New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-07-30
The New Re gistration Law.

The Pcayune, in its issue of yesterday
morning, commenting upon the signing of
the registration law, INDUCES in a little
litany, wherein bald assertions are made to
seem like pitiful appeals. and the conclu-
sion is forced that the White Leaguers are
supplicated to respond.
To the objurgatory and prayerfpl edi-
torial of the Pic, Governor Kellogg replies
in the following dign1ied and convincing
letter. Had the Picayune familiarized itself
with the features OF the old law before
committing itself to editorial comments,
this letter would never need to have been
written:
STATE OF LOUISIANA,
Executive Department, ;
New Orleans, July 20, 1874. }
To the Editor of the Picayune:
SIR-In an editorial in this mornings
Picay,t,,e commenting upon the registra-
1iOn law recently promulgated, it is assert
ed: The Governor pledged himself not to
sign the law. Like other pledges this has
been violated" l pass over the latter SEN
tence with the simple remark that whenever
you are able to point to specific pledge
publicly made which have failed to keep
| will hold myself in readiness to disprOve
| the charge or confess the fact. have never
in any manner, directly or indirectly, in
public or in private, pledged myself not to
| sign this registration law. On the contrary.
have repeatedly and openly declared my
| intention to sign the bill wnen the proper
| time came, and more than one of the New
| Orleans newspapers have recently given
| publicity to this intention. You probably
| have confused the new registration law
| with the election bill which was in cOntro-
versy last winter. l gave public notice
that would not sign that bill. l have not
done go, and do not intend to do SO.
l announced at that time that there was
| bill in my possession providing for an
entirely new registration throughout the
State, which bill said it was my intention
| to sign.
| / believe you are equally mistaken as to
the character and object Of this new regis
| tratiOn law. An entirely new registration
is an absolute necessity. The thousands of
! fraudulent certificates extant, which " ere
| VIGOROUSLY used in 1872. and might be used
in the coming election, and the fnrther fact
that in the city df New Orleans alone
there are at least One-fourth more names
upon the registry than there are legal
voters, would alone justify the ordering of
new registration. The law, admit. s
namely, the prohibition of interference by
the judiciary. This was in the old law,
! and has been reenacted in this bill; but as
the courts have themselves decided the
clause to be imperative, it's retention can
have no very injurious effect. The advisa
bility, or otherw wise, of placing the appoint
ment of supervisor OF registration i'll the
hands of the Governor, or placing it in a
source where there is less accountability
to the public, is question | do not now
care to discuss. 1t is true the supervisor is
responsible to the executive and may be re
moved by him; but he can not improperly
strike name from the roll or refuse te
register legal voter without subjectine
himself to heavy penalties. l believe any
fair minded man who will read this new
law through carefully will agree with me
that it is calculated upon the whole to Sc
cure a fair and equitable registration. 1t il
an improvement upon the old law, which
must have remained in force unless hat
signed this bill, in many respects. Among
other reforms, it provides that no registra
OF his clerk shall be eligible as candidate
for office, which was one of the great evil
of the old law. 1t affords additional facili
ties for registration, provided proper men
are appalnted, which will be my aim ant
object. So far as am concerned, am de
termined. by all means in my power, to al
ford every facility possible toevery citlzel
to secure by registration the right to vote
Very respectfully,
WILLIAM P. KELLOGG.