New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-01-08

PEOlnloO anu al UlbTbblOu III Lu6 phDCEB anu
on the street for the past day or two that
we have been at some pains to inquire into
the matter and find out what really has
been done. We learn from DIR. NJ. A.
SouthwOrth that on the thirtieth of Decem.
Der Governor Kellogg handed the doctor
the following letter, indorsed personal"
STATE oP LOUISIANA }
Executive Department
New Orleans, December 90, 1874. )
Ny DEAR SIR--ln reply to your note l
reiterate what / have so frequently stated
and shown, that am willing TO pursue any
just and proper course that will bring peace
and prosperity to the State and fully secure
the rights of all persons.
To yOur question whether eff the con-
greeslOnal committee on Louisiana affairs,
recently appointed by Congress, can be in.
duced TO consider and propose plan for
the immediate and final settlement of our
political difficulties" l will accept and
abide by that plan, l answer that will
most cheerfully do so.
Very truly yours.
WILLIAM P. Kellogg.
Hon. NJ. A. southwortb.
This letter was Immediately submitted to
and read by gentleman of high standing
in the Democratic party and friend OF
Colonel McEnery, In order that it's contents
might be submitted to the latter gentleman,
and he write similar letter to q personal
or political friend, and the matter thus be
brought before the committee. The reason
which actusted the Governor in taking this
method of bringing the subject to the atten.
tion of the committee was that it seemed a
more delicate way than addressing the
committee formally on the subject.
On the thirtieth and thirty-frst of Decem-
ber and first of January the matter was
being considered by Colonel McEnery and
those whom he chose to consult in regard to
the matter. No action is known to have
been taken by them favorable to the accept
ance of the proposition. The letter was
read to the congressional committee, and
the gentlemen composing it were urged to
cooperate in order to arrive at settlement
of the matter. For three days the proposal
was before Colonel McEnery awaiting his
favorable action.
DR.. Southworth expresses the confident
opinion that the committee would have
been pleased to act in this matter had they
received a similar letter from Colonel Nc
Emery to that written by Governor Kellogg.
i The doctor states that he did not regard
this as compromise, but as final settle
ment, to be aeceded to only as it was full
and final.
Governor Kellogg said to our reporter
that tho failure OF Colonel McEnery and his
friends to consider this proposition favor
ably precipitated the events of last Monday.
Seeing that the Democrats were not inclined
to enter into the subject, and were bent on
carrying out their proposed coup d'ctat, he
transmitted to the committee on Saturday
last his formal proposition that the com,
mittee should assume to arbiJrate on the
question as to whether he or Colonel
McEnery was rightful Governor of this
State, and pledging himself to resign in
case the decision was Rverse to him, pro-
vided Colonel McEnery would withdraw
his claim in a similar event as to him. The
decision was to be arrived at on this line of
investigation In the twenty nine parishes
of the State, in which in 1872 the findings Of
the two Returning Boards substantially
agreed, so far as to return the same candi-
dates to the Legislature, the figures of the
Forman board were to be accepted as cor
rect In the remaining parishes of the
State, in which the findings of the two
boards did not agree at that time, the fig.
urss, as published by the Democratic com
mittee for this year as being correct, were
to be taken as basis.
In answer to this the Democratic counsel
fled with the congressional committee q
proposition made to Governor Kellogg in
1873 asking him to name two members of
the Returning Board, Colonel McEnery to
name two others, and these four to elect a
fifth, to canvass the returns of 1872. This
proposition had been declined by Governor
Kellogg at the time, as there was a Return.
ing Board in existence, elected by the Sen
ate, and the Governor had not the power to
create vacancy. For the same reason he
could not accept it now.
At this point Governor Kellogg dropped
the subject and the Democrats took it up
and proposed that the committee should
investigate and decide upon the matter, but
not accepting the line of action suggested
by Governor Kellogg, which certainly gave
them the advantage on all doubtful points
In accordance with this request the COM
mittee addressed letter of inquiry to
Governor Kellogg, Lieutenant Governor
Antoine, Colonel McEnery and Colonel
Penn, as to whether each of these gentle
men would be willing to submit to any
decision the committee might arrive at.
Messrs. McEnery and Penn acceded to the
proposition of course, as it emanated from
them, and Governor Kellogg yesterday
wrote a letter to Hon. Charles Foster,
chairman of the committee, at Washington,
expressing on his part willingness to
abide by decision of the committee.
II is by no means probable, however, that
all this talk about arbitration and cOmpro.
mise will amount to anything but talk.
The committee has no power legally to de-
eide anything which will bind any body, and
it is by no means probable that Republicans
could be induced to give their acquiescense
in such a plan. The opposition, having
everything to gain, and nothing to lose,
would of course be willing.
Many argue that Mr.. Potter represents
the New York World, or at least is large
stockholder in the institution, and the same
remark applies to Mr.. Phelps in connection
with the New York Tribune, and they do
not care to 90 before a court which has
already committed itself so strongly on the
case as have those two journals.
The School Board.