The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1874-10-08

is to give the people of Louisiana fair
election, though it looks very well on its
face does not bear a close scrutiny. The
New Orleans Picayune says Of it
Under our election law, the whole control of
the results of any election held in this State is
given TO Il board of canNasser>. who are ap-
pointed by the Governor or elected by the
Senate which is exclusively of one party.
This board has absolute power to count the
votes and determine who are elected and who
are not. without any right of appeal or super
vision by any other tribunal.
There are provisions in this law which give
this board the most tlimsy preteXts and utterly
unconstitutional and illegal grounds of setting
counting out whom they please. Thus if there
is row and disturbance at any precinct orpol,
whatever effect it may have had, on an affidavit
thereof. the board is authorized to set aside and
exclude from the count the return at such pre-
rinct Not only this, but to declare the minori-
ty candidate elected.
The provisions of this law are such us never
existed III any country in the world where free
suffrage was recognized. Its administration
has been worse than the letter of the law.
The dominant party is thus enabled to make
the government, to fill the offices, to render
null and void the popular will
It's vain folly. an insult to ask the people
to vote under sucha law if they are not of the
party which commands the majority OF the Re
turning Board.
That Board at present is composed OF five
persons of intense Radical partisanism who
have been proved to be competent to 90 any
lengths to strengthen and secure the ascendencv
of their party.
Gov. Kellogg has been profuse of promises to
give the people ii fair registration.
OF what avail will that be when after regis
tering and voting. the results are to be deter-
mired and declared by Il board thus constituted
and under Il law thus framed: Efforts have
been made to change the character of hi,
board. and long conferences and discus sons
have been held thereon. 1t is the boast of Mar
shall Packard representing the United STATES
and now virtually in command of IL large mill
tary and naval force. that he has defeated all
such proposals. The most that has ever been
proposed is that two members of the boare.
SHOULD resign. and that Kellogg win nh Their
vacancies with persons of the :tnti-Radcal
party. leay ing three members Of the ultra Rad
zeal party-;i maiority--to constitute the board
and 10 do all that the five members could do.
This is all that was granted to the Con-
seryatives by the compromise, and thus
was the most important question at issue.
The concession it will be seen is Il very
slight one The advisory board is to be
composed OF TWO from each party with an
acceptable Republican as the fifth. OF um-
pire The Picayune says i'll conclusion :
No change, no relief. no defense would come
to the people from such an arrangement II
would be the same old game which has been
played of on this people tor the last six wears.
The officials. who under the constitution are
made elective by the people, would in fact be
the appointeeS of the tools of the Radical En-
ecutive. The government thus created would
be the same sham and frau. which has inflicted
upon this State and people the lnnumbered
woes that have brought them to the present
condition of impoVeri>hment and >lumberinet
revolution.