election. The declaration by them
# the votes cast in the different parishes
5 aspurely fincifll as if no election what
yer had been held. They have arbitla-
ily reduced and increased the votes on
ne side or the other "a l.Fsrort par''hes |
o suit their purposes. H. several par
shes, while returning or even adding to |
he vote cast for their candidates, they |
ave simply annihilated or stricken out I
Htirely the votes cast for their oppo-
ents. In other parishes they have cx-
city reversed the returns, giving to their /
andidates majorities which had really
cen returned for their opponents. They
ave not pretended TO furnish the public
'ith any statement Of the basis ON which
hey proceeded or the theory on which
hey acted. TbHi- whole conduct is
.i.hout any kind Of reasonable expla-
alton.
We submit to the people Of the Uni
d States that such proceedings reach a
oint at which the whole theory Of pop
lar government is reversed and over
lrown. The means by which rosul.s
ave been reached ere enough TO startle
'e public mind but the results them
Ives are not less appalling, Aside
ON the general aiairs of the State, we
ld tie Legislature Of the State deliver
over into The hands Of men who were
,t elected, and who are utterly unfit for
,sitions Of such responsibility. As orig
lily composed AT Reorganization it com
.isod sixty-clght persons of color, most
them totally uneduce,ed, with a very
lan minority 4: whites. Since that
ne they have expelled members whose
ats we're mcontosted They have un.
ated members returned elcc.od by their
M board, and seated their defeated OPP
ncuts, on the simple ground that the
rmer had not appeared to claim their
ats. The resul:. = that, originally bad
the Legislature was, it mako5 itself Z