The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-12-24

| the entire white voting pOpnlauOn aDsItAuou
from any participation in the election and
| abandoned the polls to the negroes. In this
vav Warmoth was elected-not having re-
ceived five hundred white votes in the whole
State. M.
Knowing full we'll that he was not the choice
of the respectable and intelligent portion OF
the people of Louisiana that there was
nothing in common between him and their
interests that he wasan unwelcome intruder;
that he was Stunned and avoided by every
honest gentleman in the land, he saw a I'M
pArative necessity Of surrounding himself by
safeguards and protective measures in order
to enable him to resist successfully the oppo-
sition which he knew, at some time, would
surely be brought to bear against him. t
Immediately upon the occupation Of the
Executive chair he cunningly devised Laws
investing him with powers greater than those
exercised by any potentate Of Europe. w A
standing army Of janisaries, now known as
the Metropolitan police, was organized, with
himself as commander-in-chief, to enforce
such edicts as he, in his gubernatorial ca
pacity, might pronounce. Then, by another
law. he monopoized the appointing power
and held every officer in the State in COM
plete subsection, by threatening him with
removal All of the patronage Of tho State
government was placed at his disposal, and
through its influence he was enabled to de-
moralize and corrupt and at the same time
attach to himself men who were unscrupu-
Ions enough to do his bidding, whatever it
might be.
Sufficiently protected himself, and supplied
with ample force at the capital by his Metro
politans, Gov. Warmoth conceived the idea
Of supplying his minions throughout the
country parishes, with similar guards, and
created for tina. purpose the famous constab-
ulary law, which provided for o small army
of Republican policemen in every parish.
Having thus secured himself in his official
position, his next aim was to provide himself
with "the sinews Of war" Entering the
highest Office in the State as a bank
rupt, having been previously supported
by .paltry contributions from the poor ne
groes, whom he had deluded into the belief
that he was their friend and savior, he felt the
necessity Of providing himself with the re-
quisite means for sustaining with that dignity.
elegance and style which his exalted position
demanded. ..f.-'..f
His fertile brain, then, was set to work to
concoct measures fer filing his pocket in the
shortest time possible. First was the mo-
nopoly Of the State, city and judicial print
ing, and conferred upon the Republican, q
large interest in which was conveyed to him
in consideration of this lucrative contract.
Then came the Ship Island Canal swindle, by
which he made handsome sum in way
that was peculiar then came the Slaugh-
ter-House monopoly, large amount of stock
in whica he became interested; then
came quickly after the Chattanooga Railroad
fraud, stock in which he likewise owned to .
large amount; afterwards the law giving As
SCISSORS and Taxi Collectors five per cent com
mission, a part Of which, rumor says,
had to be turned over to him Is
compensation by the officers for their
appointment, whose designations in blank
were in the hands of Warmoth, who, BY this
means, at any time be saw proper, Dr. when
ever any Of his appointees proved recalcitrant,
could cause vacancy simply by filing up the
blank
With such immense revenues flowing into
his Golfers, it is not surprising that ere the
close of his term of Office he could boast Of
his millions, filched from the people whose
interests he had sworn to protect
Thus prepared, financially, to combat with
his political opponents, Warmoth set to
work to frame such registration and election
laws IS would give him the control Of future
elections and perpetuate himself in power.
His boast that the votes cast before they were
counted had to "pass through these fingers"
was an indication Of his effrontery and con-
tempt for the will of the people.
Having~sbtained now all the money and
power he desired-in fact everything his heart
could wish, save social recognition he set
to work assiduously to gain that most precious
boon, which had been denied to him on all
sides and from every quarter. Wearied with
the companionship and association Of igno-
rant, uncouth and filthy negroes, and alike
ignorant, corrupt and miserable carpet-bag-
gers, he lcnged for the society Of gentlemen
and the recognition Of decent and respectable
people. His money could not purchase this
privilege, and his political power availed him
nothing in the accomplishment Of his cher.
ished object
The idea suggested itself, then, that he
would make amends for his past corrupt and
infamous management Of the State Govern.
ment, by Offering to the white people to turn
over to them the future control Of their State.
This he satisfied them he could do by using the
unlimited and unparalleled power at his COM
mand. His reward was to be social recognition,
oblivion for the past and future respect with
an equal showing for political honors! But