The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1874-12-09
The Situation at New Orleans,

the returns are received at the capt.
|tal. The laws Of the State were
framed with the simple purpose of
securing to Louisiana Republican
administration for all time. The
choice of officers is, therefore, vested
in Returning Board, which is a
self perpetuating body, being empow-
cred to fill all vacancies in its men,
bership. An appeal from its deci-
sion even to the courts is forbidden !;
for although the election law casual
ly refers to a contest, the Supreme
Court of the State has expressly de-
cided that, the returns shall not be
adduced to set aside the decision Of
the Board and the certificate of the
Governor. z lHa.....: rsa .r.,ta 7,
The Board is empowered to can
'vass the whole vote and to throw out
any portion of it. almost dd Hbitalna :;
so that it is quite possible for a can
didatetwhoses politics are approved
by the 'canvassers to be declared
elected, although he may not have
receivedshalf as many votes as his
opponent. Indeedthe bogus Return
ing Board of 1872 went so far as to
do this kind ofawork without the
scrap of return before them; and
thus it was that upon partisan esti-
mates and false af11davits Kellogg
and his set came into power. It is
the fear of preparation Of some va
Ration of this rascally trick that
causes the present excitement among
the people of New Orleans. The Re
turning Board was until recently
composed entirely Of the Kellogg
Government. nj al Gn9 :, ;a@H 3g
Popular clamor, not unmixed with
threats, caused the resignation of
one member, and the appointment Of
a Conservative in his place, and by
the same influence the Conservatives
secured the poor privilege Of having
a committee present during those
sessions Of the Board Of which they
might have knowledge. But these
concessions may have no practical
effect; nor would the appointment
of another Conservative insure the
McEnery party fair play; for there
lis provision Of law which makes a
minoirit?y" q ppowerless BY authorizing
any three of the FIVE members Of the
Board to do tie whole work. The
majority may meet privately, can
vass the returns, and declare the re-
suit, without any consultation what
Z ever with the minority, and the sig
4 natures Of the latter arg not necessa
ry Is give validity too TIE certificate
! That tie CONSERVATIVES are no 10;
! without grounds f5}rr issuhsspecting thei
opponents ora ae1iBerate purpose Il
. count themout, is proved not onl,
Thy the fact that hat. such s1r1 things havy
been done, agar, and again in Louisi
ana, butbyi Developments of a mos
! startling mature made since the lat
electipnu d Without going into .detai
! we may mention among these devel
fop,nents,the printing, Of an .immens
number of Republican tiekets;1th
attempt tostrike from the ilist.of' yo
Y tersrseyeralr hundred names becaus
! they,did not appear upon theprinte
list of, registered voters, althougl
they were upon the manuscript list
; the tampering with the returns frog
St.aJames, Carroll and other fparishe
the efectsofEwhich would be- to de
I privethe Conservatives disadvantage
E fairly gained in the lballottipg; tn
:, Intentional irregularities Of Republ
l can supervisors committed with
! view to Che rejection Of the vote (
I Conservative precincts; the whole
sale manufacture Of afidavits alles
ling Intimidation as soon as it wa
Z apparent that the Conservatives ha
P carried the State; and last, but by n
J, means least, the recent claims
; leading and unscrupulous Republica
e politicians that they have triumphe
:, by 'eextravagant majorities,' where's
d they at first admitted that their. d'
+ feat was complete if not overwheln
: ing. Fortunately the Conservative
: knowing by sad experience tt
S tricks of the Kellogg party in mo-
# instances are not dependent upon Il
D manipulated returns. The Unite
|, States supervisors appointed to re-
a resent this party kept tally lis
g showing exactly how the vote WI
cast, and to these they are prepare
to make affidavit. By this meal
u the frauds in St. James were disco
LA 49, - I,