The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-01-19
THE LOUISIANA QUESTION AND THE
new ORLEANS DEMOCRAT.

course In regard to the Wheeler adjust
ment and the recent Democratic State
Convention has been disastrous to the
claims OF the MeEnery government,
and considers the action Of the House
of Representatives in demanding from
acting Governor Kellogg credentials
for Senator Eustis as the final acqui-
escence OF that body in the usurpa-
ton. Well, the DEMOCRAT is satisfied
to have the Republican think as 1t
pleases. But that truth may be vindi-
Gated, even when assailed by the organ
OF the usurpation, II may be well to re-
call the position Of the DEMOCRAT as the
exponent OF the views Of the Conven-
ton. and also Of the Democratic majori-
~ In the Louisiana House Of Reprcsen-
| tatives. M .aT.
In every article that appeared In the
DEMOCRAT having reference to the sub
iect. the idea was advanced and en-
| forced. that the Wheeler adjustment
had settled the status Of the State Leg
islature, in so far as the contested seats
In the House and in the Senate, which
were submitted to the Wheeler commit
tee. were concerned. That 1t did settle
the contest, as TO seventeen seats in the
House and as to two seats In the Senate,
and that inasmuch as nothing else was
submitted. either by the contrasting
Legislative claimants, Of by the rival
claimants Of the State Offices, or
by the representatives Of the peo-
pie. to the decision Of that com
mittee, II was impossible that its award
could cover, or settle. anything more
than the aforesaid contests as to seven
teen seats In the House and two in the
Senate, TO this settlement made by
the House, in virtue of its power to
Judge as to its membership, the DEMO
GRAFT has from the first given its acaui-
escence, but 1t always asserted that the
claims Of the McEnery government
were not retired by the adjustment, and
Il has urged the persistent, active and
lnoompromising assertion Of the right
of the people to the restoration OF that
government as the government OF their
choice.
This position of the DEMOCRAT was
unanimously the position of the State
Convention. The foremost advocates of
the Wheeler Adjustment were members
of that Convention. Messrs. Kidd.
Young and Meredith. members of the
Legislature and of the Convention, as
serted this as the view taken by the
friends Of the adjustment, and SO did
Mr.. Leonard, as his offered but rejected
substitute for the memorial adopted by
the Convention shows.
This also Ia the view Of Senator Eus-
It's, and Of every member Of the Legisla-
ture who voted for the adjustment.
And not only this, but the Republican
must remember that the speeches of
Messrs. Kidd, Meredith and Young, and
OF Mr.. Leonard were elected by the mo
ton to adopt the memorial, and that
against the adoption Of that memorial.
which has been forwarded to the Presi-
dent and to the Congress. and which de-
mands the overthrow Of the Kellogg
usurpation and the recognition Of the
McEnery Government. and which ex-
pressly denies that the Wheeler Adjust
ment has settled the issues between the
officers elected by the people, and the
usurpers. not one vote was recorded.
The Republican must also remember
that although it was feared by some
that there was division in the ranks of
the Democrats, and although there was
spirited contest for the presidency of
the convention. yet 1t was demonstrated
by the unanimous action of the con-
vention that there was no division on
this or on any other issue. Never was
convention 50 harmonious; and at It's
adjournment, rs now, 1t was established
that there was but one sentiment as to
the usurpation, to wit, that of undying
opposition; and but one sentiment as
to the Wheeler adjustment, to wit, that
1t was a ilnality to every issue which 1t
was intended to settle.
The DEMOCRAT. therefore, stands per-
fectly approved and Endorsed by the
Democratic and conservative people of
Louisiana.
Now rs to the election of Senator
Eustis. 1t will be remembered that our
position was announced promptly: that
the election Of Senator by tho Legisla-
ture was the solemn judgment Of the
supreme political authority In the State
that the Kellogg government was a
usurpation; that Kellogg was declared
Governor by the same pretended Legis-
lature which elected Pinchback: that
Pinchback has not resigned, and has
not been rejected; that, therefore, the
present Legislature has decided, by
electing a Senator to fill the Senatorial
that the body which elected
Pinchback was not the lawful Legisla-
ture OF the State, and that, therefore.
kellogg's claim as Governor, based
solely upon the declaration OF the same
bastard Legislature, is utterly without
Nay, more; we held, and
now hold, that, as there can be no va
cancy If Pinchback was lawfully elected
Senator Che still claiming the position),
the action Of the Legislature in eleeting
MIR. Eustis was intended to fill the va
cancy occasioned by the expiration of
the official term of Senator Mari. who
was appointed to fill the vacancy occa-
stoned by Senator McMillen's resigna-
ion tho lot hox