The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1873-01-22
Governor McE.ary's Inaugural.

Fcllor-C iiiscns:-I present myself before
Won under extraordinary circumstances.
Returned. as Your elected Governor in the
manner and according to all the forms OF
law hitherto recognized in this and in the
other States of the Union. ind my right
to this high Office disputed on grounds al
together novel in the history of the Re-
pnblic. An actual ma ority Of the votes of
the people, ascertained and reported by
the lawful election-Ollicers of the State, du-
" returned to the Governor and Secretary
of State. canvassed and declared by Il
board of legal canvassers having posses
sion and control of the only lawful evil
dences of such returns, has been uniformly
regarded heretofore as comforting on the
candidate proclaimed as the one receiving
such majority, the indHpntable right to
occupy the office to which he has been
elected, and to exercise the duties thereof.
The right to hold and continue in such of
flee may he questioned and contested by
another claimant upon certain grounds.
But from the nature of our Government
and of all civilized governments, it has
been found essential. TO prevent hiatns
therein that the claimant holding the
certificate of having received the largest
vote, possessing the prima f;lcie evidence
of title, should be accepted and reCogniz-
ed as the lawful incumbent, and should
hold the same. until it he shown, in an is
sue made, that the vote received by him
was not IL legal or honest one.
Even the technicalitics and formalitics
of the law are frequently disregarded, in
order to ascertain aud give effect to the
clearly expressed will of the people. Aud
under no circumstances is the voice of the
majority permitted to be hushed by mere
informalties or doubts as to the legal au-
thority of the officials procaiuing the
same. Such informaities may sometimes
justify the setting aside an election, and
the ordering a new one, but they were
never before regarded as giving to any tri-
bunal or authority the right and power to
elect a minority candidate to office, and to
isnrp the power which belongs to the peo-
pie Of choosing their own agents and rep
resentativeS.
These just and simple rules. this uniform
practice, under our republican system,
have been entirely ignored by the wicked
conspirators who seek to set aside the cleo
ton returns Of our late State election.
! A candidate who does not pretend that
he received majority OF the votes, but
expressly admits that the returns Of the
legal officials exhibit tho contrary, and
place him in the minority, sets up % claim
to the office of Governor of Louisiana.
He bases this claim upon certain state
ments that large number of qualified vo.
ters were illegally excluded from registra'
ton or from voting, which. if registered
and permitted to vote, would have revers.
ed the result.
These are mere er parte statements, al.
legations, which have never been examin.
ed, and rest upon mere surmises, specnla'
tions, loose rumors, aud partisan fabrica.
tions. No opportunity has been afforded
to expose their false and timsy character
Identified to any consideration or weight
at all, it certainly will not be pretended
by any just and intelligent mind, thar
they would authorize the denial of the
right to enter upon an Office of the person
who holds the pyima .facic evidencc--the