The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-12-10
rooyr1ruEp FROM FIRST PAaE.l

and local self. government. This assembly, al
the extra session in December, 1872, did me
the honor to elect me Senator of the United
States for the State of Louisiana vice w. 2.
Kellogg, resigned.
At the regular session in January they fur
Their honored me by an election as Senator
for the term CONNIE ncing March a, 1873. Ac-
eepting the trust imposed upon me, and rep
fesenting the will Of the honorable body that
elected me, have appeared before the Senate
Of the United States in contest successfully
with Mr. John Ray for the unexpired term OF
w. p. Kellogg, and with MIR. Pinchback for
the full term beginning March, 1873, and with
such fidelity and efficiency as | could COM
mand have continued the contest to the pres
ent time.
Unlike ordinary rival claims to a seat in the
Senate of the United States, this contest has
directly involved the competency OF the re-
spective bodies represented by me and my
opponents, az well as the title to the ONCE OF
the party giving each the credentials pom
which the Senate has based its action, thus
bringing in question the validity Of the rival
State Governments of Louisiana which so
grave a problem at the foundation of this
struggle involved. Personal respect and
fidelity to the people and body | repre-
scented forbade any abandonment OF the
contest so long as the issue between
the respective claimants to Executive power
in Louisiana should be an open question.
The Senate Of the United States to date has
held this question in allegiance, but In my
judgment, other and equally competent par
ties have practically and finally determined 1t.
In November, 1874, the successors to the
General Assembly electing me were chosen,
and after continued effort the difficulties IN
the way of the organization Of the Assembly
were disposed Of Under the auspices OF a
committee of Congress a plan OF adjust
ment was agreed upon, the parties there
to embracing many of the gentlemen
who honored me with their support IN 1878
and the settlement resulted in the formation
OF General Assembly largely Democratic and
Conservative in the Lower House and gener-
ally accepted as legitimate by both of the
political parties of the State, and the Assem-
bly, SO constituted, at their extra session in
April last, did formally recognize W. z. Kel.
logg as the Executive of Louisiana.
Further, the House Of Representatives of
the Congress OF the United States, with a
large Democratic majority, following the &C.
ton of the preceding Republican House, did,
on the 9th inst, recognize the final and de-
termining action of the present Legislature OF
the State OF Louisiana relative to the State
government thereof by seating prima facie
the six members of Congress elect from said
refusing at the same time to recognize
your competency to exercise Executive tunc-
tons for Louisiana. The issues represented
having been thus substantially determined by
parties and causes outside of and above my
control, and the Conservative people of the
State and nation through their representatives
having recognized the permanency of the
existing State Government a further contest
can have no practically beneficial result for
the people of the State, but might serve to
aggravate evils it would be powerless to re-
Eeve.
Profoundly impressed with this view Of the
situation, deem it my duty at this time to
withdraw my credentials from the
Senate and tender through you to
the Democratic, Conservative and
Liberal people of Louisiana the trust commit
ted to my hands.
With sentiments of highest respect and
esteem, | am,
Very respectfully,
w. L. MoMILEN.