New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-10-02
SenatOT West Interviewed.

Tho following is from the New York
Tribune:
Senator J. K. West, Of Louisiana. while
conversing yesterday with reporter of the
Tribune on the subject of the recent
troubles in Louisiana, said that the Com.
mlttee OF Seventy, in their published cir.
cular, had not properly represented the
facts of the case. The committee had pre-
tended to take tho figures OF the census for
the relative proportions of white and col
ored male persons in the State, but had not
shown the true status as it actually existed.
de. the Senator, had already, in April last,
during speech in the United States Senate,
shown the actual state of the case. The
difference between the white and colored
adult male population was only 1853 in favor
OF the white. From the white voters would
have to be deducted about 5000 who vote the
Republican ticket. and this alone would
make 10000 against their committees reck.
onlng OF what should be the Democratic
representation. Then there are fully l5,O 900
unnaturalized whites in the State, while
there Is not one coiored man who is not
citizen. This would make -, 900 majority
against the Democratic ticket to start with.
There could not be found one fair
Democratic politician in the State of
Louisiana. who had made any calculation
OF the figures. who would not at once &C.
knowledge that the Democratic party was
greatly IN the minority, and that it must
certainly be defeated in q fair contest. Dur.
ing the election OF 1872 the McEnery party
positively refused to allow a Republican
representative behind the polling places,
and although according to the United
States law they were compelled to count
the PRESIDENTIAL vote in the presence of q
United States commissioner, as soon as that
vote was counted the commissioner was
turned out and no representative of the
Republican party was allowed to be present
to watch the further counting OF the ballots.
The Senator deprecated all fraudulent
practices at the polls, no matter by whom
committed. A man who committed frauds
on the ballot was more deserving of hang.
ing than murderer; for the former com.
mltted wrong upon the whole community,
while the latter only ir jurei one person or
perhaps one family. About month before
the recent disturbances the Democratic
State Committee went to Governor Kellogg
and demanded that certain men should be
appointed Democratic inspectors. as they
desired fair election and . fair represen-
tation at the polls. Governor Kellogg said
that he could not appoint their nominees.
merely as such, but it the committee would
send In five names for each election district
he would select one from each FIVE. If he
found one fit for the Office. In the event Of
not approving any out of the five names
sent III, he wound select Democrat for tue
District to be represented. The Democratic
white mans organ. on the next day, ap.
proved OF the Governors answer, and said
that it was the faiyest proposition that could
have been made.
The Senator had been aware Of the fact
that the people Of Louisiana had been pre.
pairing to resist any Justification of the bal.
lot at the next election, and the trouble
had only been precipitated by the Cover.
nor Selling the arms. Governor kellogg
may have had some justification for his
course. said Senator West. on the same
principle that while q man has the privilege
OF building . fire in his own house, il be
endangers his neighbor's property he ceases
to have the advantage of constitutional
rights: so citizens have the right to bear
arms. unless by SO doing they endanger the
peace and safety of their neighbors. There
is. and has been for a long time, cont 6r.
cial and agricultural depression in Louis.
Jana. the results Of which has been blamed
upon the Radicals, who have had no more
right to bear the blame than the Democrats.
as the depression arose from the force of
circumstances. The State authorities have
TOO great a power and receive too high
emolumen1s. when the impoverished con-
dltion OF the State is taken into considera.
ton. A reform is certainly necessary in
this matter. for the life-blood OF tho people
is being drawn out Of them by persons
receiving large salaries for carrying on the
OF the State government.