New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-02-05
What Louisiana Offlceho older Think Of q
Carpetba9 Government.

| The following letter was telegraphed from
Washington to the Monday morning Times:
WASHINGTON, February |, 1874.
Hon. Thomas =. Bayard. Senator in Congress:
SIR-Withouc any previous conversation
| with you whatever, and in total ignorance
| OF your convictions upon the subject, take
the liberty. prompted by our personal rela-
tions, OF addressing you few words upon
| the political situation in Louisiana The
intense sollcltude so recently developed in
| Congress in regard to the affairs of Louis
isaDa is consoling for the present and en-
couragln3 tor the future. Bnt it comes too
late. 1t is perhaps unnecessary to dwell here
| upon the untold woes inflicted upon Louis
lana and her people by the reck-
less and unprincipled political adventures
who have lniagoverned her for the last few
years. Close upon the footsteps OF retiring
! peace herds OF these adventurers swept
| down upon the doomed State which Law
| bleeding at every pore from the disasters of
the war. Taking advantage of their as
sumed character as berators of the former
slave. and using the ignorance, prejudice
and very supecsti:ions of the negro TO far
ther their own unholy purposes, they
fOisted themselves into high State positions.
and from that elevated standpoint plum.
dered without STINT an already poverished
people.
Nor is il necessary TO allude to the enor-
nous and iniQuitous debt under which the
State hopelessly staggers; to the taxation
numerically collected, heavier than exists
in any civilized country on the face of the
globe, and under which an oppressed people
struggle for mere existence; uurennu nerat-
i've agriculture; paralyzed industry; stag.
nation of business: general distress and a
crushing poverty extends throughout the
length and breadth OF the land, and all this
brought about by legislation so Gnscrupu-
louS. so audaciOus and &trocious, that the
mind stands aghast at the mere cOntempia-
ton OF the damaging frauds and iniuui-
ties perpetrated almost in broad daylight
under the cover of law. But the subject is
too repulsiye, and az the same time too
one-sided to pursue. so l will return to the
matter OF this communication. The pro
posed measures in Congress for the sup
posed political relief OF Louisiana. d new
election, can not right any of the wrongs
complained of. There is. no doubt, "a great
outrage was committed in the judicial pro-
ceedings by which the present government
of Louisiana was installed. Blu. what is how
proposed is for Congress to commit another
wrong and convulse the State with a new
election. This is grave proposition, seri-
ous!y affecting the rights of ali the States
under the constitution. While it might &C.
conplish an end OF temporary expeGiency,
II would SET d precedent under which cleo
lions in the States could be constantly med.
d,ea with by Congress.
Examine the practical results OF this leg
!s'atiOn. An election, if ordered bv Con.
gves.. could not vel! take place before the
month OF June. This is a season of crisis in
the crops. and time when thousands OF
white people leave, the State Tho consti.
tuition Of Louisiana provides for new elec
ton IL November Tor members of the Leg
i-latu.e. The cd adjcErns on the fourth OF