The New York herald., 1874-09-17
THE GOVERNOR OF GEORGIA.

ATLANTA, Sept. 16, 1874.
On Tuesday evening General Robert Toombs al
dressed q crowd on the parade ground declaring
as telegraphed yesterday, that he was rebel ye.
ana that the government OF Georgia does not meet
the wants OF the people. He favored the call OF q
convention to alter the constitution. Resolutions
were offered and passed by a few voices express
sive or sympathy for Louisiana
TO obtain the real status of public sentiment on
the Louisiana question a reporter of the HERALD
visited Governor James NJ. Smith this afternoon.
He found the Governor at leisure at about five
O'Clock, for he is generally actively employed until
that time.
GOVERNOR SMITH, OF GEORGIA, SPEAKS.
REPoRTER-I should Ike to ascertain your views
on the Louisiana affair.
GovERNOR--I will give my views and frankly
but as there are several phases to the matter you
must let me answer it IN my own way. l look
upon this question as a vexed one any way.
General Grant made a great error in sustaining
Judge Dureis decision and in sustaining Kellogg.
l look upon this one Of the greatest wrongs
that has ever been perpetrated on a free people.
The world knows that McEnery is the legal
Governor, and the act Of the government in set
ting aside the verdict OF the people at
the ballot box is calculated to end in sub
verting free government and producing
anarchy and revolution, and, as in France and
Mexico q resort to brute force to put men III
power. The TACT is that the tendency OF the times
is toward such state Of things. We have lost re-
gard for the purity OF the ballot box and the
sacredness OF the elective franchise. General
Grant has 1t now in his power to retrieve his past
error by holding his hands of Louisiana. He can
the more readily do so as Congress refused to in
terfere in the matter and the Senate committee
solemny declared against Kellogg. General
ouka.
should remember that the people OF Louisiana have
been goaded to this step by usurpation, and
being, SO to speak, ground to powder under the
mercess plunderng Of carpet-baggers they en-.
| deavOred to shake or the yoke OF bondage by a
resort to the ballot box; but their voice was un.
needed and their win deliberately set aside by the
| bayonet, and now, without aiming blow at the
United States or the "wards of the nation they
dspossess the Kellogg usurpers and are in quiet
possession. The fact Is, the government has no
right to interfere in these elections, and all
such interference breeds mischief On the
other hand, 1 am free to confess that the
action OF the people OF Louisiana is a dangerous
precedent to follow. When men obtain onlce by
force they may be dispossessed by force. and
power then rests with the strongest, and 'life
liberty and property" are insecure There is but
one safe course OF action. Let the government
and the people give strict construction to the
constitution and obey it, then there Will be no in
reference with the elections in the States
by federal power, and the government will inter-
vene only on the call OF the legally elected Gov.
ernOr for the protection Of the state government
SO far as Georgia is concerned, While we sympa-
thize with all sister States in their troubles
we can only say to them ''Stck close to the con.
stitution, and let your conduct be governed by
wisdom, justice and moderation" Let Grant and
the government hollow this course, and peace and
harmony Will prevail all over the Union.