New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-04-15

L
atorial, so that the words are in no sense
actionable. The communication con
cludes with challenge, but not to the
courts of law or honor. 1t is that Cover
nor Kellogg shall meet the Senator IN a
logomachic conflict. or war Of words.
One of the propositions to be
discussed is "that you tkellogg)
are no Governor" Now this we
submit, is just as if Mr.. edward Booth,
Senator" should propose to decide BY a
game of seven-up that our watch or great
coat does not belong 70 US. Even if the
challenge could be decided by oratorical
combat and the verdict Of the minority,
any one having the least suspicion OF
chivalry in his nature would see that Mr..
Booth is stalking nothing against some.
thing for which he might be ruled off the
field by any jockey club whatever.
The TRADE of Mr.. Booth, however. does
contain by implication one serious charge.
The adroit Senator, aware Of the strict
law of libel, puts the charge hypothetical
ly thus:
The otherwise inexplicabie conundrum
which is presented to the political student
by your com binations can be solved imme-
diately by applying to il the test OF per
sOnal. money interest
If can imagine you to be q member and
agent of a semipolitical moneyed ring,
placed where you are, and kept where you
are, for the purpose of depressing values to
their lowest ebb in order that they may be
then purchased by you and your cOnted-
crates, and then further imagine you all
loaded up at lowest figures with the choicest
properties, lands and securities OF city and
State; and then at an appointed period re-
versing the wheels on the descending grade,
changing the tactics of the party owned By
your ring, yelling for reform, white mans
government immigration, low taxati IN, a
press arranged to stimulate public and prl-
vate activity and hope, with experienced
CELEBRITY facing right about and becoming
the most blatant of refOrmer5 and violent
denOuncers of those whom you will then
style carpet-baggers and ignoramuses.
Now your ''if" is not only as in the days
Of Shakespeare. "a great peacemaker.
but he is a capital fellow OF plea OF
nil dejet in an action of trespaSs in the
case for slanderous and defamatory Ian
guage used concerning the plaintiff.
This charge is also added in e special
count of the declaration:
can well understand your present policy.
and how, without daring openly to ayow 1t.
you are in conspiracy with others against
the people, to 50 operate their political
affairs as 10 reduce their values to point
apprOXimating twenty-five cents on the
dollar and buy for $25, 600, 900 or 3O,OO0,OOO
what is worth four or five times as much
money
Now the debt of this State has been cut
down by the clause of limitation from
some 100000 to S25,000,000. Can it
be charged that Mr.. Kellogg, who has
never held any other State Office than that
he now occupies, is responsible for that
debt? Did he impose the taxes necessary
to meet the interest and liquidate the prin-
cipal Of this debt? Why. he could even
prove that Invaluable plea OF Mr.. Weller,
senior, all alb. Who contracted that
debt? If Senator Booth would speak, he
would say that it received the support Of
men of all parties. He will say from the
record that the representatives Of this city
have voted with others to create this
debt. Against the men who were at
the creation of this debt and these
taxes Senator Booth has not one
word Two Of the most prominent among
those who have sanctioned this debt and
these taxes have received tie vote Of the
Fusion LegiSla ture for the highest federal
honors within the gift Of a State. One Of
those 50 honored possessed for four years
past the power to have defeated many of
those items Of debt. Senator Booth de-
lounces Goyerno. Kellogg for having
signed an act to continue the charter Of
he Louisiana I.eyce Company, when he
has no word against him who, by his sig
nature, created tie Louisiana Levee Com |
,any. 81 Nj. Kellogg could not have
incurred OF prevented that debt and taxa
ion which will enable ''the semi-political |
money ring at New York, Wash
ngton or Chicago" to buy up Louis
ana at twenty-five cents on the !!
Iollar" This position must have been
prepared for Mr.. Kellogg by the friends
nd allies Of the Fusion party. Against
hese, however a sacred and significant
silence is preserved. But Gov
rnor Kellogg enforces the laws against
delinquent taxpayers. Did be pass those
avs, or suggest or sanction their passage?
lie finds them on the statute book, and
proceeds to do what the law commands
he Governor to do. We have heretofore
ointed out that the administrators of the
tate government receive but about one
fth Of the amount of taxes collected.
he other four-ffths 90 to pay the obliga-
ons Of the State. With the avowed our
ose of starving out the Kellogg govern
tent the payment OF all taxes is re-
sted This evidently starves out
BOD many other people, many Of them
2na fide holders of State securities
nocent ana distant third parties. This
fusal to ray the interest on the
ate obligations wiz derress their value