The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-01-28
OPEN LETTER TO LAWYER SLOUGH.
TON.
New ORLEANS, Jan. 27, 1875

New ORLEANS, Jan. 27, 1915
L. W. stoughton, Esq, New YORK:
Nr-l desire to present to your consider;
, ton truths, which in your communication
the New York Times, relative to the organic;
ton OF the House of Representatives Of til
State OF Louisiana, On the 4th of January
1879, seemed to have escaped your attention
That, for several days prior to the 18th c
January, the avenues to the State House
save one, were barricaded; that hundreds O
armed men in the interest Of Gov KELLOGG
having no business of legitimate character
We're IN the Capitol, and that, at the main en-
| trance on 81. LOUIS street, none We're permit
ted to enter save those to whom Capt. Loa,
and Gen. Campbell gave permission, are
facts admitting Of noquestion.
At III o'clock A. NJ, of the 18th instant thu
returned members, with the five fron the
| four parishes, and eight contestants, together
with ten gentlemen, were permitted TO enter
the building. Many OF our most prominent
| citizens sought admission but were peremp
| torily refused
Why this array of force on one side and NO
manifestation Of hostility on the other? Why
armed Federal troops in the Capitol of the
State upon the eve of the session of the
Legislature and confronting members about
to paacably assemble? Were there no indica-
tons OF menace and no attempt at intimida-
ton in such a spectacle? You entirely over
look the fact that five Republican members
voluntarily recognized the permanent
Speaker, and We're sworn in bv him at their
own request; and that subsequently two Of
them consented to serve upon the Committee
on Election Returns, and were present with
said committee during their retirement and
investigation; they were also in the House
when the said committee submitted their re.
port.
This important fact you have utterly TO-
nored, and your letter Is written upon the
supposition that, during the entire period Of
the organization, no Republican members
voluntarily participated. The Constitution of
this State provides that each parish shall have
at least one Representative, and that the re-
turns for Representatives shall be made to the
Secretary Of State. The Returning Board
failed to promulgate the returns from four
parishes five Democratic Representatives re-
ceiving large majorities, in fact some of them
having no opposition. We're, by the arbitrary
and illegal action of said Board, omitted from
the promulgated list, and their cases referred
to the Legislature for decision. The Board
had not the hardihood to proclaim their de-
feat, but, by an illegal act attempted to shift
The responsibility upon the Republicans
whom they had returned. Under the le
lulrements OF the Constitution, however, re-
turns from those parishes had been sent to |
the Secretary of State by the Supervisors of
tlec tion, in every particular similar to those
forwarded to the Returning Board, declaring
who were the Representatives elect and their
najorities.
lnasmuch then as the Returning Board has
allied III the discharge of its duty, and there
'elng no Legislative provision by which O.
parish could be deprived of representation in
he General Assembly, the returns legitimate
y transmitted to the Secretary of State, by
he Supervisors or Commissioners of the re-
pective parishes fulfilled the requirements
4 the Constitution, and the names of the
lected Representatives thus properly attested
Mould have been placed upon the roll and
allied by the clerk; thus giving to each parish
$ appropriate representation and enabling it
, participate IN the organization. The tenn
orary organization of the 18th inst. was to Sc
ure the right of each parish to representa-
on, and fulfilled the spirit and letter Of the
constitution of Louisiana.
BY listening to the mis-statements of orr
1emies you may, in the language Of Gen.
herldan, deem us lawles5 men. and deserv-
e the treatment of "banditti;" but, were
our possessions in Louisiana and you COM
9l!ed to witness your inheritance wasting
way under an exo1bitant assessment and Al
te Of taxation equal to the annual interest
l money; could you witness the prostration
our business interests; could YOU realize
at real estate, though less valuable by fifty
II cent than in 1867, is taxed fully three
indred per cent in excess of the taxation
en- levied: and that, Notwithstanding this
cessively increased tax. the bonded debt of
e State has increased more than twenty mil
ms of dollars; could you witness the hope
'sness OF our people, as from day to day
ey contemplate the spoliation to which,
lder the forms Of law, they are subjected
e, could you realize how, by the arbitrary
d illegal action of a Returning Board,
led by Federal soldery, the result of n
aceable election has been falsifed and our
ople again made the victims of ignorance
d venalty. methinks the kindly feelings of
ur nature would SO out il sympathy for
'isit our city. and while You viii witness -
brave population as throng your own A
tropols, you will also behold us equally as ~
iceable. If the stories of wrong and out ~
e, sent northward for political effect. 81
re true, think you not the men who for sIi
ir own base purposes, give them utterance 81,
lld prove the victims Of our hate They ~
e ruined our State and filled the hearts Of va
people with sorrow and financial mistrust rr
, they wander through our thoroughfares in
bout the fear ofpersonal harm sw
We bear no hatred toward the colored an
: their welfare is intimately connected its
b our own. Onerous taxation, extravagant 80,
corrupt legislation are, however, working ra,
their natural results. There are hands to Nv
but, in the general depression, their labor Ia
ot required; there are choice lands need no
cultivation, but amid the prevailing h,
erty of the planter and the destruction of 70,
ncial confidence. capital cannot be OBJ xii
led for agricultural labor. Necessity is
ing our people to the practise of the most
d economy, and hence, if in city and est
ntry men and women are unemployed, it cat
ot the result of political ostracism, but the
,uoo eati'aiisis are more than ordinarily me
louS ana reiuse TO loan where the security ele
Of absolutely certain. nri
| conclusion, sir if the present extrava- the
&c and corruption in office is continued. if