The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-09
HENRY c. DIBBLE'S STORY.

The following letter has been sent to the Hon.
Charles Foster, chairman OF the Sub Committee OF
Louisiana Anairs:-
NEW ORLEANS, La, Jan. g.
To Hon. CHARLES FOSTER. Chairman OF the Sub
Committee on Louisiana Analrs:-
before your committee DURING The Sessions ~ Sew
orleans as counsel for the State organization of
the republican party. In that capacity have
i'i have ' held, and now hold, an once under der
this relation / have consistently supported
the State government since Its accession to
power In ls.S ana nave zone Whatever could
It has been the policy OF this government to e1-
feet. Consistent and conscientious in this course,
have no regrets to express and no further ex.
PLANTATION to make; but to-day, looking ar the
situation IN Louisiana from higher standpoint
government, considering the troubled state Of az
fairs not as o politician, bnt as citizen OF the
commonwealth, ! feel constrained to oner your
1t seems to me that Congress and the country at
large will be unable to solve the problem pre-
that everything that has occurred in this State
since the election OF 1872 has been revo-
and Vio,aative Of those fundamental rules and
principles which underte republican form OF
government within the purpose OF the constitu-
ton OF the United States. In contemplating this
question 1t Will not do to lose sight OF the extra
ordinary condition OF political society in this State
in 1872, resulting from the sudden change in the
relations OF the two races and the somewhat crude
ana altogether partisan eff0ft at reconstruction,
It contemplated the establishment of a govern.
ment upon abstract theories and lost sight OF the
actual social, political and economical surround
there existed at that time, and has since the
close OF the war, spirit OF intolerance toward
erance, which too often found expression, I'M.
happily. In acts OF Intimidation, oppression and
aaS It's IN 3
under the Reconstruction acts, OF those harsh
election, registration, constabulatory and metro
polltan police laws, which have been so severely,
and In some respects so Justly, animadverted
upon by the republican press throughout the
haa vested in the Governor of the State a degree
OF power scarcely exercised by any sovereign In
the world, and yet the passaGe OF these laws was
justi1able In degree by the necessity OF afOrding
Protection TO THE WEAK
and untItored blacks, whose political rights we're
and large portion of the whites.
The Governor elected under the Reconstruction
laws was and continued to be until his detection,
resented in the General Assembly. Up TO the
time he abandoned his afllliation he continued to
have the unusual authority to which have adj
verified; therefore, when he determined to unite
his political fortunes with the opposition he took
to them that which made his accession valuable
to tnem-almost absolute executive powers The
republican leaders In this State, and among
them since, sincerely and truly believe that our
ernor Kellogg and his associates on the State
ticket would have been elected by such a majority
were actually chosen by the votes actually cast by
q reduced majority.
We charged then, and have ever since contin-
ued to charge, and we have cOnclusvely shown to
the Senate committee, that Governor Warmoth, in
alliance with the democracy, used MS unusual ex-
ecutive power In the appointment OF officers who
manipulated the registration and the election SO
as to change and alter the result To crown all,
when she election was closed ne attempted to pack
the Returning Board and to eject this end he over
threw the local judiciary by violence. These first
measures and subsequent acts were beyond the
constitution and beyond the law. They were rev.
dictionary In the fullest sense OF the term. 1t was
during tnts period that | said from the bench
while examining an issue that arose out of the
disturbed condition OF affairs, that the coup d edt
is not an American institution. STAGE that time,
surrounded as have been by so much
VIOLENCE AND WRONGDOING,
have sometimes lost faith in my generation; but
now, when calmly and hopefully look to the
future and contemplate the time when these
Louisiana troubles snail be remembered by re-
puolcan people only as horrible dream, still
believe that truly comprehend the spirit OF our
republican Cove rnment
Revolution and VOL nee Dcget counter revo.u.