The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-05-13
Lnuaiana.

ANuhl thN AuIlt # lNlus anu thIul
The committee Of the two hundred citi
gems who were appointed at u meeting Of
the resident population of New Orleans, on
the 18th Of December, 10 proceed to Wash
ington and submit 10 the President and
Congress memorial on the political at
fairs in louisiana have made their report
The facts in the case are briefly but terse-
reviewed, and the attention of the North
ern reader is earnestly invited 10 them.
Ii is a sad muddle, and it is To be regretted
that Congress should have adjourned with
out taking any definite action in the matter
The best friends of Gen. Grant cannot do
otherwise than concede that the President
acted with unseemly haste in recognizing
the Kellogg government. Had the Execu
tive restrained his ardOr and patiently lis
tened 10 both sides before taking decided
ground, il would have been better for his
peace Of mind, and far better for the law
and order loving people of Louisiana. The
orders of Judge Durell who put Kellogg
into power were most extraordinary. \
single extract FROM the majority report Of
the Senate Committee at Washington is
sufiicientsto show the character of these or
ders Viewed in any light in which your
committee can consider them, the order and
injunctions granted by Judge Durell in
this case Kellogg, are most reprehensi-
bic, erroneous in point of law, and are
wholly void for want Of jurisdiction your
committee must express sorrow that a
judge Of the United States Court should
have proceeded in such fragrant disregard
OF his duty, and have so Overstepped the
limits of federal jurisdiction A standing
committee Of the United States Senate,
mainly composed of those who act with the
Republican party, unanimously condemn
the unlawful interference Of Federal author
tiles with the affairs of the State OF Lousi-
ana, and yet those who were put in power
by this unlawful interference are kept in
power by the Federal bayUnetl What
wonder that bitterness should rankle in
the hearts of the representative white peo-
pile of louisiana, and that race should be
brought in conflict with race? We can
well believe that the President would will
hngly undo his hasty work, if such were
possible. But he has gone so far that re-
treat is difficult. The tax payers of the
State refuse to recognize Kellogg and his
government, while McEnery, who, it is
claimed, is the legal choice of the
majority Of the voters, is kept out
in the cold by those who obey orders from
Washington. The situation is puzzling and
somewhat alarming, and we cannot fOresee
the end. The clashing elements stand
apart, but il only needs spark to preeipi-
tate conflict. The committee Of the two
hundred, however, discreetly counsel pa
tleuce They say that they cannot recon-
mend to the people of the State respect
for the government established by fraud
aud force; but they suggest that perma-
nent committee Of seventy members be ap-
pointed :" with p1wT 10 collect n large
amount Of testimony that exists which the
Committee Of the Senate did not collect
that testimony be collected Of the mal-ad
ministratiou under which the State grOans
from the Federal officers of this State, and
OF the State, whereby property has been
rendered insecure its value diminished,
confidence destroyed and persons impover-
ished aud oppressed They further recon-
mend that their grievances be submitted t.
the Legislatures Of all the States Of the Tn
ion, and to Congress when il shall again be
in session; that the people be organized
70 accomplish reform in the State admins
tratlon and u promote economy that the
cplOred population Of the State be protect
va IuN'uld Eth uliu dSSlHleu anu tudt Jne
outraged people preserve temperate
moderate aud sedate department. This
is good advice. The Southern people of
education and responsibility are no longer
rash and hot headed, They are patient
under circumstances that would move the
phlegmatic Dutchman TO anger They
have learned by bitter experience that il
Is best TO be slow TO strike. Had Gen
Grant been as patient in the beginning Of
the trouble as the committee Of two hun
dred have been since the usurpatiou, and
had he shown as much regard for the law
as they have shown, it would have been
avoided, and that question would not
embarrass the Presidential mind to the
extent that il now does The good Of the
whole country requires that peace and
prosperity should reign in Louisiana