The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-02-16
The Louisiana TROUBLES.


deed, that unhappy state has been in almost
continual turmoil since its government was
seized by carpet baggers and negroes, backed
by the bayonets of the federal army. The
few intervals of quietude which have pre-
vailed only served to sllsy the passions OF
the people, not to destroy them. When the
Wheeler compromise was accepted by the
leaders of the Republican and Conservative
parties there was a faint hope that good feel
ing would spring up and be established
among the citizens of the state. It Is now
evident, as it was surmised at the time,
that the leaders of the Radical party did not
accept the Wheeler adjustment in good
faith. Charles Nordhof, who was in
Louisiana when the acceptance of the COM
promise was pending, says he asked Radi-
cal member of the legislature why he op-
posed this adjustment. The member an
swered with a pathetic quaver in his voice.
Because II that is passed, 1t means that
shall go out" Nordhof thought he meant
that he would be driven out of the state.
and asked him if he really feared violence.
"Not at ALL" he replied. "You don't
understand me; mean that 1
shall have to go out OF politics. II the Con-
servatives once get msjority in the House
they'll carry the state at the next cleo
ton"
The returning board in Louisiana was crea-
ted to keep the Radical party in power. Its
mission was not to count the votes cast by
{ Q peoplp', and give the offices to those who
had been elected, but to so manipulate the
elt ction returns as to place in power their
Radical friends and psrtizsns, regardless OF
the number of votes which had been cast for
or against them. To do this they in
argurated ard carried out frauds
upon the the voters OF Louisiana
not exceeded, If equslled by those
perpetrated in Indiana In 1864 in the inter-
est of Oliver p. Morton. The Wheeler sd-
justment committed the governor and leg
islature to policy of reform and concilis.
ton, the corner stone of which was the abo-
lition of the returning board, and the re-es-
Enlistment of the right of each House to
judge Of the qualifications of it's own mem
bsEs. This is right possessed BY all legis-
Istive bodies outside of those dominate
over by adventurous and rsscals who hold
Office by fraud and violence, and
not by the votes of the people, and the
country had right to expect that
under the Wheeler compromise, the Radical
Senate of Louisiana would consent that 1t
should be restored to the people OF that un-
Happy state. But it seems the Senate has
determined otherwise, end there is now no
probability that the returning board In that
state will be abolished. Its retention is for
the purpose OF keeping in Office the Kelloggs
the Pinchbacks, the Antoines and their kind
who have condsoated the property of the
people under pretense of taxation, first de-
plotting the treasury, to make taxation q
seeming necessity. ia4
The Louisiana House of Representatives, q
few days ago, passed series of resolutions
in relation to its disagreement with the
5enate-which is Republication the sub
jsct OF the returning board, one of the reso.
buttons being in the following words:
That 1t is the sincere and ardent wish OF tie
future elections in this state conducted fairly
peaceabiy and with perfect consideration for the
rights and opinions Of all men; and at all times
ance to carry out this desire, bat that they car
never yield their assent to an election law which
would again invite arDitrators nom otner states
which again would produce the ridiculous as
pect of settlement of louisiana election in th'
city of New York, and which again would chea
the will Of the people as expressed at the ballo
box, and would inevitably lead TO civil com
| motion, strife, and even bloodshed. and crust
out the last remaining hope for a coming pros
perity to our most unfortunate and 1mpover
ished state.
This resolution represents the sentim ents
the Democrats and Conservatives of Louisi
ana, and will be Endorsed by patriotic mel
of all parties throughout the country, bu