New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-03-03


e sense a legislative body, but was an illega
lie assembly, attempting to thrust out the lega
a, House from its place and to usurp its func
i. lions. The fact that it was composed il
ID part of a minority OF those entitled to seat
h. did not alter its character, nor did the fact
% If it be true that the five members claimed
a to have been declared entitled to seats by
o. the Returning Board alter the character Of
n the proceeding. A conteItant ia not entitled
it to seat himself in a legislative body by
IT force. however just may be his claim to hi:
II seat, nor is a minority of such body en-
It titled to seat him by force against the will
e OF the majority.
e The law of Louisiana provides various
r processes and safeguards for conducting
l. elections, and declaring who are chosen to
d the Legislature. First-Supervisors to make
r the registration. neutrality-suspicious.
e to preside and conduct elections and re-
l. ceivo only registered votes and report
e through the supervisors. misunderstanding
c Board to canvass and compile statements
of local officers, with judicial powers in ex-
q ! IRENE cases where local officers certify
0 there was illegallty affecting the result.
r FOur;h--ThCse persons who are declared
r elected by the Returning Board, and those
C ! only, who may organize the House. Fifth
+ The House so organized, who are to take up
: each contested seat case by case, and de-
| te-mine AS final ind ges who is entitled to it.
, Persons who are not declared elected by
the Returning Board have no more right 10
force themselves in to take part in orgariz-
, ing the House. minority of those holding
: ! such certificates rave no more right to or
ganize it over the majority, or to force others
in merely because they claim that they
ought to Eavo been declared elected. than
persons who claim that the House did wrong
IN judging OF their cases had a right to force
themselves in, Or than persons who claim
that supervisors defeated their election BY
| II wv
ers did wrong in conducting certifying
the elections. The act of each set of
officers in the successive steps, right or
wrong, is binding until the next tribunal
has reversed or corrected its action. When,
therefore, the minority OF those found
! on tho Secretary's roll undertook to over
come the majority in organizing the House,
| they were wrong doors. When the i've
members were brought in they were brought
| in not by the House. but by wrong -duers
overthrowing the will of the House. and
! prepared and able to support their wrong
by force. When the military officer re.
| moved them. lie removed at the request Of
| the true majority Of the Assembly persons
! who were interfering with their rights and
| duty to organize the same under the con
stItution and laws of Louisiana. Whether |
the officer had warrant for his action or |
not, he was interfering not against but in |
AID of Legislative body at its own request.
State. aud his interference prevented |
scene Of blood which the previous and |
recent history Of that State warrants US in
believing would have been of the most fear.
fu character.
In addition to the testimony taken in pub
lie hearings, your committee enjoyed much
opportunity OF cOnversing in private with
the people of New Orleans, and with per-
sons fcOul other parts of LouIsi ma. The |
Conservatives, as they called themselves,
gentlemen OF culture and refinement. cour-
teeusiy extended to the committee offers of
the elegant hospitality for which their city
is famed: They are all deeply excited by
the political condition, and made it the con.
slant toro OK their discourse. They we're |
unanimous in declaring that the people of
their State desired nothing but peace and |
good government, that they were willing to
leave the cooreC man undisturbed in |
his new constitutional rights, and that
1t was their desire and their interest
that the laborer and the employer
should live together in confidence and amitv {
They declared that no honest Republican
would be affected in his social or personal {
relation by his political opinions. On the {
other hand. men in great numbers sought
private interviews with the Republican G
members OF the committee to declare that s
reign OF terror existed verse than existed !
during the war; that they did not dare to n
express openly Republican sentiments; that d
destruction TO their business and risk TO | a
their lives would result. There were some | v
If them known to members of the commit
zee. They were not politicians. held and a
leslred 10 Office, and were in many cases n
business men OF high standing and distinc- 81
Ion. They urged the committee not to re- | r,
lulre them TO testify, saying they did not Il
lare to risk the consequences. c;
i lie American people are now brought | Il
ace 20 face with this condition of things. In | t
he State OF Louisiana there is a Governor | V,
u Office who owes his seat to the Interfer- | q
nce OF the national power which has recog- 81
ized bis tide to his office, not bv reason of 7
ny ascertainment Of the facts by legal pro- as
ess, but has based its action solely on the M
legal order of q Judge. In the came State M
Eere IS IL Legislature, one branch of which ii
erlVes It's authority partly from the same
rder, the other beng organized by a ma d
,rity WHO have been esta blshed in power bv TN
mother Interference OF the national govern. | &c
leht. anu which majority derives It's title en-
OF from any legal ascertaining of the
acts, bur trem the certificates OF Return | an
'g Board which has miscopceived aud ex- ac
aeded It's legal authority. 1t is not strange AZ
iat the Republicans of Louisiana should in,
elude themselves by any plausible views III;
law which will enable them to occupy mi
le places which they believe will of the re,
aIority OF the legal voters of the State, if no
ee from violence and intimidation, would raj
ward TO them. 1t is not strange that the Nj
enoc rats of louisiana should believe the
bola Stata government a usurpation, | to
ould give it no credit for its best acts, 1t
ould seek 10 embarrass, to thwart, ard Pc
sist Ii to the extent OF their power, and OF
oud DO unwilling to wait for the slow rel
u sure operation OF lawful remedies TO ! raj
re whatever evil really belongs to it. OF
we should 90 extremely glad i. any be
ethoc we could devise or suggest would cal
!rect tue wrong that we think has been ser
ne Ia organizing the House of Represen- ing
lleve. But this must be accomplished, if gre
all, by the connected action of those per T
rs IL louisiana, of both parties who no,
lcereiy desire peace ard order and do not ayt
sh their State to suffer TO advance the a are
lemes of designing politicians. We do ssha
{ overlook the causes which tend to excite nnn
ep feelings of discomfort in the whole ina
tive population of Louisiana There . .,e
3 been great maladministration, pub. =
funds have been wasted, public of
dit impaired, and taxation is heavy. o W.
ese facts. combined with the gen. ,;n,
Il prCstration of business through the d. D..
intry, aud with the diversion of 10, ,o'
Siness from New Orleans by reason of mn
construction OF railroads northerly FROM ION,
Sas, tend to create gloom and discomfort. aa,
t the ballot not violence or assassiaa- s.
q, Is the peaceful remedy for so much of NC,
evils as is due to the State administra- ~
H. Every national administration, nearly co,,
ry state and city administration, have mi.
u charged by its opponents with like Tfe
It's We have not been able to iuyes;i- | ~
g all the charges which have been made Tow
INST the State administration, although w.,
have received both documentary and ~
evidence on the subject SO far as has r rau
feared to us, Governor Kellogg is charge. din
Vyr1f M L,et,.