The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1875-01-22
The SpOliatiOn of louisiana.

The spolation of Louisiana by the vor a.
cious carpet-baggers, several of whom are
relatives of the President, aided and sus.
tanned by the standing army under the com
mand of its Lieutenant General and by di
rection of the administration, is q dark and
inglorious crime that will mar page of the
history of this nation. Once, to menti on New
Orleans, was to arouse the pride and patr l.
otic emotion of the American citizen to the
highest pitch Of enthusiasm. Soon, if not
already, its mention will mantle every noble
cheek with shame. There lies the State of
Louisiana, bleeding, trodden under the iron
heel of vicious stranger plunderer and OPP
pessor, a base and vllainous coward who
dares to practice his crueltes and his infam-
les only because he is backed and upheld by
the federal government with its standing
army. It's people robbed alike of their prop
erty and rights, and even the privilege Of self
government, that the Presidents family rea-
tives may steal! If they were thus outraged
to crafty the cupidity and lusts of a nation
there would be an air of granduer, even
though infamous, about the proceeding, but
here it is basely only to fill the pockets of a
Presidents brother-in-law, President $
wite's cousin, and whole batch of beggarly
kindred of that line. From one end to the
other the country is indignant, and public
meetings of all parties, addressed by their
most distinguished citizens of every poltical
shade, are being held in the urge cities,
denoun cling the shame and the crime-Leg-
islatures rebuke, Cabinet officers threaten
resignation, Judges protest and Congressman
tremble, vainly Grant attempts to apologize,
yet the iron grip of the plulderer and OPP
pressor is no. relaxed, the robbery proceed 5
and the unsurpation is maintained
To show that We do not 0yerlrlw the pic
ture we present the following extracts from
the report of the subcommittee appoint ed
by Congress and composed of two Republi-
cans to one Democrat, who say;
The whites generally believe the Kellor
government 10 be usurpatiOn, aud this con-
vlcti0n has been strengthened by the acts of
the Kellogg legislature abolishing existing
courts ana judges, and substituting Others
presided over by Judges appointed by Kel-
lOgg, having extraordinary and exclnsiy.
jurisdiction over political questions. BY
changes in the law centraizing in the gov
ernor every form of political control, includ-
ing the suspension Of the elections; by con-
tnulng the returning board with absolute
power over the returns of elections; by the
extraordinary provisions enacted for the trial
Oh tities ana claims TO office; by the conver-
sion OF The police force, maintained at the
| expense OF the city Of New Orleans, into an
armed brigade OF state militia, subject to the
command OF the governor; by the creation,
IN some places, of mOnopoles in markets. pas
making, water works and ferries, cleaning
vaults, removing filth, and doing work as
wafIihgers by the abolition of courts with
election Judges and the substitution of other
courts with Judges appointed by Kellogg in
evasion OF the constitution of the state by
enactments Furnishing criminally all persons
VINO attempted to fill official positions unless
returned by the returning board by unlimi-
TED appropriations for the payment of militia
expenses, and for the payment of legislative
warrants, vouchers, and checks issued during
the years 1870 TO 1872; by laws declaring
that no person in arrears for taxes, after de-
iault published, shall bring any suit in any
court OF the state, or be allowed TO be a wit
ness IN his own behalf; measures which,
when coup led with the extraordinary bur
dens OF taxation, have seemed to vest, in
the language Of Gov, Kellogg's counsel, "a
degree Of power in the governor of state
scarcely exercised by any sovereign in the
world" With this connection is a general
want of confidence in the integrity of the ex-
isting state and local officials, a want of con-
iidence equally in their persons and in their
personal which is accompanied by the para
lyzation Of business and destruction ofyalues.