The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-05
THE LOUISIANA USURPiTION.
Governor Hebert's COmplaiSance
and What II Is Worth.
The Popular Wish, the Duty of Congress
and the Necessity of the Re-
publican Party.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 5, 1874.

u
Members OF Congress and the press OF the country
to know how the people OF Louisiana think and
feel in regard to the proposed ordering OF new
election In that state. Mr.. Kellogg and mis- friends,
or rather the benefciaries OF his usurpat0n, Tor
he has no friends either among the blacks or
whites, are employing every means, foul ana iair,
to create the impression That the people OF the
State deprecate any such action on the part OF
Congress. They nave industriOusly circulated in
this city the report that the New orleans Chamber
OF Commerce entertains and has expressed this
view OF the matter, which IS absolutely false, and
have anally succeeded in inducing
EX-GOVERNOR p. O. HILBERT
to write letter to the same effect. The friends
OF that gentleman will sincerely regret the Had.
vised step that he has taken, not only because it
places him in antagOnsm to the wishes OF all his
fellow citizens, white and colored, who are long
ing for the establishment of some responsible
government in the State but also because the fact
that he holds the office OF Levee Commissioner,
worth $4,000 year, on the board OF which General
Longstreet is a member, Will not unnatura.y SUBJ
ject him to the suspicion that his Judgment Is
affected by his intimate association with the i'm
mediate authors OF the Louisiana outrage. Oan-
not say that believe his motives to be anything
but honorable, but do know that he wholly and
entirely misrepresents the sentiments OF those cti
Zens OF Louisiana whose opinions are entitled to
consideration when he depicts them being
willing to cond0ne great political crime, and to
bend their necks 10 the yoke of a corrupt usurpa-
tion-lor what In order that Congress may be
spared the necessity OF setting dangerous prec-
edent by interference in State affairs. Has ex-
Governor Heoert been asleep since 1865 that he
now recoils with dismay from the danger Of such
precedent beng establishedS Danger lorsootn
There is neither sincerity common sense in
this plea, and leave it to Mr.. Hebert to explain
to his friends will not say to his constituents for
HE REPRESENTS NOBODY IN LOUISIANA,
how he can with honor urge the perpetuatiOn OF
an infamous wrong upon the political rights and
liberties OF his fellow citizens effected by federal
interference, lest dangerous precedent be SET
Set by whomS BY the republican party, which has
never heretofore quaed before the responsibility
OF acting in obedience to their 'higher law" OF
right and justice, even when the constitution stood
IN their way-whlch il certainly does not in this in
stance Mr.. Hebert says that our troubles may be
settled at the election IN November next for men,
bers of the Legislature. This is utterly untrue. In
the first place.
WILLIAM PITT KELLOGG WILL HAVE COMPLETE CON-
troll OF THE WHOLE MACHINERY OF THE NOvEM
Der ELECTION,
and his returning board will not be whit more
scrupulous in its canvass Of the returns than
the notorious Lynch Hawkins board in December,
1872
In the second place, only one-half the members
OF the senate Will be elected at that time, the
other half "hOldng over" and these latter being
bound over hand and foot to Kellogg and his
cates 1t will be utterly impossible to remove HIM
by impeachment, which requires the concurrence
OF two-thirds of the Senators.
In the third place, If Kellogg were impeached
and removed, he would be succeeded by the Hon.
Caus Cesar Antoine. who has no more title to the
Of Tiauta Kellogg
that OF Governor.
In the fourth place, the general State Officers
hold their positions under constitution for four
years, and they cannot be affected by the election
in November next. What then, becomes OF Mr..
Hebert's statement that the grievances COM
planned of be settled without Congressional
action under the constitution and laws Of
Louisiana
Mr.. Editor, we have reached point in this
Louisiana controversy where
1T BECOMES THE IMPERATIVE DUTY OF CONGRESS
The position Of the administration in the matter
was yesterday clearly and Enthusiastically defined
in the Senate by Mr.. Frelinghuysen. 1t points
directly to the rejection OF Mr.. Pinchback, who has
a tar better title to recognition than Mr. Kellogg,
because he does represent large portion OF the
people OF Louisiana, ana total inacton upon the
question OF the legality Of the Kellogg government.
Illuminating and timorOus course 2 II the State
of Illinois or Iowa or some other great State OF the
| North or West were an applicant for redress at the
! bar OF Congress it would not dare to turn deaf
ear to its demands But Louisiana is not in posi-
ton to demand anything; her representatives can
only beg and humbly sue Tor modcum OF justice,
| and do not hesitate say that it would be cow
ardly and contemplate on the part OF Congress to
spurn our appeal. AFFECT servty towards the
strong arrogance and contempt towards the
weak-is this to be the motto OF the Forty-third
Congress, the official representative OF the great
republican party
We have presented petitions signed by thou
sands ofthe best citizens OF Louisiana, asking Tor
relief from the Kellogg usurpation. and Congress,
BY it's inaction has thus far confessed its incOm-
potency to deal with the great political problem
submitted for Its solution.
WHEN A PARTY LOSES MORAL COURAGE ITS
DOOM is SEALED.
Hitherto the republican party has been more
ready to resort to forced interpretations OF the
constitution than to shrink from responsibility
but now its representatives are forcing 1t into the
humiliating attitude of inacton and supineness in
the presence OF great outrage upon republican
and representative Institutions. Will the rank and
file Of the party ara It's press accept the role thus
marked out for the party Dy its leaders. II they
do, the boldness of the party has Departed and
with its boldness goes It's prestige.
Congress does not dare to justify the Louisiana
inamy since its enormty has been disclosed in It's
details by the able and patriotic speech OF Senator
Carpenter, and yet 1t has not the courage to re-
dress the wrong When old Thaddeus stevens,
during the discussion OF a contested election case
IN the House, deGanty cried out, "What Is the
use of talking about the constitution what's the
name OF our fellow Vote him inl" the indigna-
ton which his contemptuous disregard OF right
and justice aroused was somewhat tempered by
admiration for his bodness. But for
A CONGRESS WHICH TIMIDLY FOLDS ITS HANDS
when brought face to face with crying outrage
upon the rights OF American citizens, and whlm-
peringly exclaims, "Your cause Is just bat we
are not equal to the emergency and cannot help
you" one can feel nothing but pity.
The country may rest assured that all manhood