The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-06-10
Gov. John McEnery .Sere-
naded.
An Enthusiastic Assembly
He Addresses the Crowd.

rooms, No II Dauphine street.
Upon their arrival at the rooms of Gov
McEnery, three cheers were proposed ant
enthusiastically responded to by the crowd
Gov. McEnery then stepped forward and
said:
Felloac- Gtisens-I thank you from the bot
tom Of my heart for this compliment which
you have paid me tonight.
AS you all know, l have just returned
from the National Capital, upon mission
whittier l had goue in the interest of the
true, law-abiding citizens of the State OF
Louisiana.
1t is needless that should here tell You
what has been the result of that mission
because you are fully aware of the mission
upon which went. The mission prompted
me to do what could within the humble
scope of my limited ability to secure, first
the recognition of the government legally
elected by the people of this State on the
4th day of November, 1872. (Applause.) Or,
in default of that to secure to the people of
the State of Louisiana the radiance Of q
government of violence and fraud and
nsurpation. (Applanse)
When | got to Washington, fellow citi-
zens, on the 10Th day of January, it seemed
to be foregOne conclusion that the bill
pending before the Congress of the United
States, known as the Carpenter bill, for a
new election, would be successfully passed
by both Houses. 1t was well understood at
that time in official circles that the President
of the United States was in favor of that
measure, and in fact in an interview which
the President had with Senator Carpenter
and Representative Butler he stated to
these gentlemen that in few days, en- the
Monday following, he would send a message
70 No. off ba TT,,i< al
the passage Of the bill for a new election in
the State of Louisiana as the only solution
of the troubles in this State.
But short time had elapsed when a
change came over the President. His party
friends, who had pledged themselves, in
Congress and out of Congress, to the recog-
milton of the Kellogg usurpation, told him,
in plain and round terms, that this policy
would not do, and that he must stand or
fall upon that theory.
1t is proper that / should here add, fellow
citizens, that few days after my arrival in
Washington City ] sought an interview
with the President Of the United States,
and | went in company with Gen. w. L.
Mcmillan, who had been accredited by
the Fusion Legislature as a Senator to the
Congress OF the United States, and after
ew preliminary observations between the
President and ourselves, we at once entered
upon the discussion Of the Louisiana case.
The President told us then, because this
was after the time when he had changed his
plan and his policy, that he didn't believe
Congress had the right to order new cleo
ton in any State. He didn't believe that
the General Government had right to in
terfere with the local affairs of any State in
this Union. When we had stated the case
Of Louisiana from our standpoint, the Presi-
dent replied that he could not see any diff
ference between the then position of Louis
lana and that which New York occupied
upon the election Of Mr. Hoffman and Mr..
Griswold.
told the President that there was vast
difference between the two cases. told him
in New York no Federal Judge had presided,
and fOisted Mr.. Hoffman upon the people as
Judge Durell, by his midnight order had in
stalled Mr. Kellogg upon us, and who was
afterwards upheld in his usurpatiOn by the
strong arm Of the Federal Government.
To this argument the President could not
reply, when q gentleman sitting at his
left, whom did not know at first, but
afterwards found out was Mr.. Williams, the
Attorney General of the United States, took
up the argument, and tried to answer it
when the President had failed to do so.
Mr.. Mcmillan and myself were detained
probably an hour in this interview, and we
became thoroughly satisfied that whatever
argument we might find, whatever reason |
ing we might advance, that they would,
whether right or wrong, stand by the Kel-
long usurpation.
Never did meet, in the course Of my
stay at Washington City or in New York,
CT anywhere else in the North, single Re- |
publican who had heard the true story of
the condition of affairs in the State Of
Louisiana, who did not condemn the course |
pursued by the Federal Administration.
found but one obstacle in the way, and |
that they ought not to interfere in the mat
ter, then the President and Congress had
nothing more to do with it.
! Let me tell you, gentlemen, that these
who are soon to go before
their people for reelection, will be held to
a strict accountability by the mass of the
people of the North for their acton in al
lowing this usurpation against the people
Of the State Of Louisiana.
One of the arguments against us, use. in
Congress by Mr.. Sherman, was that tho
elected by the Democrats
deserted what is known as the McEnery
and it was fair to presume that
,hese members represented their constitu
,nts, and, therefore, the people of Louisiana
had acquiesced in this usurpation. 1t is yet
q be decided whether these men, represent
ng as they say, the people, did their duty.
Now, the great object in view is the or
yanization Of the white people of the State
# Louisiana. Applause. The negroes
re organizing, and it is the duty of the
White people to do the same.
/ stand before you tonight as did on the
til of June, 1872, when was nominated by
he Democratic Convention stand before
'Ou Democrat, and straight out Demo-
rat. (Applause.l
1t is said by great many people that you
annot organize the Democratic party and
he white element IN the State of Louisiana,
nut that is said by the croakers, and we
must not be deferred by them. Let US or
anize On Democratic basis and march to l
he front boldly, neither turning to the I
ight nor left, and my word for it, when we ,
re organized in every ward and parish in
his State, and the white people present a
old 'front.' you will win the fight in spite OF /.
he croakers Applause
Gov, McEnery dwelt at great length {