The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-11-13
The Military Civil Inquest.

no in view OF the process OF counting
the votes given in Louisiana Tor PRESIDENT
os the United States. Some OF them were
invited to be present by Governor KEEL
loea, of Louisiana; others were invited
by citizens OF New Orleans; and the Presi-
dent, it is further stated, has invited two
gentlemen to be also present and looking
on. The proceeding will be unprecedented.
The curious combination, military and civil,
win bring before us the first case OF War
and Peace conf Jointly supervising the count
Ing Of votes for President OF the United
States. And we cannot shut our eyes 10 |
the decided significance OF the event. Inc I
SEQUEL will be that in this curious comoina-
ton Peace will play the subordinate and
War the ruling character. 1t will resemble
the feast which the fox gave to the stork
served up in shallow dishes, from which the
beaS OF the poor stork could extract no
nourishment. Peace will return from the
convention with no satisfaction, no conso!a-
ton.
The INQUEST, to our minds, hideously re-
sembles that which is convened under the
summons OF the coroner to pronounce the
verdict over the dead body. In this it will
be the death OF Popular Liberty.
The Radical Louisiana Governor, hEL-
Logo, invites q charming list OF civilians
indeed, and one amateur general, the terri
BILE Ancient Pistol OF the civil war-LoGAN.
Such guests would find no difficulty in IA.
cilitating the count according to Radical
ideas, and particularly with respect to Gen
eral GRANTS condition that there must be
no vote counted which was not "actually
cast.'' Exactly. But who decides that
question? There lies the rub. But KEEL
LoGG is probably to be annoyed by the pre-
sence OF others than those he invites. The
people OF New Orleans invite some excel
lent men, and General GRANT throws in
two, exactly OF what sort we can't tell. "A
motley assembly, indeed, to view the deed
the opening OF the pie full OF blackbirds,
which will begin to sing the moment they
are released from their cage by the sword.
OF course that will be Il dainty dish to set
before king-king OF the United States.
The motley convention, in which the
epaalctte Of the general will outweigh the
opinions of all save the individual who
wears it, will be the most strange and event
ful conclaVe that ever met in the United
States. 1t viii mark the era OF the admis-
sion OF the sword into civil councils, and
the metamorphosis OF the republican gov
eminent into semi-military rule. In other
words, that condition OF partial transition
which we may all apprehend is soon to be
completed and to develope itself into a
thorough military deSpotism. The tail OF
the tadpole is nearly sloughed, and the
laundering blood-an-ouns" will soon
wake the Union with its echoes.
.,s But what is expected to be accomplished
for the good of civil liberty in this array
OF men without authority present at q
proceeding over which military authority
is superior-a military authority under a
commission from the commander CT the
army and navy and Chief Executive Of the
United States Government? Is it hoped
that the civilians are by their presence TO be
made approvers Of what's done? Is it that
by inference the civil lookerS-on shall be-
come parties to the proceeding by which
the Civil Is subordinated to the Military
Power, and thus our Constitution and all
the objects of our fathers who framed it
completely thwarted? Are men to be made
approvers OF their own conviction and to
go to the guiIlotine with their own acqui-
cscence? Very ingenious, indeed; but it
can only succeed so far as to make these ci-
villains witnesses, and witnesses of-what
@'musE give us pause" ...
One consolation in the matter is that il
things are not fairly done there will be per-
sons present who will make the country
ring with the wrong, and who will tell how
liberty fell at New Orleans under the mis-
rule of band of thieves and blackguards,
sustained by Federal bayonets-and,
further, how civilization was buried be-
meath the blacklist and most ferocious bar
barism. ..sa..
But as to the presence Of the invited civil
ians-what has that to do in the way OF
checking or even finding out the nature OF
the wrong that is clearly to be done?
Nothing at all. These 'flookers-on" have
nothing to do with the matter. The
question is as to count" of votes
brought to New Orleans. AS to how they
came there and what took place at the polls,
no spectator can inquire. The General can
himself make some inquiry into what votes
are actually cast. We take it that General
GRANTS order obliges him to do that, or to
be satisfied that KELLOGG or some other
good authority with President GRANT has
done it. II the General make the in
quiry as to whether the votes were
>':actually cast" he is not obliged to take
any testimony that he does not want,
and is not obliged to hear any speaking or
argument which he does not want to listen
to. He is the General with his
"Blm, BAN, baum and his
sPiG, pal, pauf";
sand ALPS stilled by his hiccough. Then
what's the value Of their viewing ceremony
OF merely counting votes which may in
yolye history OF wrong in the polling and
the translating them to New Orleans, of
which they know nothing, anu which they
have no authority and 40 means to inquire
into.
Give us leave to say that the thing is a
farce. It is little sleight-os-hand game in
tended to amuse the people while they pass
under the yoke. They are to go to New