The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-09-19

| solved by the people in their several parishes.
Ii convention is to be held for any other
purpose than the nomination of candidates
| the call for that convention must proceed
| directly from the people. If there are any
questions OF State policy, or any questions
OF national policy, upon which the
democrats Of Louisiana desire to express them.
| selves, they will find nominating convention
| a very unsuitable medium for that expression.
ne delegates to nominating convention go
| into convention for the purpose of securing the
nomination OF the candidates of their choice /;
and II there are questions to be discussed and
disposed of, which require calm elaboration,
prudence and the absence of all personal motives
and considerations, such questions ought to be
death with in an assembly having no connection
whatever with the nomination of candidates for
office, and free from the disturbing elements and
exIraneOus influences which found, to a
greater or less extent, in all nominating conven-
| tions.
Apart from the fact that the National Conven-
| ton, to nominate candidates for President and
Vice President, will meet, probably in May, be-
| fore the proper time arrives for the meeting of
| the State nominating convention so that Louisi-
ana would be without representation IN the Ma
tonal Convention, there are questions upon which,
to my judgment, the Democrats onght to express
themselves in no doubtful voice; and they are
precisely such questions as ought to be consld-
cred and dealt with calmly, dispassionately, pru-
| IDENTITY, and with wise delberation.
l. In the campaign OF 1874 the Democratic
party, through it's undoubted and exclusive rep
resentative the State Central Committee, actu-
| ated by the most liberal and catholic spirit, in
calling emOcratic Convention, made that cali
SO wide as to include all the elements of opposi-
ton to Radicalism and usurpatlon; and to har
monte these elements the distinctive name
Democratic was given up for the time, and
with it was coupled the word Conservative"
What do the Democrats wish aod intend to do,
in this respect in the campaign of 1876?
2. Do the democrats desire, through their
Representatives in Congress- or by any other
lawful, peaceable and practicable means and in
strumentality, to insist on the restoration of the
McEnery government. forcibly displaced by the
Federal Governm ant? Or do they acquiesce in
and accept the existing administration as the
legitima government OF the State?
3. Do they consider the people of Louisiana
bound to abstain from further efforts to induce
the Federal Government to withdraw it's recogni-
ton and support Of the Ke logg usurpstlon, al d
to allow them to enjoy the right OF local self
government by officers and representatives Of
their choice and election?
4. Are they content to submit, without con-
tinued protest against the wrong, to a State
government not Of the choice and election of the
people, but imposed upon them by the strong
hand Of Federal power?
s. Are they willing to remain silent with
respect to the conduct of the Federal Govern
ment in filling the harbor of our capital city with
ships of war and it's streets with Federal soldiers
to overawe the people and to compel them to
submit to an odious and desplcable usurpation
affection, or the confidence, or the respect of
the people, and which, for that reason. had not
the power to maintain itself for single day?
6. Have they nothing to say in reference to
that lamentable and most disgraceful spectacle
which was exhibited in New Orleans III January,
1875, when on the day of the meeting of the
Sta Legislature, the State-House was sur
rounded with soldiers, in all the pomp and with
all the appliances of actual war; and when an
officer OF the United States army, high in rank,
with file of United States soldiers, entered the
House of Representatives, and at the point OF
the bayonet forced from their seats and elected
members who had been elected by the people,
and seated as memb rs those who had been
jected by the people and defeated at the ballot
box?
7. Have they M protest to make against the
registration and election laws, by which the
tire political power of the State is taken out Of
the hands OF the people, and the title to all
elective offices subjected to an irresponsible Re-
turning Board, the creature OF the party in
power. and whose action no tribunal can question
or revise, and to whose uncontrolled WILL in bold
defiance of the popular will, the people have been
forced to submit for three years past?
s. 1t has been charged that tie census recently
taken, and upon which the apportionment Of
representa- ton is to be settled aud fixed at the
next meeting OF the Legislature, either design
edly and for party purposes, orln consequence OF
the ineffciency of the persons charged with the
duty, is not a correct enumeration OF the pOpula-
ton, or fair exposition Of the voting capacity
Of the people. Have the Democrats no desire to
investigate this matter, and to collect such infor-
nation as may enable the Legislature to act ad
vissdly and in justice to all, upon this most i'm
portant subject?
These are questions upon which the people of
Louisiana have not yet spoken; upon which they
have had no opportunity to be heard, and which
can be considered and dealt with only in q con-
vention coming fresh from the people; and, in
my judgment, they are Of such vital Importance
that they can not be ignored, nor.with any pro-
priety be postponed until the proper time arrives
for the meeting of the Democratic Convention to
nominate candidates for the election OF Novem-
Der, 1875.
l do not understand that any Democrat con-
templates, or that any sane man could contem-
plate any armed or other forcible resistance to
the Kellogg usurpation.
do not understand that any one desires to i'm
pugn the motives or to question the integrity Of
those who favored and supported the Wheeler
compromise, or that any attempt will be made to
unseat any person seated as a member OF the
Legis AZURE in virtue Of that compromise but I
do understand that an attempt will be made, in
the event OF the meeting of Convention, to have
an expression OF opinion as to the authority OF
any persons whomsoever to bind the people and
to conclude them by that compromise.
No man can be ignorant Of the tremendous
issues involved in the ensuing campaign. All
the power and patronage OF the Federal Govern
ment and OF the usurp,ng State government will
be used to promote the success of the Radical
party ana the success OF tnat party Will De the
knell Of constitutional government and the
destruction of the right Of local self-goverlment.
The Radical party in Louisiana is taking the
most active and vigorous measures, through it's
club meetings, its Councils of Freedom" and
its secret and oath-bound associations, to perfect
its organization. Shall those who are opposed
to Radicalism sit with folded arms, and move only
when the proper tine shall arise for the meeting
of Democratic State Convention to nom
mate candidates? Does not the fact that
the Radical party, already more thoroughly
organized than at any former period, so
long in advance of an election, is using every
effort, enrolling and forming into clubs every
Radical voter, to make that organization more
complete, admonish the opponents of Radcalism
that it behooves them 70 be no less prompt no
less active, no less vigilant2 Shall they, with
full knowledge of the preparation OF their adver-
saries for the great conflict of 1876, quietly wait
aud postpone their organization until the great
battle, upon the result of which the destinies Of
this people depend, is actually engaged?
1t is obvious that the opposition to Radicalism
in the other States of the Union will st lie itself
the Democratic party; and tho people of Louisi-
ana, opposed to Radicalism, can not afford even
if they were otherwise willing, to separate them
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