New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-05-01
The Louisiana Compromise. -

In the Laporte lIndiana) Semi ceedly
Chronicle, of date April 81, we find the
following able and comprehensive article
headed as above, evidently from the pen Of
the Hon. Jasper Packard, editor of the
Chronicle:
When. last winter, the committee for The
investigation Of the affairs of Louisiana,
consisting Of some of the best men OF both
political parties, arranged a compromise to
which all parties in the State assented, and
the House of Representatives, so far as it
could do SO, ratified the arrangement, it " as
hoped that the troubles of Louisiana were
practically at an end. 1t is true that the
Democrats of the House all voted against
the compromise resolutions; but it was done
under the crack of the party lash. many Of
the best men OF that party declaring pri-
vately that the arrangement was the best
that could be made, and ought to be
| adopted. Under the arrangement thus
made the Legislature OF the State recent
ly met, and Democratic newspapers have
been foremost in congratulations to
Louisiana that at last the State had
peace. By the terms of the compromise
certain Republican members who had
claimed to be elected were unseated, in
| order to give place to Democrats, and those
thus affected voluntarily withdrew. and
the Democrats were sworn ln and when all
was completed both houses of the Legisla-
ture passed resolution that there should
be no changes made beyond those made
under the award, except by reason of death
or resignation. portion Of the congress
sional committee was in the city, and every
thing seemed to have been done to the
complete satisfaction OF all concerned.
Seemed only, for at the very time the Dem
Ocrats we're cOncocting plan which for the
utter contempt OF good faith has scarcely
parallel in the annals of Spanish or
Mexican treachery. Voluntarily the Re
publicans had ielded the House Of Repre-
sentatives to the Democrats in order that
there might be peace. Governor Kellogg
labored earnestly aud effectually to con-
sumate the arrangrmen and when all was
done, it began to look as though an era Of
good feeling and consequent prosperity had
come. The New Orleans REPUBLICAN pub
lished long editorial on the subject, con
gratulatory to Governor Kellogg and the
Legislature, to the State aud the people of
the State, concluding with these words:
I'VE begin to feel at last as though our
State is really reconstructed, and on Il basis
stronger than iany statute, tina: of an agree
ment among the people, and a better under
standing between them and their rulers
Up to this point the yielding was wholly
on the part of the Republicans, and their
part of the compromise was fully carried
out. leaving the Democrats with clear
majority i'll the House of Representatives..
They then organized the House, electlng a
Speaker and other officers, all Democrats;
and as soon as this Was done, notwitbstand-
ing they had passed solemn resolution
that there should be no more charges
except by death or resignation, they pro
ceeded deliberately to unseat other Repub-
licans and put Democrats in their places.
1t is evident that they have had no intention
from the start of adhering to the compro-
mise. although they we're foremost in ask
ing it. The arrangement lett them with
majority in the House of Representatives.
but they did not have majority on Joint
ballot; and as soon as they obtained control
of the House by the award of the committee
they proceeded to vote out enough other
Republicans to give them the coveted ma
jority on Joint ballot. On their part it was
a scheme of treachery from the begin
ming, to be assented to only while the
Republicans were the losers, but repu-
Giated as soon as it began to affect
themselves. 1t was another instance
of the course pursued by the South in re-
gard to the old Missouri compromise and
subsequent measures growing out of it,
which were to be held as sacred as the con-
stitution SO long as they worked il the inter-
est of human slavery, but the moment free
States were to grow from them they were
to be stricken down. And here, these men
in Louisiana were eager to assent to the
compromise until, using it as ladder, they
had climbed to position Of independent
power, when they at once kicked it from
them. The advancement of party has over
ridden every other consideration, and the
special session of the Legislature has thus
far made no attempt whatever SO to legis-
late as to bring prosperity to the State.
Governor Kellogg, with the faithtulness
and energy which have characterized his
whole administration. has urged and
entreated. In special message he
says to the Legislature: Permit me to say
that it is expected OF you, under the circum-
stances which brought you together, that
the great interests of the State and city
shall receive the preference in your pro-
ceedings over the advancement of party
ends" But it has been all of no avail.
Party ends was all they sought, not
peace, not prosperity, not final settlement
Cf all the troubles, but simply power for
which, having Obtained, they
prefer to prolong strife and disturbance as
the surest means of maintaining their fatal
hold on the State. We conclude this article
with the words OF Hon. William p. Frye,
one of the congressional committee that
arranged the terms OF the agreement and
made the award: "By the agreement and
award, the status of the Legislature was to
remain we left it. The Democrats VIC
late good faith and their plighted honor ia