Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1875-01-01

hiHeo IL ieuulitS uo pIoPHellC eye w
toresee.
So far as the three Republican members
of Congress are concerned the action of
this Returning Board amounts to very
little, as the next Congress will undoubt
edly inquire into their eligibility itself
and if fairly elected will seat them if not
will send them to their homes, if they have
any.
But so far as the Treasurer and the Leg
islature is concerned, the people of this
stricken State are utterly helpless, but not
hopeless. This action of these miserably
corrupt men, who have been placed in
power there by the insensate military
chieftain who now controls the army and
navy of the nation, is without parallel in
the history of the world. Even these men
themselves seem to feel some tinge ofshame,
for they have issued long address at
tempting to explain their conduct. The
Board was composed of four Republicans
and one Democrat. The Democrat, Mr..
Arroyo, resigned short time since, being
unwilling even nominally to remain a
member of Board which was so consis-
tently persistent in the preparation of
frauds. OF the remaining members of the
Board, one. Madison Wells, was white and
the other three were negroes. This man
Wells has been conspicuously notorious in
Louisiana ever since the capture OF New
Orleans by Admiral Farragut and Benja-
min the Beast. \ member of one of the
first families of the State, living among
them in the Parish of Rapides, he has ever
since he reached manhood not only been
an outcast from the family circle but os-
tracised socially by every man whose good
opinion in that highly refined community
was worth having. In the commotion
consequent upon the civil war, when the
dregs of society became the scum of civil
lization and floated on top, what so natur
al as that Madison Wells should turn up
in the mixture made of negroes, carpet
baggers, scalawags and thieves. He soon
found genial companionship in the com
pany of Ben Butler, and was shortly after
wards made Governor of the State. From
that time to this he has been the most
active and malignant enemy the white
race has had in Louisiana. The Radicals
themselves have had no great faith in him,
hoa thar- l. -1,ot h.
might betray them, but they have been
willing to use him because they supposed
that his name and his high social connec-
tions would, abroad, where he wa. not
known, give to their party some of that
responsibility which it so wofully wanted.
OF course the three negroes on this Board
were mere ciphers, and Madison Wells
constituted the Board. He was selected
by Kellogg as eminently suited to do the
desired work-and the result has vindica-
ted the wisdom of the selection-for most
faithfully and thoroughly has he done it.
By the result thus brought about, Loui-
siana is thus left to be preyed upon by
Kellogg and dis gang, for certainly
years longer. Nothing can save it but !.
change in the National Administration,
which cannot take place before that time.
Whether, when that time rolls around.
there will be anything left worth saving
is another question. Certainly, if there
should be anything lett, it will be because
it could not be stolen
All this is terrible to contemplate. \
yet patient people bearing
the wrongs and robberies of these crea
their substance day by day
stolen from them, and their property con-
fiscated by taxation, yet they are told if
they attempt to redress these great wrongs
1.-The best government the world ever saw"
will declare war against them, 1t is al
most more than human nature can stand
Yet we hope these brave people will
bear it awhile longer. Relief is not very
far off, and when it does come it will be
full and ample, and reward them for all
their long suff'erings. More than this, we
believe that if thS people of that unhappy
State were to make resistance it would
only be playing into the hands of Grant,
and afford him the opportunity he so
much desires. We believe firmly that
Kellogg, after his experience last Septem-
Der. would not have dared to cause these
frauds to be perpetrated unless he well
knew that he would be sustained in
whatever he might do by Gen. Grant; and
we believe this latter gave his adhesion
to the scheme because therein he saw a
chance to obtain his coveted third term.
That the deliberate purpose of the Presi
dent is to force the people of Louisiana
into open resistance there can be no doubt.
If any further proof of this were needed, it
can be found in the selection of General
Sheridan, whom he has ordered to take
command there and invested with extra
ordinary and supreme powers. Of all
men in the world Sheridan is most hated
and abhored by the people of Louisiana
and least calculated to take command in
matter of so much delicacy. He is good
at numbering Piogan Indian women and
children, but not much for conciliating
high spirited and wronged white people.
1t is hoped to goad the people to that
point where they will become reckless of
oH niolo nd no ~,