The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-08-04
AN UNPERFURMEU LEGISLATIVE
DUTY.


A new and important phase of the approach
ing campaign will be found in the exercise
a constitutional function not performed b
Kellogg's Legislature, and devolving upon tt
legally elected Generally Assembly, which hs
hitherto not been made subject Of new
paper discussion in the canvass.
Logical consistency demands the denial
validity to the registration and election laws
and consequently the election conducte
Hereunder, but as a matter Of fact an
public policy We, as journalists, and tn
people represented by us, as suffragans
would concede that Notwithstanding the lille
gal character of the last General Assembly
and the want OF authority in the present actin
circumstances, if it afforded sufficient an,
equitable opportunity to all the voters to cas-
their ballots and have them counted, so tina
the will Of the majority should be recognized
in the result, was legal and binding; becaus
the common consent of the people to the re
suits thus secure wonld sufficiently cure an,
irregularities that might attach to the agencie,
used
But there were some things, in their nature
! impossible of execution, not performed by
the Kellogg Assembly, which yet must be
performed under the Constitution, by the
| General Assembly, as a necessary condition
and link in perpetuating republican overn-
ment and institutions in this State, and this
aft al la AL
Legislature could not do, under the circum-
stances of its creation, is Of nature not to be
passed upon by the voters in the next election
and that cannot be settled, and will not be set
tied by common consent nor be permitted u
go by default; but leyitimately deyolpes upon
the General Assembly, and must be deter
mined by that body under their constitutional
oath of office. Under the provisions of thu
Constitution Of Louisiana. the General Assem-
bly, is constituted the returning board, or
board Of canvassers, as far rs the Governor
and Lieutenant Governor are concerned The
returns for these officers by the Constitution
itself, do not rass through the hands of the
returning board created by statutes, but are
to be sent to the General Assembly, which is
specially charged to count and announe the
result.
1t is well known that the illegal body called
a General Assembly by Kellogg had no lega
returns of the votes cast for Governor and
Lieutenant Governor in the election o. 1872,
as the basis upon which they declared Kellogg
and Antoine elected Governor and Lieutenant
Governor, respectively, but used estimates and
and not the legal returns, which
were in the hands of Gov. Warmoth. 1t |
i. further, well known that these returns, for |
merly in the hands of Warmolh. have |
by order of the House of Represen-
atives, issued in the case of Sheridan VS..
candidates for Congress at
arge. been directed to be produced before
he House Committee on Elections and Privi-
eyes, by them to be retained as the basis
,pon which the Sheridan-P inchback contest
viii be settled. This order has been already.
n will be obeyed, and the members of the
General Assembly, if the people are permit
ed to elect them, will take these returns, and
citing under their oaths, decide and declare
rho was really elected Governor and Lieuten-
Mt Governor Of the State of Louisiana. For
his reason we want an honest and COM
etent Legislature, whether the majority is
D consist of Democrats or Republicans,
nd to secure such an Assembly registration
asuds and Executive treachery. to the con- 3
nry notwithstanding the people of Louisiana
emand, and intend to have, fair election.
We can well understand, in view Of this j
base Of the subject, why the usurper, not c
My to prevent impe achment, but to prevent :
,e people from coming to their own again, by /
Re installation in the Executive chair Of John
[cEnery, the legally elected Governor, should
ssire to have the next General Assembly
either Democratic nor Republican, but
rsonal; being afraid to trust men b
either party. and knowing that t
8 salvation in his usurped seat demands
ch divisions in the respective parties as will c
liable him, by the unscrupulo S use Of patro- is
ge and the election machinery, to obtain i
oh personal following as will constitute a p
lance of power and check upon the Gen
nj Assembly in all matters involving his h
sition. Aud herein We have the secret Of Y
5 treachery to his colored dupes, in that he a
instig,ting divisions and strife between Il
cir sable leaders. and the secret, also, of his
ngerous and venomous purposes towards the r
lite people, in the duplicity and industry ~
tn which the Times and Republican are at
npting to create dissensions and divisions d
long the whites ut time when t. ey are ~
lying to retrieve the fortunes Of the State. a
WHAT'S tn; NJ ATTE22 Ii
- te
We have received the following letter d.
IN subscribe Mt Greensburg, La,