The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1875-12-19
GOV. MrENERY'S LETTER TO THE
HON, NIX, MCMILLAN.

GOV. McENEklN LETTER I'D THE
HON. NIX. MCMILLAN.
This admirable letter whose vigorous
logic and statesmanlike temper have not
failed to attract the attention Of the
general country and of the Washington
| Congress, has already received. as II
deserves, the particular notice and APP
probation Of tho citizens OF the State
OF Louisiana. whose social, industrial
and political character is so deeply in
volved IN. the extraordinary history and
valuable principles connected with the
affairs OF which he speaks with 80 much
manly feeling and power. We regret
that our City Contemporaries did not
properly comment upon It's highly i'm
portant contents from the pen Of its
distinguished author, who holds by the
election and choice Of majority Of our
people the position Of de j,tre Governor
Of the great State OF Louisiana. In the
hrst Issue OF our Journal we lay this
letter before our readers rs containing
m unanswerable argument upon the
whole subject, In vindication of the
right Of the people Of the State to self
government, In strict conformity with
reason, liberty and law, rs embodied in
our constitutions, and in consistency
with which there can only be such q
thing as State and popular freedom
No man can read this production care
fully and with ordinary reflection on all
the facts and circumstances so cir
cumspectly and clearly dstailed, and
avoid the conclusion that the long sur
ferance and honorable patience of our
outraged citizens under their burdens
and misfortuncs, will command for
them finally the Just reward Of right
over violence and wrong.
| We sincerely believe that Mr.. McMil-
Ian has been premature and mistaken in
his somewhat surprising course. He may
be OF opinion ''that the struggle Of the
people Of Louisiana for the right OF self
government has been determined against
them:' but he must allow IFS to differ
with him in this conclusion. We have
no idea that the Republican party Of the
United States, much less the people OF
the United States, can intend or have
expressed their determination to deprive
State OF tho Union OF the right Of self
government, looking to their own vital
interest, In the inevitable consequence
to all OF such disastrous and despotic re-
suit, and we are sure that but few con-
servative men, II any, who consented to
the Wheeler compromise, so-callcd,
ever designed to go further than to favor
an adjustment that might temporarily
escape the most serious complications,
while they never thought OF admitting
that John MeEnery was not elected the
Governor OF Louisiana by large and
lawful majority In 1872. The Wheeler
Governor and the Wheeler Legislature
were both considered mere makeshift
in a negotiation with the remorseless and
fraudulent antagonistic power Of those
disordercd and threatening days. We
hope, indeed, before long, to satisfy our
readers by ocular proof Of tho most
authentic and indisputable kind OF this
fact. When this question arises, as it is
very certain to do, in q distinct and
palpablc shape In Congress, VIC trust
that we shall be able to show the coun-
try most explicitly and indisputably that
the Democrats and Conservatives who
achieved the glorious victory Of 1872 In
favor OF an honest and Intelligent gov
eminent for Louisiana are united on the
main, fundamental issue OF the right OF
the people--their right--to enjoy under
our organization and laws the American
frecman's privilege OF self-government
We feel perfectly sure that Mr.. Nc
MILAN has acted hastily and that the
best intentions do not shield him from
the charge OF having acted rashly and
weakly. We arc morally certain he does
gross injustice to the Democratic ma
jority Of the present House Of Represent
tatives, and think that the record of tho
Republican party in the Senate OF the
United States on the Louisiana ques-
ton Is so far decidedly against his un-
charitable and insulting conclusions re-
speeding them. A majority OF Demo
crats In tho Lower House, and OF Repub-
licans In tho Senate, who have already
given utterahce through their commit
tees against the pretensions Of Mr.. Kel-
logg over having been elected Governor
Of the State, must settle this grave mat
ter, and 1t fortunately does not depend
on Mr.. McMillan's assumptions. The
place Of Senator elect has hardly been
vacated by him before the brave, I'M
ainching and able MARI appears to take
his Office and responsibilities, and he
does not believe, and will not admit,
that the struggle Of the people Of
Louisianafor the right OF sclf-goyern-
ment has been determined against
them" and should not, without an ef-
fort. SO remain settled against them.
The Black Crook ip st. Louis-Crook-
ed whisky.