The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-10-07
NEW YORK, Oct. 5, 1874,

gentlemen have energetcally opposed the eX
listing state government. One would have sup
posed that McEnery and Penn would have
been dissuaded by sense of common gratitude,
from employing such doubtful weapons of as
sanlt upon such steadfast friends. However
people who convert confidential papers, sur
reptitiously obtained, to political or personal
advantage, are not apt to be controlled by any
nice ideas of proprety on minor questions.
The revelation provokes discussion as to the
limitations, to which members Of Congress
ought to be subjected, in respect to the &C.
ceptance of retainers from parties who may
possibly represent interests which may be
affected by Congressional legislation. Perhaps
there is no ethical offense in acting for such
clients, but as a matter of taste, it will GER
tainly be conceded that it had better be
avoided. A popular representative cannot be
too careful to guard himself from the reproach
of being influenced by selfish considerations.
That insi6ious foe of free institutions, the pro-
fessonal lobbyist, invariably pursues his dis
graceful trade by indirection. He uses the
fiction of describing himself as an advocate,
and the bride he offers as counsel fees. He
.
He is just as likely to cheat his employer as
anybody else, and often sells a vote, which he
couldn't influence if he had all the money in
the world, by artfully contriving to discover
on which side it is certain to be cast.
1t has long been one of the ugliest counts in
the standing indictment which the people are
periodically prosecuting against Gen. Butler
that he SO persistently ignores the distinction
between his rights as lawyer and his obi
cations as a legislator. He has small scruples
about accepting fees in suits for or against the
government. If man is accused of frauds
upon the revenue he will prosecute the case
for the informer, or appear for the defense
with equal readiness. 1t is with him a mere
affair of business, to be considered solely with
reference to the profit it will bring. He can
not therefore be very greatly disturbed by any
disclosure that may be made as to the nature
of causes in which he has been or may be en-
gagged.
With Senator Carpenter il is entirely differ
ent Although he has not altogether escaped
calumny, be has not hitherto been regarded
as man who could be swerved by peeuniary
inducements. 1t is only fair. therefore, to as
sumo that he saw nothing unbecoming in the
acceptance of a retainer fiom the governor Of
a state in an action before the Supreme Court,
notwithstanding he was perfectly aware that
he might be required to deal with the affairs
of that state in his senatorial capacity.
Nevertheless, it is to say the least of it, un-
fortunate that he took that view of his respon-
sibilities and will occasion serious regret to
his friends 10 limo 10
highly intelligent constituency for re-elec-
tion, and it is only reasonable to presume that
he will be an object Of sharp criticism. My
respect for Mr.. Carpenters capacity and brill
liancy, leads me to hope for the success of his
canvass, but if 1 thought his return could be
construed as giving sanction to any loose no.
tons in regard to the restraints which ought
to hold every man in public life within health
full moral discipline, 1 should feel other
wise. As between the rival factions which
disturb the peace Of the people of Louisiana
there would be little to choose, were it not for
the incurable hatred which the impenitent
rebels have for the negro. The carpet baggers
are for plumber, the white leaguers for murder.
That is the simple truth about it.
When the rebellion ended, the southern
whites inspired by the apostasy of Andrew
johnson. sulkily refused to participate in re-
constructing the state. This was exactly the
course the Adventures who had migrated
thlther wanted them to pursue. Such fellows
as Warmoth sprang into the arena, and were
glad of the chance to enrich themselves at the
expense of the state. The black population
outnumbered the white and it was only nee
essary to getl into their good graces to OBJ
tain absolute control of affairs. This was
easy, because the whites made no concealment
of their hostility to their colored fellow cti-
zens, and they had no alternative but to fol-
low the lead of the men who professed to be
their friends
In 1872 Warmoth gravitated to the Greeley
coalition. 1t was natural he should go there.
1t was an utter impossibility that there should
be affinity or fellowship between man of the
Warmoth stamp, and an administration of
which Gen. Grant was the head. They had
nothing in common. Gen. Grant gave him the
cold shoulder with such charming frankness,
that the bafled adventurer was forced to seek
the more congenial companionship of the motley
combination of odds and ends, the ragged regi
ment to which Greeley was only too happy to
play Falstaff He proved serviceable recruit.
He counted in the electoral ticket for tie allies
with supreme indifference to the actual state
of the poll. In fact if he could have managed
to get control OF every polling place in the
United States, his candidate would have carried
every elector in the college. He manufactured
returns to suit the emergency, and it wasn't of
the smallest consequence to him whether his
party got a majority or were in ever so hopeless
minority. His inspectors settled that bust
ness by the requisite certificates neatly made
out and unblushingly sworn TO.
But Warmoth shared in the discontinue of
the alliance. of which he had become leader,
and the state government which he had pro-
posed TO establish by paper bulletins was super
seeded. The President acted in the premises
with his customary wisdom and foresight. To
have recognized the McEnery government
would have been not only to endorse the gross
frauds upon the ballot box. which the late gov
ernor had practiced with such audacity, but to
surrender the black population to rapine and
slaughter. He did the next best thing. He as
sumed the eligibility of Kellogg and recon-
mended Congress to provide for new and hon
est election. Congress failed to perform this
important duty. and in default of such action
the state necessarily remained in the hands of
the Kellogg party. Until fair election does
take place, it must so remain
There is no justification for the assumption
that McEnery has any claims to recognition
The differences are all the other way There
is clear Republican majority in the state
The blacks are all Republicans and they num-
Der atleast 900 legal voters. There are about
10000 white voters, but of these at least 1000
probably $1,000 are Republicans. Consequent
ly when there is free, uninterrupted exercise
of the elective franchise-when the coored
men are not kept from the polls by intmida-
ton or violence-there must, with mathematical
be a Republican state administration
chosen.
The treatment which the colored people in
Louisiana have received from the coalition of
White Leaguers, Ku-Klux and Warmothites,
which constitutes the McEnery faction would
disgrace the widest tribe of savages that ever
existed. Hundreds of peaceable and industri,
Gus citizens have been murdered in cold blood
without having given the slightest provocaton