National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-04-03
BEAUREGARD'S DEFENCE.
GENERAL g. T. BE4UREGARD'S RE
PLY TO GENERAL p. o. HEBERE

GENERAL G. 7. BEAUREGARDs RE.
PLY TO GENERAL p. o. HEBERE
Anew PARAGRAPHS ON PRESENT AFFAIRS
IN LoUIsIANA-How GENERAL BEAoHE
GARD BECAME CANDIDATE FOR MAfoH
OF NEW ORLEANS IN ISIS.
NEW ORLEANS, March q, 1874.
To the Editor ortse National Republican, WASHING
SIR. In your issue Of the 10Th instant lreaC
Gen. P. q. Hebert's answer to my letter Of tn,
4sh instant to Hon. J. B. Gordon. It was no
written at the time for publication, but have nj
objection to its having been Spade public.
regret that Gen. Hebert, in his answer, should
have fallen into q few errors, which require cor
rection to prevent misapprehensIon outside @
Louisiana. / would therefore request that you
publish this communication and the two accom-
panying letters in your valuable journal.
Gen Hebert thinks that the exhaustion OF our
treasury is a guarantee against future despona-
TONS and believes in the honest intentions OF GoV.
Kellogg! trust this may not be an instance OF
misplaced confidence; but, from the charge lateIy
made by Gov. MeEne=y, (and not satisfactorily
eontradicted,) that while in New York last sum-
mer Gov. Kellogg endeaTored TO form ring"
with some capitalists Of that city to Sill further
deplete our impoverished State, there are many
IN Louisiana not quite as hopeful as Ex-Governor
Hebert
with regard to his intention of lighting 1t out
on that line" viz: Kellogg's, until that func-
ttopsry shall prove himself unworthy Of such dis
Interested devotion will only remind him that
being "west Point educated engineer" he
should not forget that straight line lin politics
as otherwise) is always the shortest distance be-
tween two points.
So much Of his letter as refers personally to NY
SELF, In connection with my defeat for two Offices,
may dismiss through the accompanying letters,
which will show that the office has ever sought
me, not I the office. I trust that my career will
justify me in the not boastful assertion that
have ever been willing to bear all the odIum of
failure when satisfied Of the justice Of my cause,
and that the reasons Of my defeat were not to be
found in any lack OF honest endeavor on my part.
Whether we shall have "a new election" or not
will be determined by higher tribunal in the
near future. We may, therefore, spare ourselves
further discussion on this point. But should Gen.
Hebert ever offer himself as candidate for the
SURFACES of Louisianians hereafter, the country
will well know from what class Of our people he
will draw his support.
remain, respectfully, your obedient servant,
G. T. BEAUREGARD.
General G. 7. Beduregard, Eeto Orleans.
DEAR SIR: Your esteemed communication of the
10th inst. is in my possession.
In your communication later giving reasons
for 30 doing) you address me in these words:
GAS you were one Of the prominent gentlemen
who urged upon me in 1855 the candidacy of the
mayoralty of the city, will you have the goodness
to inform me under what peculiar circumstances
was selected by my felloW-eitiEens as q candl-
dAteH Whether willingly consented to become
one? Whether did not make 1t q condition that
should take part in the election except to vote?
Please state also whether was badly beaten, and
If any other candidate lin your opinion) could then
have done as well?"
In reply, have to state that in the year 1858
tile municipal contest In this city was between
the Know-Nothing party on the one side and q
large and highly respectable body of citizens,
organized as an Independent party, on the other.
The executive committee Of the Independent
party, (of which was member from number
Of names presented to It, selected yours. This
choice was made because it was believed that you
possessed in a remarkable degree moral and
physical courage, combined with fine admins
trative and organizing talent.
Il may appropriately say here, in parenthesis,
that history has since CONFIRMED the lviSdo Of the
opinion then 5ormed.)
1t was the Judgment of the committee that the
exigency Of the occasion demanded such a man.
subcommittee was appointed to wait upon
you. Among them were our late fellow-citiZens,
Cornelius Bellows, II. .. II. Norton, W. A. Gas
quot, and others, with myself
We found you in your office ct the custom
house, engaged in your duties as officer Of
the United States army.
The proposition met you with surprise. At first
you positively declined to permit your name to be
used, stating that you were an officer of the |
United States army, and that it was not in con- |
sonance, either with your tastes inclnations, |
to have anything to do with political life. The |
committee urged the matter upon you, depicting |
to you the grave condition Of affairs in our city, |
and claiming from you, as q LouisanIan, any |
honorable sacrifice in behalf Of the people you |
might be called upon to make. You finally con- |
cluded to seriously consider the proposition.
In o subsequent interview with the committee |
you reluctantly consented.
A communication was then addressed to you
signed by several hundred Of the best citizens of
New Orleans, rendering you the nomination.
The publication OF your letter accepting the |
would, in my opinion, fully set forth
the high grounds upon which you placed your
The ofcial result of the election was as follows:
Gerard Stith, s,5Sl; G. T. Beauregard, $3.50.
Majority for Stith, 13l.
The general excitement pervading the city at
the period Of the election prevented thousands Of
our people from voting, hence the small vote cast
The legal vote Of the city in 1858 was computed
10 be about 1900.
The result proves that you were not badly
beaten"
IN my opinion, lat that time,) no other candi-
date would have done as we'll; certainly no gen.
tleman connected with political party.
trust that have given you the information
desired
l have the honor to be yours, very truly, g,
J. N. MARKS.
NEW ORLEANS, March IS, 1874.
NEW ORLEANS, March &c, 1874.
Gen. G. T. BsdurtgGrL, Ntto Orleans:
SIR: In reply to your inquiries of this date con-
;erning the conditions under which you became a
candidate for the Office Of administrator of i'm
'rovements," in November, 1872, and the results
" said election, We would state:
That you were not an independent candidate;
That after positive and distinct refusal to allow
he use Of your name a candidate for that Office
'ou finally revoked your resolution on our urgent
PERSONAL appeal in the name Of CIVIC duty anI
Rllsgitigli --aS T.ss-> !
That you yielded reluctantly to our request,
IA the expressed cond ion that you should take
10 part whatsoever in the canvass; :
That, with but few days notice to our fellow :
'itizens Of your willingness to serve them, and ;
Without any bride, solicitation or improper In =
iuence on the part Of your electors you received
very large plurality of votes over the fusion" !
and very consdsrable one eyer the :
Candidate, although (of c0urse) your
elf and your people were afterwards swindled .
,ut OF the fruits Of their effort in behalf Of good
government.
We have the honor to be, very respectfully,
FOUR Obedient servants, c|& 49,
l. pfCKsox BRUNs, NJ. D.,
SAM. CHOPIN, NJ. D.,
JAMES ID. HILL,
Is. r. FoRMAg,
J. g. NORRIS,
ARCHIBALD MITCHELL,
WILL. A. FREREr.