The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1875-01-29
The Louisiana Problem.

The late of Louisiana seems to be suspend
cd in the balances, which, fguratively speak
ing, are held by the Republican majority in
the United States Senate. The negro Pinch.
back having been elected to the Senate by
the Kellogg Legislature, President Grant has
declared that he will accept the action of the
Senate in receiving or rejecting his creden-
tails as settling the question for or against
the validity of the Kellogg government, and
act accordingly. 1.-THE Senate receives Pinch
back Grant will not hesitate to use the army
and navy of the United States TO sustain KEEL
logg and his ILLEGALLY constituted Legislature
II, on the other hand, Pinchback is rejected,
Grant will allow Kellogg and his bogus Legis-
lature to take care ofthemselvcs. In such an
event the difficulty would be speedily settled.
Kellogg would instantly betake himself to
more secure quarters than any he could find
in Louisiana
The solution of the question has not been
found very easy. The Republican members
have held number of caucus meetings, but
thus far the crack of the party whip has not
been loud enough to forcethe bctter-disposed
members into line in support Of the federal
usurpation in Louisiana.
1t is probable that no action will be taken
upon Pinchback's case until the report of the
second congressional investigating commit
tee, now in New Orleans, reaches Washing
ton. The Conservatives, as before, propose
p 10 furnish to the committee the most abund.
ant and positive proof that the election of
1874 was free and fair as well as peaceablc
that they elected n large majority of the mem.
bors of the Legislature; that The Returning
Board falsitied the returns that the only in.
tmidation practiced was by the Republican
-eel6red peoTie ur,tinst colored Conservatives
and by the use of United States troops to deter
White Conservatives from voting. They will
also show the general prostration of the ma.
terial interests ofthe State by bad and corrupt
government; that more murders, homicidcs
and arsons are committed by the colored race
than by tue white race, and that the larger
portion of said crimes are traceable to the
mal-administration of the government by
Gov. Kcllogg's appointees, and the wholesale
pardoning ofcriminals by said Kellogg.
1t is charged, and apparently with good
reasons, that while this second committee
Inns gone to New Orleans ostensibly TO make
fair investigation, its real mission will be
chow not to do it," Accordingly it will be
a matter of surprise if their report is moi
made to suit the wishes Of the supporters Of
President Grants policy towards Loui
siana.
Whatever the report Of this committee
may be, it is to be hoped that the Admins
tration senators may realize the Importance
OF their action in accepting OF rejecting
Pinchback. AS far as the negro himself i:
concerned it matters but little. But if Gran
is determined to fix the status of Louisian,
by the fate of Pinchback in the Senate, i
were well for the Senators to think dccpl,
before they vote. II an illegal Returning
Board can count in whoever they please
whether elected or not and have the supper
OF the federal army TO sustain them in tn ell
decisions, there need be no end to the Kel
logg dynasty in Louisiana.
The fate of Louisiana is not alone involved
The solution of the question has wider ant
far-reaching significance. If Legislature
can be unmade CT made at the option of tn
President, what will there be to proven
General Grant, in his aspirations for n thir,
term, from controlling the Electoral Colleg
in his own interest, by means of his troops
If the officers of the army have given up al
the instincts Of patriotism and are mcre
the blind instruments of carrying out tn
military orders of the President, the Reput
lie is surely in great danger.