New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-08-14
THE DEMOCRACY AND THE
COMING ELECTION.
The Democratic Demand on the Governor
KELLoaG,s REPLY
GOING FOR WOOL AND RETURNING SH0RN

SIR-A Joint committee of the Democratic
State Central Committee, Of the parish
Democratic Central Committee, of Orleans,
and of the Committee of Seventy, call upon
you for the purpose of making a request
with regard to the enforcement Of the regis
tratlon law.
We respectfully claim on behalf OF the
Democratic party throughout the State an
equal representation on the list OF officers
of registration. We make this demand for
the purpose of insuring fair election in
November next, and doubt not but the JUS
tice of the proposition will be readily ac-
knowledged.
The officers conceded to the opposition
should be appointed from list of names
suggested from each parish by the parish
central Democratic committees, respective
ly, I remain very respectfully your Obed-
lent servant, ALBERT VOORHEES,,
Chairman Conference Committee
STATE OF LOUISIANA
Executive Department, :
New Orleans, August l3. l874)
Hon. Albert voorhies, Chairman Conference Com
SIR have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of your communication OF the
twelfth instant, claiming on the part of the
Democratic party throughout the State an
equal representation on the list OF Ofhcers
of registration throughout the State. for the
purpose of insuring fair election IN No
vember next.
As I have already publicly declared,
earnestly desire that the coming election
should be fair in all respects, untainted by
fraud and uncontrolled by intimidation or
violence and | am ready to cooperate in
all lust and proper measures to secure that
end. l am anxious to do this not only be-
cause think it fair, but also because such
proceeding will be in striking contrast
AZ ID tomord tho Re-
publican party in this State in the cam
paign of 1872, when the Republican parcy
were denied representation IN every regis
tration office in the State, and when the
respectful request of the State Central
Committee to be allowed one commissioner
at each poll on the day of election was
peremptOrily refused.
From your communication, and also from
the request made by your committee yerter,
the parishes of the State and in each ward
of the city the supervisors of registration
| to be appointed by me shall be alternately
[ in one parish Democratic, in the next parish
HRepublican in one ward Democratic, in the
next ward Republican,; and that the clerks
of registration shall be selected in equal
numbers from each party. All the officers
conceded to the opposition to be chosen
from lists to be furnished by the State or
parish Democratic committee. This would
be simply division of patronage, and
would tend not SO much to secure fair
election as to build up and strengthen a
Democratic organization.
With due respect suggest that such
demand would be regarded as neitheI
reasonable nor just in any State Of the
Union. 1t is especially inopportupe here,
in view Of the violent measures resorted to
by the friends and allies of the Demo-
cratic party in many of the country par
ishes in organizing leagues to intimidate
and disfranchise the Republican voters,
and to prevent their exercising the rights
which the constitution and laws Of the
State and of the United States have con-
ferred upon them. A SIMILAR sys-
tenn of intimidation and violence
in years past necessitated the enact
laws, and if any seemingly Objectionable
features still exist in our present greatly
modified laws. their retention is solely at
tributable to the necessity thus created Of
protecting the voter in the exercise of his
rights.
If a fair election be all that you wish,
permit me to point out how in my judgment
it can be easily secured. Under the laws of
the State the Governor appoints super
visor Of registration in each parish, ana an
assistant supervisor in each ward of the
city of New Orleans. Under the enforce
ment law OF Congress, any ten reputable
citizens can secure the appointment by the
Judge of the United States Circuit Court in
each parish or ward of a supervisor of their
own political faith to watch over the action
of the State officer. am ready to cOncede
to the opposition one of the two registra-
ton clerks in every ward and parish in the
State. AS registration does not commence
till the first of September, l respectfully
request your committee to lay before me
lists of say five or six names from each
ward or parish, of persons suitable for ap-
pOintment as registration clerks
l understand the Liberals and the Inde-
pendent clubs of this city also desire to re.
commend names for appointment. Of
course, it can not be expected that shall
appoint quarrelsome or incompetent per-
sons, who would Obstruct registration, but
if the names laid before me are those of
peaceful and law-abiding citizens l will ap-
point one registration clerk in each ward
or parish from the lists submitted by the
organizations opposed to the Republican
party. If suitable names are not desig-
mated will then appoint some well known
citizen of the opposition whose name will
give confidence to all fair-minded men.
This latter course have already pursued
in which appointments had been made pre-
vious to your interview with me, and the
gentlemen appointed, I feel sure, can not
be otherwise than acceptable. No appoint
ments have yet been made in the city, and
will hereafter leave open one appointment
in each ward or parish for such recon-
mendations as may be made to me from the
opposition.
If, therefore, your desire be that the reg
istration shall be subject to the scrutiny OF ]
your friends, that object can be fully at
tanned. But, while making this concession,
l havs the right to expect that the oppo-
nents OF the Republican party, throughout |
the State, will concede to each Republican
voter the right to register. and to record
his vote for the candidate of his choice,
without intimidation or fear of violence.
wish it distinctly understood, that while I |
will 80 administer the laws, and make only |
such appointments as to afford every faciI- |
ity to the people of all parties to record |
their votes, will not, for moment, con- |
sent to surrender the great powers and |
solemn duties conferred upon me as the chief |
executive of the State. To do so would be |
to commit deliberate act of bad faith to |
the defenseless voters IF the Republican |
party, as we'll as to jeapordize every mate.
rial interest of the State.
With regard to the commissioners of |
election, the law passed by the last Legis- |
lature contains q provision which has not |
heretofore existed in Louisiana, that each |
polling place shall be presided over by
three commissioners, who shall be selected
from different Political parties. In thus
to its opponents representation
ut each registration Office to scrutinise every
vote registered, while the law allows them
. commissioner at each polling place to
watch over the votes cast, and further pro.
vides that the votes cast shall be counted
1t the polls, it seems to me that the Repub-
lican party, at least, has done lts utmost TO
,enura n fn11 froa and fair AlAn tinn in TS0uin.