New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-09-22
THE ONLY BASIS.

the State offices anew. No one has tn,
lega! authority to do so. certainly not il
absence of our telegrap hic friends who's,
official rights must be respected in theil
absence. No doubt they will telegraph
as the Irish absentee lid his agent. ale,
not the tenants cherish the delusion tina,
any threats made against you will afec,
my determination" SO if Mr.. Kellogg,
under duress. OF upon threat of assassina-
ton should make such a bargain as was
made with his predecessor. it could not
be carried into etfec: by his will for there
is no one man empowered to bind the Re
publican party of Louisiana. The execu-
ton Of any compact for division Of State
Offices must meet also the approval of the
federal government, which is bound to
maintain republican form Of govern
ment in each State. and a government
formed by abdicating an Office recognized
even as de tacto. and installing a substi-
tute officer not SO recognized even as de
facto would not be republican because
not conferred by lawful election.
We very tearlessly point out these Oh.
vious obstacles to any swap Of Offices. or
any recognition Of authority other than
that Of the State and fedora! government
and laws.
But if the malcontents wish reform and
not alone Office. let then. accept our prop.
osition and submit to Governor Kellogg a
schedule Of amendments to the laws and
constitution adequate to popular relief.
He can submit such measures as he may
approve Of to special Legislature. with
a recommendation that they be imme-
diately adopted. 1t is thus that without
assassinating the Governor. the re:ormers
may annihilate every point susceptible
of abuse and reduce that Office within
strictly conservative limits. All know the
history Of the execut tive powers and the
duration Of term; all know that Gov
ernor was made directly re-eligible by an
amendment to the constitution. The au-
thor of these powers was himself adopted
by many Of the very men low clamorous
for the blood of him who has succeeded to
al! to all these powers and capacities OF
abuse. if they exist.
We repeat that there has been no pro-
posal to abate the powers or reduce the
Ynnfrnnoro IF hn opS &c Mr.
McEnery had succeeded to the office. he
would have possessed identically the pow
ers bequeathed him by Mr.. Warmoth.
Whether he would have employed them
we'll or ill it will never probably be
known. but Republicans are not willing
to bestow upon any man official powers
that might not be safely bestowed upon
any other man. This is not government
Of men. for men are neither immortal nor
immutable. Let us hear. then. of some
reformation Of executive power. if it be
thought that there is danger Of executive
abuses. A proposition of this sort would
release Governor Kellogg from much care
and from responsibility which he really
does not deserve. We repeat. he neither
made the Office nor the laws under which
he acts. nor did he make the public debt
or taxes. or dollar of either. He is bear
ing responsibility for the accumulated
abuses of many years and many admins
trations. State and city.
He is especially loaded with the respon-
sibility. in popular opinion. Of all taxes
and of all restitution and stagnation Of
trade. There is before us an advertised
sale of certain property Of FRANCOIS La
croix. at the suit Of the State OF LOUISE
ana. There is also schedule Of three
columns. in small type. Of property seized
at the suit of the city Of New Orleans
against the same Francois Lacroix. Now,
emitting all back taxes. if We assume all
this property as worth S250,000, then the
State would collect. on an annual tax of
fourteen and halt mills, some $4,000.
But the city would collect. at the rate Of
twenty-five mills. S6250 per annum. 1t
is by TO means to be forgotten that Mr..
W. p. Harper. civil sheriff Of the parish
of Orleans. will receive his commissions
on both these seizures. Mr.. ". Z. Harper
is Fusion nominee. and we have heard
no suggestion for cutting down the fees or
emoluments Of his Office. Is it. then, fair
to charge the State government with all
this taxation: Is it just to let the city ad-
ministration escape all responsibility:
We wish the saddle put OH the right
horse. The Republicans have tried to
limit and reduce State Indebtedness. The
opposition have refused this relief and
refused to reduce city Indebtedness.
Why then attempt to cast exclusive blame
on an officer who has certainly manifested
a wish to reduce public burdens, and
why especially pack upon him ali those
burdens OF city Observation-Disclosures which
ne has manifested wish to correct. but
which it has been impossible for him to
correct against the opposition he has en-
countered? 1t may be Governor Kellogg
has allowed confidential relations with
men intent only on their OWL agsrandize.
ment; Of this We know nothing, If there
be any such persons. under well founded
objections, such persons should be put
away. There seems even some suspicion
about the execution Of the funding bill.
Let such legislative safeguards of judicial
or other investigation of all questionable