The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1875-02-03
THE SITUATION.

ington to produce any definite change
in our political situation, The self
constituted Investigating Committee
from Congress, Messrs. Wheeler,
Frye and Hoar, Republicans, and
Marshall, Democrat, have for several
days been prosecuting their white
washing labors in New Orleans. 1t
will be remembered that the report
already rendered by the legally ALL
thorized Sub Committee, which prov
ed the correctness of the legal posi-
tons assumed by the Conser-
vative party of Louisiana, though
bitterly opposed by three Of the gen
tIemen now in New Orleans W a s
adopted by four out of seven of the
regular House Committee, and has
been submitted to Congress. That
report has not been acted upon by the
House of Representatives.
We do not presume that the Radi-
cal members of Congress intend to
take any action whatever responsive
to this report. Their policy is to re-
tain control Of the electoral vote of
Louisiana by any means that can
possibly be used. The probability is
that this so-called Sub Committee
now in New Orleans was urged by
the Grant Republicans to make some
further report to rebuff or neutralize
the facts embodied in the report al-
ready submitted.
The investigation now progressing
however in Orleans, though purely a
labor of love on the part of Messrs.
Wheeler: Hoar and Frye, has not,
thus far, subserved the purpose these
gentlemen had hoped to accomplish.
The published proceedings of the ex-
animation, up to date of our our last
New Orleans exchanges, develop the
fact that the cause of Kellogg and
Grant has not been, nor is it likely
to be, materially benefited by the
work of these political emissaries.--
Their report, when completed, canno;
be used except as minority state
ment. If Congress acts at all in the
matter of these Committee proceed
in9s, they cannot in the face of all
the political villainy developed by
the Investigations and reports of reg
ular Committees heretofore, do 9TH
erwise than instruct the withdrawal
of the Administrators support of
Kellogg.
But this is not what Grant and his
partisans in Congress desire. He
has stated time and again that he
will continue to uphold the authority
of kellogg and the Sheridan Legisla-
ture, unless otherwise ordered by
Congressional legislation. If the
Congress takes no action, Grant will
of course sustain the fraud that has
usurpel the rights of the people,
Any minority statement on the part
Of Messrs. Wheeler, Frye and Hoar
that can furnish the least shadow of
excuse for postponing Congressional
action, will be hailed with avidity by
the Mortons and Buffers of Con-
gress.
In Gods name we ask how long
can the liberties and the institutions
of our country be maintained against
this hostile power of a partisan adj
ministration, partisan Congress and
an INSCRIPTIONS, irresponsible army.
What startling, threatening specta-
Gle does the political situation in
Louisiana present to the country to-
day. The President of the United
States, chosen and sworn to admins
ter the laws and support the Consti-
tuition, has VIGOROUSLY set aside the
one and trampled upon the other
The Congress of the United States,
whose duty it is to prescribe impair
tial law, and to protect the liberties
of the States, have VIGOROUSLY per-
secuted by partisan legislation, the
citizens of one section of the country,
and sanctioned the invasion by the
army and navy of the Government
the constitutional liberties of the
States. And yet we cannot now see
the end Of this palpable rebellion on
the part Of the President and Con-
gress against the Constitution and
liberties of the people. Though re-
pudiated and rebuked in clarion tones
by the Conservative sentiment of the
country at the late November cleo
tions, the warning has been fruitless
to stay the strong tide of usurpation.
The spirit of this new rebellion has
only grown stronger and holder, for
| the rabuke in ifs doterninnd cruoodo