New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-10-01

boxes were removed from the polling places
to the offices Of the supervisors Of election
the supervisors pleased. without any ade-
quate supervision. Under the new law the
ballots must be counted openly at the
polls, Immediately after the election, In
the presence of disinterested witnesses
Under the old law the Governor appointed
the supervisors, and the supervisors ap-
pointed the commissioners Of election, who
might be. and were, in feet, at the last
election all Of one political party. Un.
der the new law the police juries appoint
the commissioners of election in all the
country parishes, and the commissioners
must be chosen one from each political
party. Under the old law the returning
board consisted OF the Governor, Lieutenant
Governor, the Secretary of State and two
other designated persons; they had absO-
lutte control over the returns, and could
alter, suppress or reject them at will. Un-
der the new law no State officer is mem
ber OF the returning board. The board con-
sists of five persons elected by the Senate,
one at least of the opposing political party.
The returns are required to be made out in
triplicate, one copy to be forwarded to the
returning board.
The existence of many fraud 1lent regis
tration papers, especially in le city of
New Orleans, rendered necesss y the pass
age Of law providing for an entirely new
registration, if the election in November
was to be free, az we desire it to be, from the
irregularities which had characterized pre-
vious elections. Accordingly bill was
passed by the Legislature on the last day
Of the session, and some time subsequently
was cent to me for approval. After exam.
ining the bill and finding it in the main q
fair and just measure. marred by some de.
fects. but still vast improvement on the
old law, which must remain in force unless
l approved this bill, ! announced my in
tention to sign aud pfomulgate it as room
as the time came for entering upon regis
tration. l have done 60, and registration
has been actively and satisfactorily pro-
crossing for the past thirty days,
except when interrupted for brief period
by the insurrectiOn of September IA. De-
string that there ehOuld be no possibility Of
doubt as to the fairness Of the registration,
voluntarily offered, before the registration
opened. to appoint one clerk to be named
by the opposition in every registration office
throughout the State. At the last election
the registration offices and at the polls.
have more recently proposed, through the
Republican State Central Committee, to
agree to the appointment of an advisory
board, to be composed of two Republicans
and two Democrats and an umpire to be
chosen by the four, with which board l de-
clared my willingness to advise and consult
in all matters relating to the appointment
registration officers and the management
vi registration throughout the State.
There is no just and proper safeguard that
| can be suggested to me which will not be
| willing to throw around the conduct of the
coming election. The Republican party il
willing to be judged by the verdict of that
election, provided it can be held without
| intimidation or violence. II our opponents
can show at peaceable election that they
have majority of the qualified voters Of
the State, we shall uncclrplainingly abide
| the result. 1t, on the other hand, the Re
| publican party should trium phantly vindi
cate its claims to the government, we shall
have q right to expect the acquiesence Ot
| our opponents, aud the active support of al
| law abiding citizens throughout the coun
try. In the event Of our success
the nation can certainly leave the interests
| of this great State in the hands Of those who
| in so short q time and against such adverse
| circumstances have done go much to reduce
the burdens of the people and advance the
| material welfare of the community, will
greater safety than would attend the sur
render of the lives and liberties of moro
| than SO, 600 peaceful, industrious Republican
| citizens to a party which has never attempt
ed anything for the redemption Of the State
| which, during its brief resumption of p0we
Immediately after the war, showed itsel
utterly incapable of honest government, ant
which ha thre6 times within the last sil
years attempted to override the known will
of the majority, twice by violence and ono
by fraud. ask those Republicans of tn
North who have lent willing ear to tn
indiscrimipate denunciations of Northern
men who hold office in the South, and o
the Republicans Of the Southern States, t.
reflect that these denunciatiOns process
from those who hate Republican principle
everywhere, and who can see no virtue il
any man who is not identified with ther
in sentiment or in interest, or in both:
1T consulted only my personal feelings
would rather be relieved of the position
now hold than continue to retain it in tn
face of the difficulties and calumnies whic
beset mo ut every step. But there ar
higher questions involved than mere pei
sonal feelings. Ny resignation woul
simply transfer the executive duties to tn
next in rank, and would make no change i
the status of the State. Either the Reput
lican party in Louisiana is in the right or
in the wrong. If We are right owe it 10th
national Republican party and to the ger
eral government to maintain my position
If we are in the wrong, and the people q
the coming election should so declare, tn
constitution and the laws of the State pre-
vide sufficient remedy. We contidentl
await that verdict, and meantime aek frol
the people generally, on this plain shown
of the good we have done and the evil "
have refrained from doing, more just judl
ment and more generous sympathy tha
have yet been given to the Republica
State government of Louisiana.
I WILLIAM Z. KELLOGG.
! Registrati0n.