The New York herald., 1874-12-04
DURELL INTERVIEWED.

An Interview with the Judge ON His
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. nj alton OF His Pol
icy-Ho Disclaims All Partisa nship i'm
tho Gubernator1al Trouble.
Judge Durell. who IL now staying at the Assor
House with his friends, Mr. and Mrs. Norton and
family, and who intends to remain In New York
during this winter was waited upon yesterday by
reporter OF the HERALD in reference to his resig-
natlon Of the once OF District Judge Of Louisiana
After some general conversation the Judge was
asked whether it was true that he had resigned.
Judge Durell replied that 1t was true, and said =
"Here is q copy Of my resignation, which sent to
the President on the evening OF the 1st Of Decem-
ber." the Judge then read as follows:-
Aston HOUSE, NEW YoRx, Dec !, 1874
To THE PREsDErr or rH. UNITED STATES or AxEsIcA;
IL Sss1s
'~A~' -'''''A''' '''' '' - K b. DuRRLL.
"was this prompted by any sudden determine
tion ON your part judge is 1t the logic Of recent
political events that has worked out such unex-
pected acti0nf"
.No, sir ; I have done this of my own free will.
have taken counsel with no one. 1t has been my
desire to retire from tho Bench ever since the
PRESIDENTIAL election OF 1872 but my friends urged
my remaining, and yielded to their request.
have now done what would have done then, be-
cause think it is my duty TO put myself right
before the people Of the country"
"You think & then, thas this step VIII enable you
a do. / have been misreprese nted to the
world BY the press and recently by the republican
party. have been sandered day after DAY. My
private and public character has been assaIled. I
have been represented as partisan politician or
the worst kind, and have been charged as being
drunk all the days or the week, on the bench and
or the bench, and OF being in constant communl-
cation with parties who were interested in par
tcuiar political policy. Now | am free, and the
rotfo mont a ~ q Ind oUn RI
carry out the law, should observe will no longer
control my utterances.
'srhen. presume, you deny all these charges,
ii do, STR For instance, it is said, within the
last few days, tnat an sick, decrepit and ncapa-
performance OF my duties. You can see for your.
self whether that Is true.
''No; that is not true In any particular. II was
desired to make me the scapegoat OF the sins OF q
work well. ! decline to be put In that poaation
any longer. Strange as 1t may sound, am not q
politician IN the technical sense OF what y under
law in les working"
Y0H have not 3sa9 mixed up in politics. then.
.'You are. l have mad nothing to do with political
matters, except when ! presided over the Uonstt-
..D0 l understand tnat you claim that all that
you have done, which has been the cause OF so
much discT,ss,0n has b been done purely and simply
"Yes; allow me to explain somewhat In detail
what has been ny position. Congress passed, as
you know. the thirteenth fourteenth and fifteenth
by Mr.. Morton, as I understand. in the United
states Senate, the Enforcemenr act which In
creases the powers given to the United States Cir
equity. Now In the ial election OF 1874 LouisI-
ana, was required to act under that statute.
The United States Court has certain duties, and
among others Is that OF the appointment OF COM
quired to 60 over ana open that court by Judge
Woods, OF that Circuit Court he having been
act and t was wtthi hts urisdc,ion to REQUIRE the
United states Judge to perform these duties
That went on and was continued until the day OF
election. Alter the polls were closed and the day
can candidate for Governor, fled o bill In
Cnancery, on the Chancery side OF the Circuit
Court for the District OF louisiana. the object OF
TINS was the preservation OF evidence This Dill
alleged. among other matters, that large num-
ber OF citizens OF the state OF louisiana who had
right TO cast their votes at that guberna-
torlal election had been excluded from voting on
account OF their color and former condition. He
stated further that the returns were held by nm.
lawful parties He asked, then, that the proof as
the offce OF the Clerk OF the Court. such proof
was to be used at any action OF the law for the
ONCE OF Governor. At the same tame q certified
copy OF all the returns had to be saken for the
Offce OF Governor at that election. l gave GER
tain inter0cut0ry orders for purpose Of carry
Ing out the objects OF the bill, and also for the
any action or the law. l declared, among other
things. that the State Court had declared certain
men were the returning Court, ana followed the
Nothing more was done. Nothing else has been
done, except running race for tne Governorship.
"As to taking possession OF the State House,
JudaeW
"Mr. warmoln would not give up the returns.