New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-01-21

" difficulties Of tho South mas been markeu ny
" wisdom, observance of the Constitution, and
"a due regard for the rights at once OF the
Estates and of the citizens OF the Uniteu
"States.p
Wisdom and due regard for the rights Oh
States and citizens 1t would be waste OF
breath of course to show the New-l0Ik ke-
publican State Committee that the President
has forcibly installed over Louisiana Gov
ernOr who was rejected by the people at the
polls and who never had any returns which
even pretended to give him the election; or
that the Presidents soldiers have altered the
political complexion of the Legislature by
arbitrarily expelling some of its members; or
that the Presidents Governors illegal and
swinding Returning Board has deprived some
thirty legislators of their seats by bareiaced
fraud. Little Offcnses such as these seem To
make no impression upon politicians OF the
type represented in the Committee. But we
sboYld like to ask them if it is the
mart of wisdom and a due regard for the
rights of the State and her citizens to rob
Louisiana of any Legislature at all ! Since
the 4h of January the State has been prac-
tically deprived of one OF the three branches
of its Government for when the Conserva-
tives followed Speaker Wilt out of the State
House after the Federal soldiers undertook
to control the organization OF the lower
chamber, the existence of the General Assem-
bly, was so to speak suspended HE COnsery-
atives are not allowed to constitute H0nse
of REPRESENTATIVES, and the Republicans have
not the power. The body which meets, and
we suppose passes laws, under the malet of
O oil ha n
LEGALITY The Constitution of Louisiana
provides that not less than majority
of the members OF each house shall
constitute n quorum to transact business.
The number of representatives elected last
November was III. A quorum IL therefore 66.
When Wilt was elected permanent Speaker
there were 81 votes. After the military inter
ference. when the Conservatives retired and
the Kellogg men came ill., there were only o.
persons present. That is the number OF votes
cast when Hahn was chosen, as Mr. Hahn
| and Clerk Vigers both testified before the
Sub Committee of Congress. That was four
less than q quorum. Mr.. Nigers did indeed
include in his roll call two Conservatives who
| are said to have answered by mistake, but
they both make affidavit that thoy were not
would stlll lack two o. Il quorum.
That original and fatal defect sticks to the
Hahn House of Representatives still. The
subsequent admission Of four members
from the parishes referred by the Returning
Board to the Judgment of The House does not
alter the situation; for without a quorum the
House could not act upon the cases OF these
four members-could do nothing whatever
except meet, adjourn, and take measures to
compel the attendance of absentees. Admit
ting therefore, everything that the Kellogg
party alleges as to illegalitcs in the organ
ization Of the Conservatives, admitting Enough
we don'O that the Wilt House OF Represent
atives is merely "mOb" of rebels" and
white Leagucrs," it is nevertheless too clear
for dispute that tae other assemblage has no
legislative Character and that its acts have
no binding force A very pretty mess the
Presidents wisdom and due regard for
State and personal rights is likely to make
before the affair is settled.