The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-02-09
WHAT THE "ADJUSrMENT'' MEANS.
Mr.. Editor of Bulletin:

| Mr. Editor of Bulletin
The Picayune OF the 7th inst, after pub
fishing the text OF the proposed adjustment
OF our political troubles says:
| 1t will be seen that this proposition does
not involve any compromise of principle OF
our part 1t does not entail an abandonment
OF the position We have always maintaine ed
with reference to the election of 1872 it does
| not require us to resign the just and legti
mate fruits of the election OF 1874; it does
| not compel anything which, as gentlemen OF
| citizens, we need be ashamed to let the world
behold and criticise.
Permit me to say there are very few who
have been able to discover the process by
which this oracular conclusion was reached /.
and still less who subscribe to it, Indeed, it
would seem that if there is any pos. IDLE Sc
quence more irresistible than another, it is
that the terms OF this so-caIed adjustment
give the most fiat and cruel contradiction to
each and every conclusion arrived at by the
Picayane
First. No compromise of principle! It Yields
submission to the "present State govern
meut; not by the compassion of the United
States Government, but ca grdtia motu It
yields the oath-bound obligation OF Legisla-
tors to protect the honor, rights and inter SITS
OF the people from spolation,I fraud and NAL
feasance in ofice. 1t stops the mouth and
stills the tongue OF every member to the
illegal and fraudulent tenure by which pre-
tenders and scoundrels may be shown to hold
their seats In word, it makes the Congre.-
sional Committee the conscience keeper of
the Legislators, and substitutes The Federal
congress for the constituents who elected and
trusted them, and to whom they are alone re-
ponsible.
Second. No Abandonment of our posi-.
ton as to the election of 1872 Bv this reso.
luton, we give complete recognition Of the
Kellogg government, with full immunity
for the past, and oil Necessary and legitimate
support for the future, reserving O small
show of sentiment in the phrase "without ap. |
proving the same" Is this ",he position we
have always maintained with reference to |
the election of 1872 Z" have not so under
stood it. The members of the last legal
Legislature, and most men, uninfuenced by
tchlng palms or thrifty sycophancy, have
1rmty held that the McEnery government
Vas the only legal power in the State and
hat the Kellogg concern was simply the re-
presentation Of the extent to which Federal
lsurpation had subverted and destroyed the
ovefelgn VIII OF the people in a co-eoual
state OF the American Union. Q,toad the
question of title to state offices, neither Con-
,ress nor the Executive had Jurisdiction or
lSht to inquire into the question of fraud in
uaL election.
If this were conceded the very existence of
be States would be suhordiuated TO the Presi.
{ ntial will, and their elections brushed
side in conformity to the suggestions of lis
Or the clanours of his followers. {
Outside OF the question of admission of !,
lemberS or Senators, Congress caunot 90
eyond the prima facie case made ont by the
thclai returns of that election. II is difficult
see IN all this any thing in accord with the =
'ntemplated acquie.cence IN the usurpaii n Z
ronght about by the prostitution of the ,
'urts and army of the National Government,
I'd the compromising of the feonies charged ;
pom the representatives of that usurpatIon. !.
But, thirdly, it is claimed that this adjust ?
ent does not require us to resign the Just !,
I'd legitimate fruits of the election of 1874
7 the legal results of that election. the Con-
rvatlves had an untrammeled majority of q
eny-nine in the Lower House, and an "
NEST and untramm-led majority on ioip, a.
hot in both Houses What lust and L. Ia
innate fruits might have been reaped from T
is legislative force, may be- now, matter &c
conjecture, bu. ca Certainly at be youch.i