The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1873-01-09
The Louisiana ontrage.

The Louisiana Outrage.
The facts in regard TO the great po-
litical crime which has lately been
perpetrated in Louisiana by the de-
sfruction of its legal State Govern
ment and the establishment of
usurping one in IT'S stead, are by many
SO imperfeetly understood as to war
rant q reinstatement of the case. AT
the regular election in November the
Greeley ticket swept the State by
about 10000 majority. The Govern
or, State officers and large majority
of the Legislature were of that poilt-
ical stripe. AT and during the cleo
ton there was no trouble. There was
no complaint that any legal voter,
white or black, was not registered.
There was no fight or alteration any
where in the State. The vote polled
was the largest by thousands ever Civ
en-. Before the votes were counted
both parties claimed the State. 1t
was not until after it was ascertained
that the Liberals had carried it that
any fuss was made. Then Kellogg, a
Grant United States Senator, running
for Governor, set up the plea that
large numbers of negroes has not been
permitted to register or vote. q lie re-
sorted to a legal step that was per-
fectly unparalleled. He asked that
Judge Durell, of the United States
Circuit Court, should issue an injanc-
ton against the Governor and other
State canyassingl officers from count
ing the votes or declaring the result.
He asked that other parties, whom he
named,5 should be recognized as the
Canyassing Board. Upon this erpdrte
proceeding Durell, mere tool OF the
Administration, who was in q state
of intoxication during the proceed
ings, granted the prayer of the petit
tioners, in defiance of the fact that un-
der the Constitution United States
Courts can only take cognizance of
cases between citizens of different
States. essofs 3 ass
Although the Board of Canvassers
created by Durell had neither the of
fetal votes or retuns before them. they
went on and pretended to give what
they called authentic returns. They
embraced in their returns votes that
it was assumed would have been cast
if the voters had not been intimidated.
They elected the Grant tickets by
large majorities, both for States Off
GERS and Legislators. No sooner was
this done than United States Marshal
Packard seized and occupied the State
house with United States troops. An
extra session of Legislature had been
called by Governor Warmoth. When
it assembled it was found that the
Clerks of the Senate aud House had
been forbidden by injunction, from
calling any other Dames- than those
that were handed to them by DurelPs
Board of Canvassers. Thus the right
of each House to determine the seats
of its own MEMBERS right never
questioned before-was violated and
disregarded. The regularly elected
members of the Legislature were thus
unceremoniously dismissed. Govern
or Warmoth of course refused to re-
cognize the fraud, and would have
no communication with the Legisla-
ture. Then that body, brought into
existence the way we have seen, pre-
tended TO impeach him and vacate his
Office. 1t put in his place the Presi-
dent of the Senate, a negro fellow by
the name of Pinchback, whose term
of Office had expired. That individu-
al, by the aid of Federal bayonets,
proceeded to occupy the Executive
Mansion and to drive from it its legal
occupant.
The Washinton Administration
gave its full assent to all these foul
and violent proceedings. Not con-
| sidering the revolution complete as
long as there were any State Courts
in the way, they proceeded, in the bo-
gus Legislature, to abolish the exist.
ing New Orleans Courts, and to sub
stitute new Court of their own, to be
filled by appointment by Pinchback,
the negro usurping Governor. The
Judges whom they turned out had
been reelected, even by the returns oi
their own bogus Board. They arc
about to abolish the city charter OF
New Orleans and make another, with
a Mayor and Council appointed by
Pinchback, SO that the people of New
Orleans will be powerless in the fu.
ture, not being permitted to elect
their officials. Then will come a large
addition to the city debt, which is al
ready $25,000, 900, and to the State
Edebt, which is S42,000,000. The pres
ient taxation is five or six per cent.
and in the future it will amount to
confiscation. Is it any wonder thai
the white people are proposing tt
leave the State, and seek refuge il
Texas? The State and the city m a,
be considered ruined - Enquirer.
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