New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-02-04

in support Of it. Senator Morton does not
| know when his committee will reach the in
vestigation of Pinchback, called for in his
| resolution which passed the Senate. Pinch
back says that he will not submit to all
investigation until he is admitted to a seat.
From the St. Louis Glote. January 90:
1t is now stated that the President will not
| send any special message to Congress on
the Louisiana question. We do not see why
he should. The last election was as fair and
| as honest as it is possible to hold in State
| where Democracy means hu kluX and out
! laws. If the lost election was not fair, the
| fault lies with the very men who now call
| for a repetition of it. We have watched the
progress of affairs in Louisiana with consid-
cradle in crest, aud we have noticed On the
part of Governor Kellogg a desire to do
what he believes to be his duty without i'm
pairing the rights or privileges of any body.
If there is need of any federal interference
in Louisiana affairs, it is for few regiments
of soldiers and not new election. Let the
pestlferous Democrats of that State try to
behave themselves for a few years, and they
will win an amount Of admiration from the
general public which will greatly astonish
them.
From the New York Times, January 2S:
We are keeniy alive to the Disgrace ful
condition of affairs in Louisiana as any ole
can be. The corruption, disorder, violence
and confusion that have prevailed in that
State for a long time are notorious. The
whole business is one that thoughtful men
everywhere must regard with disgust,
not unmixed with alarm. 1t is precisely be-
cause this is the fact that the action con.
templated by the Congressman we have re-
ferred 10 would be most unfortunate. 1t
would afford no efficient remedy for the con
ditiou Of affairs in Louisiana; it would
make the national government distinctly
responsible tor whatever failure might re-
suit; it would involve the Republican party
unnecessarily in a muddle which it can not
now and could not then CONTROL and, what
is most important OF all, it would be a
stretch Of the powers of Congress of kind
already too much tolerated. Though the
facts in the various complications of the
Louisiana case are very much confused, the
duty of the federal government in all its
branches is not So, and has not been so.
On the contrary, it has from the first been
reasonably clear; and we are bound to say
that it has been fairly performed, in spite of
the many aud very persistent. assertions to
the contrary.
The main features of the ease are to be
ascertained with sufficient certainty, and
they are these: There are two bod es of
men claiming to be the executive and legis-
latiye departments OF the government OF
Louisiana. There is in the State series of
courts, the legality of which Is not dis.
puted. OF the two sets Of claimants to the
executive and legislative authority one is
led BY kellogg, the other by McEnery.
Neither of them. SO far as we are able to
reach a conclusion from the published evi-
dence, was elected wholly in conformity
with tie laws of the State. The Kellogg
government may have been the choice OF i.
majority u the peop.e-we :hnl: it was.
But the majority OF the votes legally
counted is not proved to nave been cast tor
ito The McEnery government. On the other
hanis appears to have never received q
proper .ertiiication OF the votes. and. al
various stages in the process ~ which its
claims to authority were supported. Hu.
mpy0rs failures - confirm. to tue Laws oc.
Cured. cn both sides !hcg: wa. an
amount O.: tv;ck.ry. corruption. irau'' and
intimidation that can not &c contemplated !
without disgust.
This being he general stat. O. TIE facts. !
two sets o. representatives appear before /!
the House. and one Senator appears before |
the Senate, claiming seats: and the right o: /!
the Senator. Iincl.back. is disputed. There !
is, as We have sail. a disposition on the part !
OF some mpiu t,ers OF Congress to say: There |
is no one Iight!u!ly elected here: let us order F,
q new election. But at this poln. other |
fact. come IL. The question 3. 10 whether !
tits "Etttlti titttlDi 10 W 1l'I We nave |
;erreti resulted in ei,in: a valid government !
to Louisiana has been decided by various !
men and bodies having jurisdiction OF the !
.uhiec': their decision. have Az been in tie |
affirmative. and they al. agree that. what. |
ever the defects in the election. the Kellogg !
government is TIE legal government: Of |
the State. The question came up in sucl, |
a form that il could not BE eyaied before !:
the President. Eellog. claimed. under
III nd nt TO, ,,,e \:
protection o: the United States agains. in.
surrection and domestic violence" II n. !
was Governor OF Louisiana. he had a righ: !
20 the protection asked. The President was
compelled to decide the question. and he
decided that Kellogg WAS Governor. The |!
question also came mp before the State
courts OF Louisiana. The an hor.ty q: these.
IL will be remembered. was not disputed.
They were required to decide whether Ger.
tain contestants before them were members |
OF the State government. and they Gecide,.
that they Were. The contestants thus re-
cogH:Ze,: were members Of the Kellogg gov.
and the decision in their favor was
oa. %. several. all agreeing that The Kellogg
government was legal. Again the question
uame up. a: 'he opening ct Congress. before
the House Of Representatives.. Claimants |
of seats from Louisiana were admitted on
the distinct ground thatthe credentials they |
bore. which were sigued by Kellogg, were
prime .fncie authoritative. They were so
only because. IN the opinion of the House.
Kellogg was legally Governor of Louisiana. !
Now It so happens that the Supreme
Court. in the famous Rhode Island case.
mas held that the decision of the President
Il matter of this nature is final until the
aw authorizing him to make it is repealed.
t has also decided that the decisions OF
he State courts. where the validity OF 'ne
courts is not disputed. is Of the highest pos
sihie value as evidence as to questions
rising within the State. The Louisiana
'aSe can. then, only be opened again in dis.
inc; contradiction TO the decisions of ar.
,iters. which the Supren. Court ha. de.
Jared should finally dispose OF s,,c'. eases
What. then. Is the use os reopen
ng it! The President has. in all
ssertiai. things. done Only what the ;
on titutlon requicei, an he has done all
hat the constitution required. He has
lot secured the abolition OF the crying evils
which exist in the State; but lie has taken a
sound view of his powers, and he
las exhausted them. What good would be
lone now by intervention on the part of
congress! And under what authority
you'd it be made' We confess we fail to
ee. That the condition OF Louisiana is
dngerous and Glsgraceful is sni.s true.
hat this may in part be dn" to .ie action |
t 8 federal judge is also true. But when
congress shall have punished the Judge, if
g Is guilty, and regulated the conduct of
be federal officers in the State. it will ,
ave done all it ough. to do. Fo. the dis
rider and corruption which arise within
ne State ITSELF, the State mus: tnI its owe
3medy.
VALUABLE lNrRcvEp EE.,. ESTATE N
!E SECOND DISTRICT AND SToCi. AZ AUc.