New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-12-10
POLITICAL.


WASHINGTON. December 9.-The follow.
ing explains itself:
WASHINGTON, December 8, 1875,
Hon John McEnery, Governor elect of Louisiana:
DEAR SIR-The political complca,i,ns
growing out of the general election of 1872
in Louisiana resulted, as you well know, in
the formation of two legislative bodies.
representing respectively the Democratic,
Conservative and Liberal elements on the
one part, and the radical Republican on
the other, the former body acting in con.
junction with Yourself as Governor, and
the latter with w P, Kellogg. As sitting
member Of the State Senate. although a
Republican, and yielding nothing of nv
| convictions as such, my sympathies were
in favor of the former body, as represent
ing not only the popular will. but as giving
the best guarantee of State reform and To-,
cal self government.
The General Assembly at the extra ses.
sion in December, 1872, did me the honor TO
elect me Senator OF the United States for
the State of Louisiana, vice William p.
Kellogg, resigned. At the regular session
in January, 1874, they further honored me
by an election as Senator for the term COM
menciDg March 4, 1873.
Accepting the trust imposed upon me,
and representing the will of the honorable
body that elected me, have appeared be-
fore the Senate of the uulted States in CON
test successively with Mr.. John Ray for the
unexpired term of w. =. Kellogg, and with
Mr.. Pnchback for the full term beginning
March, 1873, and with such fidelity and eff
cheney as could command have continued
the contest to the present time. Unlike
ordinary rival claims to seat in the Senate
OF the United States, this contest has di-
rectly involved the competency of the re
spective bodies represented by me- and nv
opponents, as well as the title to the Off ce
OF the party giving each the credentials,
upon which the Senate has based it's action,
thus bringing in question the validity of the
rival State governments of Louisiana.
With SO grave problem at the founda.
tion of this struggle involved, personal re-
spect and fidelity 10 the people and body l
represented 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
parties have practically and finally deter
mined it.
In November, 1874 the successors to the
General Assembly electing me were chosen,
and after continued efforts the difficulties in
the way of the organization of the Assembly
were disposed of. Under the auspices of a
committee of Congressman, plan of ad-
Juo1uiEhp "3o hSACSu upOu, tuc pdTtlSS
thereto, embracing many OF the gentlemen
who honOred me with their support in
1873, and the settlement resulted in the
formation of a General Assembly largely
Democratic and Conservative in the lower
house, and generally accepted as Legitimate
by both the political parties of the State,
and the Assembly go onnstituted at their
extra session in April last, did formally
recognize w. ?. Kellogg as the executive of
Louisiana.
Further, the House of Representatives of
the Congress of the United States, with
large Democratic majority, following the
action of the preceding Republican House,
did, on the sixth instant, recognize the final
and determining action of the present Leg
islature of the State of Louisiana relating
to the State government thereof, by seating
prima facie the six members of Congress
elect from said State, bearing credentials
of w. p. Kellogg, refusing at the same time
to recognize your competency to exercise
the executive functions for Louisiana.
The Issues l represented having been
thus substantially determined by parties
and causes outside of and above my con-
troll, and the conservative people of the
State and nation through their representa-
tives having recognized the permaneney of
the existing State government, further
contest can have no practically beneficial
result for the people of the State, but might
serve to aggravate evils it would be power
less to relieve.
Profoundly impressed with the situation,
deem it my duty at this time to withdraw
my credentials from the Senate, and ten
der, through you, to the Democratic, Con-
sentative and Liberal people OF Louisiana
the trust committed to my hands.
With sen timents of the highest respect
". L. McMILLEN.