New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-01-06
NEW ORLEANS, THURSDAY JANUARY

of the feelings of the people in regard
thereto. and recital of the oppressive and
OdiOus laws blOtting our statute books and
paralyz zing the energies of the Common
wealth, which were enacted by past Legis-
latures for the purpose of suppressing the
sentiment and voice of the voters, and
which, under the existing usurpatiOn, we
are pOwerless to repeal, are necessary to
disabuse the minds of these friends and
cause them to give the subject the serious
consideration and healing relief which it
demands, and to which it is justly entitled.
A memorial of the people of Louisiana,
through representatives OF its most lntelll-
gent classes, assembled in convention. set
ting forth the grievances under which they
labor, the wlongs which have been heaped
upon them, and the sacred rights which
have been violated by high-handed usurpa-
ton, could hardly tail to command the
serious attention of Congress-; and even
should it fail to accomplish the desired re-
lief, it would, at least, bring to the knowl-
edge Of our brethren throughout the whole
Union the facts and truth of our case, and
place US on the record IN the proper atti-
tude of continued hostility to the wrongful
government forced upon us by the strong
arm of the federal government and Of
earnest appeal to the spirit Of right and
Justice which should animate our fellow
citizens of every section of tho republic.
In this connection l feel at liberty to
speak for my colleagues, and assure you
that the Democratic Representatives from
our State in this Congress, are fully alive
to the importance of the questions at stake,
and their most Jealous efforts will be to put
forth toward securing such action as will re-
dress the wrongs of oppressed and untor-
tunate Louisiana, and guarantee her right
under republican form of government"
to regulate her domestic household, and
enjoy those privileges and franchises to
which she is entitled under the constitution,
and which are her birthright as a sovereign
State.
With highest consideration, am, truly
WILLIAM LEVY.
CONGRESSMAN GIBsoN's LETTER.
WASHINGTON, D. c., December 81, 1873.
Governor John McEnery
SIR-Illness in my family prevented me
at the moment from from acknowledging
your favor of the twenty-third instant.
Having freely interchanged opinions with
it, and most cordially indorse his commu-
nication. copy Of which favored me
with to-day.
The Wheeler adjustment, : is true, did
not bind the Democratic members of the
Legislature to recognition of Kellogg as
the lawfully elected Governor of Louisiana.
The last Congress. upon the report of a
committee contessing that no examination
had been made of the election of 1872, pro-
ceeded to recognize kellogg as Governor of
the State Of Louisiana. They regarded his
recognition, suppose, as but a fair equiva-
lent for securing the admission OF the
Democratic members of the Legislature
after its dissolution by Lieutenant General
Sheridan. The last Congress expired under
the shadow Of force bills and military gov
ernmenss for the Southern States, reflected
from the White House. Its last moments
were agita.ed by apprehensiOns of vast
military domination, to extend not only
over Louisiana, but over several other
Southern st tates. The leaders of the Demo
cratic party and notably Hon. Samuel
Randall with the aid of the more moderate
Republicans, achieved one of the most
signal victories in the history of con-
stltutional government against the
encroachments OF executive power.
voted against the resolutions Of the Repub.
licans with regard to Louisiana, but at the
same time they gave positive assurances
that they would regard them as final dis
position of the Louisiana case. They jus
tify themselves somewhat after the follow
Ing manner: "We had just eaved you, by
an extraordinary struggle, from martial
by the people had declared their ac
qniescence in Kellogg as Governor; the
Democratic party had majority in the
Legislature, end therefore control of the
money of the people. and quiet and peace
resulted from the ad ustment. We thought
it best, then, to accept the situation as 1t
was, and to agree not to agltate the elec-
ton of lS!22, but let it drop out among the
MANY dead issues of the past There will
,v.%a
presidential Governors installed by United
States marshals aided by United States sol
ders. no more Sheridans marching their
troops into your legislative halls. In a
few months you will have another election,
and if YOU are wise. united and energetic
YOU can carry your State. Our party is op-
posed to interfering in the ettalrs OF the
States, even to right wrong II there be a
chance of its being done by local action.
canvassing board for the States to deter
mine their elections. We can not afford to
follow the example of the executive. to dis
place one Governor and to put another in
his place. II has been more than three
wears since the election of 1872, another
Legislature has been elected, new Congress-
men have been returned, new office holders
ali over the State have come into ctfice.
Moreover, the country has made its mind
Louisiana case; it may give the President
another pretext to invoke military power
and do harm to the Democratic party in the
next election"
Now, these are the views entertained by
nearly all the leading Democrats here from
the South. as we'll as the North; and they
express them, or similar ones, with great
frankness and frmness. No candid state
meut Of the Louisiana case could be made
that did not give these views prominence.
The truth of this is not only to be ascer-
tanned in daily conversations, but it was
made manifest when it was proposed to re-
fer Spencer's credentials, as being primG
facie, equal in dignity to Morey's, to the
Committee on Elections.
might sound better if l were to make
flourish of trumpets and indulge in pleasing
illusions, but it is wiser for Us to realize the
truth as it is, so that we may not deceive
ourselves.
There is but one way in which the cleo
ton of 1872 can be brought before the
lower house of Congress, and that is by
memorial or petition. The issue on the
certificates did not and could not embrace
the case.
Our onlv hope for redress is under article
four section four OF the constitutions: 1.-The
United States shall guarantee to every
State in the Union a republican form OF
government"
Surely no government can be republican
which was created and is maintained by
military force. The guarantee" clause is
clearly guarantee against usurpation by
rulers, the most frequent cause of the over,
throw OF republican governments and OF
liberty. Again: the legislation passed by
the minority after the disruption OF the
Legislature by General Sheridan, and
which was swiftly approved by kellogg
during the consideration of the Wheeler
adjustment, and in plain violation of both
it's spirit and its terms, intended to perpetu.