New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-04-16
WHOLE NUMBER .2l57.

l
hand, then counted solely by himself, then
through the compilation of thirty clerks to
another board. The last board (Forman
oOard) compiled, counted and returned
mass OF returns in manuscript in something
ike Twelve hours. 1t takes eighty pages of
| returns,
these returns have passed through the
nands OF SO many persons, that their v;al;-
| dlty Is destroyed and it is upon such tessi-
m0ny that the Senator from Wisconsin asks
us to declare that William p Kellogg was
not elected Governor of Louisiana. The
Senator has woven such a net of legal tech
nicalities around the subjec, that one is ant
to be diverted from the contemplation of
the one important fact, who did the people
Of Louisiana elect Governor
claim nothing by returns, but by the
voice OF the people as expressed through
the ballot box. maintain that the Repub-
lican State ticket was elected. All the
proof, that McEnery was elected is shown
! TO have been an organized fraud.
Ii McEnery was not elected his opponent
| was. In the New jersey case, to which
| have alluded, Congress sent commissioners
| to examine the voters themselves. Returns
| went for nothing
| The inquiry went as to how ballots were
| cast.
He summed up the logical conclusions at
which the Senate must arrive as follows:
The bill OF the Senator from Wisconsin ie
| predlcated upon the assumption that there
| Is no valid executive in louisiana and her
| laws do not permit one to be chosen until
| 1876. That there is GO valid Legislature,
| but an invalid one now enacting laws But
| the Legislature is NO longer enacting laws,
and the laws of Louisiana will compel the
election OF new one just as soon as We
could provide one. We have no shadow of
excuse, therefore. for interfering with more
| than the executive. We have no shadow of
excuse for ordering a new election for the
executive, merely because the wrong man is
holding office. Ii we have the power to dis
possess the wrong man, we have the power
to possess the right one.
Before we can order q new election We
| must find not merely that Kellogg was not
elected, but that no one was elected in 1872.
We know that an election was held on the
day appointed by law. We know that but
two candidates were voted for. If it be
conceded that the State has no Legislature
we must presume that they will have in
November next. And We orally know that
Kellogg or McEnery was elected and if we
have any duty in the premises it is the duty
of finding which was elected. That ques-
tiOn has not been tried as yet.
The Committee on Privileges and Elec-
tiOns tried the question whether McMillen
or Ray was Senator Another question was
referred to the committee, but it was not
investigated; such testimony was taken as
McMillen offered upon one eide and the
other. The bill now sought to be referred
to the committee is neither warranted by
the facts nor applicable TO the condition Of
political affairs in Louisiana. The OppO-
nents of the present administration in Lou
isiana, champiOned here by the Senator
from Wisconsin, are not insisting upon
what they should claim as their rights, if
they have any rights at all. the installment
OF McEnery, but upon a new election,
another chance TO re-enact the game in
which they have been Daulked. Their at
tempt to capture the control of the State
failed. Hence all this virtuOus Indignation
Hence allothese tears. If the supporters of.
McEnery believe they are IN a majority in
the State they will have a chance to prove
1T in the fall ana convinced that Mr.. Kel-
lOgg was elected, aud shall continue to up.
hold him. If thought differently would
advocate any constitutional measure look
ing to the installation of the rightful Gov
ernOr. But new election is no remedy for
the evils complained of-evils brought
about for the most part, by the party that
exercised power just after the reconstruc-
tiOn OF the State, under President johnson.
The stagnatiOn IN business in Louisiana
Is not the result OF any political troubles
1t is attributable to the failure of crops
year after year and the unsettled condition
OF labor. The debt of the State was greatly
augmented under Democratic rule in 1866
and 1867. The debt of the State was in
creased through the administration of An
drew JOhnsOn's policy by $S,997 300.
This in period of eighteen months.
Governor WarMoth's administration lasted
four years and nine months, and the lebt
incurred during his term was SIC, 0,077, All SO.
favorable contrast l submit for the Re-
publican party. When the present admins
tratl0n came into power the actual debt of
the State was $24, ,O0O,00 To provide for
meeting this debt, three alternatives were
pay it. repudiate it, or COM
promise it. The people of the State had
met with so many reverses, especially the
agricultural portion. they could not paw it.
Reputation was distasteful, and the only
alternative was to compromise-scale the
1ebt, leave out such items as were uncon-
and fund the balance.
This measure, consummated by q Repub-
lean Governor and Legislature. was origin
tied and indorsed by the Chamber of Com
nerce, largely composed of the Governors
most bitter political opponents, and is
ooked upon throughout the State as neces-
ary and in every way justifable.
The political evils OF Louisiana are quite
q much attributable to Democratic az to
republican rule. Not particle of testi-
nony has been brought forward to show
nat MIR. Kellogg was not elected, and until
is 30 proven Congress has no right or
minority to interfere in this matter.
The Currency Bill.
The question of the hour is whether or
OF the Presiden. will veto the finance bill.
he pressure is heavy. The opinion, how
yer, Is that he will sign it.
French Consuls Recognized.
The Pre-. dent recognized Joseph August
oitevin, vice consul for France at Pensa-
'la; Charles Pillichody, ditto at Mobile.
A Cotton Claim.
Mr.. Lamar, of New York, recently ob
lined judgment of the Court of Claims for
J19,OO0 for a cotton claim
Mr.. Cheevers, as administrator of his de-
'ased brother, who it was claimed had an
terest in the claim, filed bill in the
quity Court of the district to pre- vent the
Oney from being paid ont of the treasury.
Judge Wylie to-day said if the court at
mpted to restrain the payment of the
Oney by the treasury il would have little
sc to do. 1t was only where service could
made personally, or against the real or
,rsOnal estate OF the party that the court
uld act. He rescinded the res training
der, the resident, Lamar, being a resident
New York, and, therefore, action can not
taken in This district.