The weekly echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1868-1876, 1875-12-23
.ltlaEneEg ID aEellllIenl.
Fram N. ~ o-I.an- EIm..

From ire New Orleans Times
NEv 0HnHssst La, Dec 2, 1875.
Hon. W II. McAIillen. Senator elect Of
Louisiana
DEAR SIR L have read, With re-
gret, y0nF open letter addressed Ret
HE, through the Associated Press,
dated YESTERDAY, in which Noa ex-
press tbs opinion that the struggle
0f THE .people of Louisiana, ior the
right 81 self-government, has been
determined against them, md an-
nounee TIE withdrawal of your
credentials as Senator anl tender
to the people of Ltouisisna through
ME, the.trnat committed by them
to yonf hands.
I'LL my judgment, based upon aIl
that has occurred since the incep-
tion Ut our difficulties, You have
seriously erred Ill tie conclusions
lit which You have arrived
You Address ine as Governor
elect 0f Louisiana. I'll I am
Governor elect since 1872,
what estops me ais the chosen Ex-
ecutive 6f tbe State, ana vests that
right III usurper Tie means
IN which this has been accom-
piished ara we'll known to the pub
TIKI, and they never have received,
aud never cam receive the lips
prevail of the American people
In Navenber. 1872, the govern
meut, 81 which I uln ths tficial
head, was elected by the people of
Louisiana The result of tIss cleo
tiou WIS legally ascertaiued, and
declared by the Legislature, of
which you were 4 member, and in
which there w1s i quorum os le-
gaIly elected members I'LL both
branches. In january, 1875. 4
was inaugurated, and acted as
Governor until / was prevented by
the arm of the Federal Administra-
ton. unlawfully exercised against
na through tile military power of
liz Dation. Tie right tn act !
still assert. and that right I cum
not aud witt not surrender
You were elected Senator bY the
Legislature of The State in 1879.
If your credentials were valid then.
they are valid now Iii your letter
you say, Tire Senate, to this
date, has held THE question I'LL
aberance. Then, why withdraw
your credentials and abandon your
trust while tile Senate, tile ouly
power competent to Judge of their
validity, LAS lever passed upon
Them
But You state Tint other anu
equally competent parties have.
practically and finally, determined
the question, and You refer to tile
" Wheeler adjustment, the REST.
lution of the Louisiana Lagisia-
ture acquiesoing ~, but nit ap-
proving the acting government ol
MIR. Kellogg, tile action of THE last
Lover House of Congress to the
sama effect. and to tile seating of
Mr. Morey, on the 6th inst. upon
credentials signed by the person
who il acting as Governor of
Louisiana. In my Judgment your
Interpretation oE these matters III
lot sound. They can NOT possibly
bear on the issue of the legality 0f
THE State government, because,
i. The Legislature of Louisi aa
of 1876 bad no constitutional power
to displace State goyeri ment
elected by Tho people II lS72, and
inaugurated iii 1873, or to resire
its claims, 0r so substitute f0r II
nsurpation.
2. That Legislature did not de-
clare the validity III tile hsll0gg
government, bat merel accepted
iii as the acting government nntil
such time a the Federal Congress.
where slle question OF ils legality
was pending, should settle II
81 Even this resolution bE suffer-
ance, which e.eDrssg seaAe}a any
approval Us Cue Kellogg govern
ment. was passed hy state SEN