The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-08-16

each parish by the Parish Central Democratic
Committee respectively.
lremain, very respectfully, your obedlent SER
want ALBERT VOORHEES,,
Chairman Conference Committee
| TATE OF LOUISIANA, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.,
August Is, 1874.
Hon. Albert VOORHEES,, Chairman Conference
| Committee:
S'-I have the honor to acknowledge the re-
| celpt of your communication OF the 18th INST,
| claiming on the part Of the Democratic commit
tees an equal repr esentation the list Of Off
GERS Of registration throughout the State for the
purpose of insuring fair election in November
| next.
As have already publicly declared, l earnestly
desire that the coming election should be fair III
all respects, untainted by fraud and uncontrolled
by intimidation or violence and | am ready to
cooperate in all just and proper concessions to
secure that end. l am anxlout to do this, not
only because l think it fair, you suggest, but
also because such proceeding will be III trlklnS
contrast with the course adopted towards the
| Republican party in this State in the campaign
of 1872, when the Republican party were denied
| representation in every registration Office III the
State, and when the respectful request OF the
State Central Committee to be allowed one COM
missioner at each poll on the day of election,
| was peremptorily refused.
| request made by your committee yesterday, un-
derstand YOU desire to be that in all the parishes
of the State and IN each ward of the city the Su
pervlsors of Registration to be appointed by me
shall be alternately in one parish Democratic and
I! in the next parish Republican, in one ward Dem
ocratic in next ward Republican; and that the
Clerks of Registration shall be selected in equal
numbers from each party all the officers conced-
ed to the opposition to be chosen from lists to be
furnished by the State or Parish Democratic Com
mittee. This would be simply division OF pat
ronage, and would not SO much insure a fair cleo
ton as build up and strengthen Democratic Or
| hot
a demand would be regarded as neither reason
| able just in any State OF the
Union. 1t is especially inoportune here, in view
Of the violent measures resorted to by the friends
and allies of the Democratic party in many of the
country parishes in organizing leagues to intimi-
date and disfranchise the Republican voters, and
to prevent their exercising the rights which the
Constitution and laws OF the State and OF the
similar system Of init nida ton and violence in
wears past necessitatt the enactment of the old
registration and cleo ion laws; and II any seem
ingly Objectionable features still exist In our pre-
sent greatly modified laws, their retention Is
solely attributable to the necessity thus created
Of protecting the voter III the exercise OF his
rights
ii fair election be all that you wish, permit
me to point out how in my judgment 1t can be
easily secured. Und II the laws OF the State, the
Governor appoints supervisor OF registration III
each parish, and an assistan Mt supervisor III each
ward of the city Of NV Orleans. Under the ell
forcement Nv of Con 5ress any ten reputable clti,
! zens can secure the a )pontment by the Judge OF
the United States Circuit Court in each parish or
ward Of a supervisor OF their own political faith,
to watch over the action of the State officer: am
ready to concede to the opposition one OF the two
registration clerks in every ward and parish IN
the State As regIstr ton does not commence
TIL The LIST of SeptenIb r. l respectfully request
your committee to lay before me lists OF say five
or six names from each ward or parish
of persons SUIT bic for appointment as
| understand
the Liberals and the Independent Gu
| of the city also desire to recommend names for
appointment. Of course, it cannot DO expected
that shall appoint quarrelsome or incompett mt
persons, who would obstruct registration !; but if
the names laid before me are those OF peaceful
law-abiding citizens, will appoint one regis ra-
ton clerk in each ward or parish from t e lists
submitted by the organizations opposed to the
Republican party. If suitable names are not
brought forward, will then appoint some we'll
known citizen OF the opposition, whose name
will give confidence to all fair-minded men,
This latter course had alread, pursued in those
more distant parish - of the State in which ap-
pontments had bee made previous to your in
terview with me a I'd the gentlemen appointed,
feel sure, cannot otherwise than acceptable.
~, ay,,,....uleu,s nave yet been made in the city,
and will hereafter leave open one appointment
in each ward or parish for such recommendations
as may be made to me from the opposition.
Ii, therefore, your desire be that the registra-
ton shall be subject to the scrutiny OF Your
riends, that object can be fully obtained; but,
while making this Concession, have the right to
expect that tho opp )nents OF the Republican
party throughout the State will concede to each
Republican voter the right to register and to
record his vote for the candidate OF his choice
without intimidation or fear of violence. wish
it distinctly underst ,od that while will 80 ad-
minister the laws and make only such appoint
ments as to afford every faciity to the people OF
moment consent to surrender the great powers
and solemn duties conferred upon me as the Chief