The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-10-02
THE COMMITTEE OF CONFERENCE.

THE OOMNlTTEE VI CUNt hnhHOh'
We cheerfully give place to the subjoined
communication which we suppose to nave
| been written by member of the Conferences
Committee on our side; and we desire, now,
to state emphaticslly, what We have taken
every possible occasion to say before that
tho BULLETIN thoroughly appreciates and nm
| derstands the motives that have actuated the
gentlemen who have labored SO long, SO pa
tiently and so hopefully to obtain such terms
from the enemy as was possible under the
circumstances.
| Most of the gentlemen on the committee
are not only able and patriotic citizens ou'
thew did not hesitate, during the late revolu-
ton, TO take up arms in defense OF the prlncl-
pies for which all Of US were contending. 30
fsr therefore, as the personnel ofthe committee
| il concerned, or SO far as the animus OF it,
members is concerned, We fully indorse tho
one and understand tho other.
| The writer of tho communication excerpts
70 our styling the committee "selfcenstitu-
ted, and perhaps the expression was intellect
tous. because we had heard it rumored that
the committee had been sanctioned BY
the Committee Of Seventy, and the
Democratic State Central Committee, and
that they had been requested to act by the
Gov. McEnery and Lieut.. Gov. Penn. What
We meant to say was that the committee had
not been Endorsed by the people, and that
hence its action would not necessarily be bind
ing upon them unless they subsequently saw
fit to ratify such action in mass meeting
We have not referred to the adjustment do
termined upon by the two Conference Com
mittees as compromise" and hence there
is no necessity for us to reply to the point
ia the communication. A compromise under
the circumstances, except one that would DO
revolving to every honorable man, is clearly
out of the question. The point in the adjust
ment that it seems to us is fairly open to
criticism, is the language used, throwing the
onus for past disorders and violence upon
our people: though we know that such was
never the intention of the gentlemen who
signed the document
They disclaim any such intention. and deny
that any such meaning can be fairly dsduosd
from the language employed. We do not in
tend to enter into any lengthy argument on
the subject, but will content ourselves with 70
producing the section which has given rise to
the discussion, so that everybody may have
an opportunity to form his own opinion on
the matter, and be entirely satisfied that what
ever the apparent meaning Of the words may
be, the intention was the purest and best:
The committee representing the Conservative
PEOPLES party pledge themselves to cause all
violence and intimidation, it any exist, to cease
throughout the State, and to assist the consti-
tuted authorities in maintaining peace and lDsur-
ing strictly fair and impartial registration and
election. Also to discOuntenance acts ana
threats Of personal violence, and all improper
influences to control the will OF the electors ana
render assistance and use every effort TO suD)ecs
to the penalties Of tho law all persons who may
commit acts Of violence or intimidation, OF oon-
spire to do the same.
It is not our wish to bubble or find huls,
and We do not intend to do SO, for we feel
that our people are united in the ono great
object Of Kidding ourselves as soon as possible
Of tho odious usurpation; but We want to keep
the record clean, and not give our adversar'es
An opportunity to charge upon us acts OF
violence, and thrust tho terms OF adjustment
in our teeth when we deny the charge and
call for proof We deem it essential also that
there shall be some popular ratification OF the
terms Of adjustment, if they are to be accept
ed as tho basis upon which the election is 70
be conducted The matter is one Of such vast
moment that it seems to us the people should
be consulted and are entillel to have voice:
Tho so.caIled Compromise.
Mr.. Edum-You have inadvertently fallen into
some errors.
/. The members composing, on GSr side, the
Conference Committee, were not self-constltuted
They we're selected by Gov. McEnery and Gov
Penn for that purpose. -,
.. When the conference had failed by the with
drawal Of these gentlemen, the state Central
Committee, on Friday, 18th September, 1879,
took the matter in hand, and by vote OF IA 70 =
thanked the members OF the Conference Commit
tee for their services, and authorized them TO re-
new the conference on the basis OF the Custom.
House proposition to have three Republicans ana
two Conservatives on the returning board OF cleo
tors. :. go,
Therefore, so far from being self-constitued,
our conference members we're fully authorized 70
act. . ,
3. II il q misnomer to call the result OF the
conference q compromise. We receive import
ant concessions-the result Of the 14th Septem-
Der COUP Tetat: and, on the other hand, we give
nothing-unless the pledge for peace be termed
o concession. ,
The whole matter lies in nutshell. As We
have determined to 60 into an election, we take
all VIC can get to insure fair registration ano
election The violence has been provoked by
the illegal and fraudulent practices OF the Radl,
calls; and the Radicals stipulating that these VIII
cease. We stipulate that peace will reign,
When they break the compact 1t will be time
enough for applying the remedy. Truth.