New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-01-02
LOuisiNUa.
Dissection % the Address Of the Citizens.
Committee.


Awaiting myself of your liberal courte
proceed to make closer and more crit
examination of the carefully and artf
prepared statements contained in the add
to the people of the United States, ISSUED
the Committee of Citizens Of Louisiana. n
present in New York, for the purpose
presenting their side Of the story. prop
first to examine what this address conta
and shall then set forth some important
material facts which the committee, or rat
their chairman and counselor, has purpos
omitted to mention.
/. The first averment to which objcc
that the "evcntsn which the committee .
fess to narrate were "entirely brought alb
by tho agency Of officers, civil and militia
of the General Government" Even i,
technical and literal sense, this DENY to
in accordance with tho facts but, if it W
true, see no improperly in such offic
aiding the people of Louisiana to defeat
Vaccinations, the selfish and corrupt scher
of such a contemner of law and justice
Governor Henry G. Warmoth admittedly
There was time, and that not long sin
when the leaders of the. Louisiana Dem
racy were in close council with these V,
officers Of the General Government for
purpose of devising measures by which (
man WaInoth might be driven from
power and the position which he had so
cessively abused. We heard nothing at Il
time OF the improperly of these officers CO
ing to the help Of the oppressed people
Louisiana. What we did hear was that.
those very officers had been instrumental
fastening Warmoth upon that people, a
enabling him to ride roughshod over tn
and their liberties, it was their duty to RI
der assistance in bringing his reign Of tyran
TO speedy termination. The Cabinet
the President of the United States conta
many telegram and letter from promine
bankers, merchants, lawyers, and other ci
zens OF New Orleans, beseeching him in t
most earnest terms to come to their {
against this bad man, even if he had
stretch the laws in so doing. Gen. Ora
was urged by those persons to declare m,
tial law, and to send a military Governor
Louisiana, that an end might be put to d
fragrant and intolerable misgoyernment VIII
Governor Warmoth was practicing there 1
.. The second point in the address otd
Louisiana Committee which l desire to.
tice is this: That the officers of the I'd
States Government at New Orleans haven
engaged in "a conspiracy to overthrow
Government of tho State.
My first answer to this allegation ist
the Government of the State of Lcuisians
not been oyerthrown, and there is no.
dence, except the mere assertion Of this,-
mittee, that there was any purpose or attd
to accomplish such an object. That }.
Warmoth, personally, has been overtime,
and deserved to be overtaken by such
is most true; but apprehend that an !
yidual holding such an office may be.
peached and suspended for crime or mi |
meanor while the Government itself COZ
ues to be constitutionally administered |
can only account for this confusion of 10 |
Of the distinguished author Of the address
attributing it to the stress he was labo,
under to make it appear that the actual G |
eminent Of Louisiana had been overtime, |
and not the man who was at its head. II
easy to be seen that the Committee could |
cite no indignation in tho North, nor ell
any sympathy by the story that such a nj
as Warmoth had been beaten at his OIL
game By the Republicans of Louisia|
Therefore they sounded the tocsin that d
government of the State had been owl
thrown. Mark how plain a tale will put
silence charge Of this kind.
The election held In the State of Louisial
on Nov. 4, 1872, was managed by Gov. WI
moth, with the aid Of the Democratic Sh|
Central Committee. Their plan was to tlir,
every obstacle in the way of the resistrati
OF cOlored voters-a process preliminary
the election. The Registrars were ali, I
nearly all, Democrats-at all events in Il
moro importaut parishes they were Of "a
stripe OF politics. Their instructions were
exhaust every device to lessen the regist
ton of colored voters and increase that
the white voters, especially those of Der
cratic proclivities. These instructions er-
mated from Gov. Warmoth and B. p. Blar-
ard, Chief Supervisor Of Registration, onof
his tools, and they were faithfully execyd.
The result was that upward of ten thound
persons, entitled by law to be registed,
were prevented from complying witlIhat
formality by the devices and obstacles ttwn
in their way by Warmoth's officers. ifs is
not mere assertion. have myself So and
read the sworn statements of resptabie
Democrats Of Louisiana, detailing, rcum-
stantially, the acts of these Registrawhich
had the effect have stated. will cj one
that Of Robert A. Hunter, of Rapidep Parish,
louisiana, q lawyer of prominence Demo-
crat unquestionably sincere and rthodox,
and citizen whose reputation fohonesty
moody will dispute. Well, Mr. Hunter
swtars that 500 colored voters of Is parish
taihd to have their names inscribs on the
registration books through the falt-nay,
the crime-of the officers in chars Of that
process, and after these voters had Exhausted
every effort to accomplish it. 10 same
tricks were resorted to in other populous
parishes, and Rapides is fair sanie of how
thething was done throughout the hate. /
cannot understand how gentlemen rofessing
to te candid, truthful, and impartialean say
the. have "no knowledge Of any nckery,
anyfraud in the election, and do notbelieye
an, such existed" The committe, per-
hap, do not think the colored votersconsti
tub portion of "the people," lrathel
think that is the explanation Of the;i state
mat on this part OF the subject.
:. Tho next point deserving OF noice i:
th,t "Governor Warmoth was not can
diate for reelection" As 4 mere natter
Of act this is true, but it ia what tho lawyers
st.le supressio vsri, which Is suggestiofalsi
Governor Warmoth desired to be reelected
bit was told that it was impossible, AMI hi
compromised upon promise to be seit t.
tie Senate Of the United States, vhicl
Fomise the Democrats had 1t in their rpwe
b perform, for the scheme of the camnigf
Included the election of a sufficient nunbe
q Democrats to the new Legislature VIII,
would necessarily be subscrvient to tho will
T hedeaders of the party. Now, as par
ocular friend and protcge of Warmoth'i q
!. West) held the other Senatorial position
# Washington, representing Louisiana, ,hi
arrangement left Warmoth with perhap
wen moro power over the fortunes and 90,
.rpment of the State than If he had been re
nhst: