The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-02-07
NOPE LIGHT FOR THE CONGRESS
SIGNAL COMMITTEE.


siana in terms so severe that, to those who
have not been familiar with the career Of
these men, our language would seem to have
been dictated by passion, both in its intensity
and its sweeping extent. So far from this be-
ing the case, however, we solemnly assert
that, if we knew Of one who could possibly be
regarded as pure and honest man, we would
be the first to do him honor, for we would
recognize, in the fact that he could thus sep
arate himselffrom his associates, the evidence
of superior qualities. But there is no such
man. Not only is the existence of such one
rendered impossible by the inevitable conta-
gion of vice, but none such would be toler-
ated in an association in which he would be
standing reproach to his fellows. We cannot,
of course, be expected to verify this by an
analysis Of the acts Of every one of these men.
But we do propose to make it good by a direct
reference to those whose positions warrant us
in regarding them as the best specimens of
the moral character of the party, and to es-
tablish our assertions by evidence which will
admit of no controversy.
In all well governed countries, and especial
ly in those the ideas of which are derived
from English traditions the judiciary has
always been regarded with especial reverence
and every party, whatever might be its short
comings in other respects, has sought to pre-
serve that feeling by securing for the bench
the best intelligence that could be found, and
at least, an unspotted integrity which could
defy reproach. The Radical party of Louisi-
ana has been the first to violate this time hon
ored custom by creating court that judge
ship might be the reward of perjury, and fill |
ing even the Supreme bench with men whom |
shame for our State forbids us to characterize |
by any other language than that which shall |
convey the plain and simple history of their |
conduct in one transaction. We do this only |
that the Congressional Committee and the |
country at large may know the full bitterness
of our degradation, and realize the business of
our complaints.
The decision of the Supreme Court Of the
United States lately rendered in the case of
Jackson ct al VS.. John T. Ludeling ct al. pre-
sents the Chief Justice of the State in the
character Of swindler, using his position as
property; and the facts on which that deci-
sion is based were the subject Of sgeneral
comment and reprobation when he was ap-
pointed to the position which he dishonors
He does not stand alone, however.
Article IS of the Constitution says: "The
Chief Justice shall receiue salary Of seuen
thousand .tiue hundred dollars, and each of the
Associate Justices salary Of sevea thousand dol
lars annually, payable quarterly on their oacn ,car-
rants.' Nowhere in that instrument is any
power given to the Legislature over that sub
ject, as is done in qualified manner with re-
gard to the inferior judges by article "a.
Every judge on that bench swears, on as
suming his position. to support the Constitu-
ton Of the State-article 100 BY an act ap-
proved by H. C. Warmoth, on the 9th OF
February, 1871, session acts, No. &c. page
49, the Legislature enacted: "That from and
after the 1st day Of January, 1871. the salary
of the Chief Justice Of the Supreme Court
shall be ten thousand dollars per a,nun., and of
each Associate Justice Of said court, nine
thousand tice hundred dollars per a,a,,,m, pay =
able quarterly on their warrants respective
ly." T,
By act No. ", of the same session, forty ,
eight thousand dollars was appropriated for
the payment of the salaries under that law; ,
and the Auditors report to the succeeding ,
Legislature shows that that sum was drawn 8
by the Judges. Act No. %, of the session of 7
1872, made a like appropriation in accordance
with "act No. 36. OF 1871, and it was also 8
drawn
When the Legislature of 1873 assembled, :
however, the matter had attracted the public ,
and been made the subject Of COM 4
ment by portion of the press. In the regu- =
Lar appropriation act Of that year, No. Sc, we
find, @'Salary Of the Judges of the Supreme !,
Court article IS, of the constitution, thirty :
five thousand five hundred dollars" A little =,
vet of four lines, No. 10S, was passed subse- =
BY which thirteen thousand dollars were ap. :,
propriated 'to pay the additional salary as ),
lllowed by law to the Supreme Judges of the -
State" This act, Mr.. Kellogg did not have !,
he courage to sign, until December 5, 1873, -
md it appears in the acts of 1874 p. 8. 1t can \
oe regarded only as an acknowledgment Of
conscious guilt. o,
By the appropriation act of 1874, No. So u
provision was only made for the constitu- :,
ional salary and there was no little bill to ;n
emedy this defect They had however, o,
never failing resource in the court of the O,
Honorable Jacob Hawkins, which may be con- 4,
identity relied upon in any emergency in II
which the party chieftains may be placed. W
The Treasurer, with delicacy of conscience a,
tuly admirable, hestated to pay money m
which had not been appropriated before, at
east he received dissolution from father ca
'acob. He was willing, however, to facilitate N