New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-04-04

United States, to our senator IN C0ngreoo
and Representatives in Congress-, for the
consideration Of Congress and the Prest-
dent.
d. Tho meeting then adjourned.
Letter frem District Atterney Read.
District Attorney Read, Of Baton Rouge,
has addressed tho following letter to Gov
ernor Kellogg in answer to tho Governors
recent communication to him:
BATON ROUGE, March %, 1876.
His Rxcellency william P. Kellogg, Governor Of
Louisiana, New OEleana:
S1R-Your letter of the twenty eighth in
slant came this morning. You must have
labored under . very grave misapprehen-
court, the grand jury or myself would fail
to take cognizance Of and act upon any vio-
lation Of law that may have occurred In
this parish, and I regret exceedingly that
Won should have deemed it necessary at oil,
much less through tho public prints, to IN
dicste line of conduct, whom my duties
are 90 plainly marked BY law, and thelf
performances pledged hy oath.
1t has been many days, . week OF more
since our district court has been in So
sion, owing to . grave question which has
arisen q % whether the term has lapsed-
the matter now being before the Supreme
Court for decision. It has now been deter-
mined to 70 ON, most of tho Attorney be-
ing satisfied upon the point. This much IN
answer to that portaon Of youf letter which
says "the occurrence Of such : state Ct
things In Baton Rouge, while the dastr1ct
court il in session, etc."
Az you have deemed proper. however, TO
speoify come grievances which yoa desire
fo heye porticularly inquired into, and evil
IDENTITY are misinformed about, con not
perheps do better than to take them up
seriatim, with such comments - may seem
imst then - to s'certain lawless persons
having combined together for tho purpose
of dicplacipR the civil authorities." know
of NO such lswless persons and have heard
nothing Of the combination. tteo n.
Upon two or three occasions recently
there have been largo mass meetings hello
in the open day ct Pixies Hall. public mo-
tice having been given, for tho avowed pur.
pose, ana that alone - far - have been
able to find ont, of discussing what they
deemed public grievances and OF dev'sing
ways and means for their redress.
Their deliberations have been character-
Iqzed BY calmnese, but Of course with that
sort Of subdued excitement naturally inci.
dent to large gatherings, and the speakers
specially deprecated violence and harsh
xs result of the first of these meetings,
In accordance with resolutions adopted, tho
sheriff, the tax collector, and the parish
irdoe resiened. You yourself evidently 20
ouiesced in tho propriety Of the action Of
at least one of these officers BY recognising
the iustness of tho demand for IN abdica-
ton, in your acceptance Of the sheri6's res
ienetion and the appointment OF his sue
cessor.
have seen Mr.. Leblanc, our former
sheriff, and he learns with surprise and tor
tho first time by your letter that he wss
ever driven away from hie nstlve petlsn.
oficefs was interfered with, and they came
anal vent st pleasure. Indeed, tho parish
iudpe continued in his duties, and % the
tax collector.
At the time Of tho mass meeting on the
tventy-frst instant the tax collector and
parish Judge were both here, though have
learned that tho latter had made prepara-
tions for leaving place where he hed seen
that 90 much dissatisfAction existed. Tho
meetine of the twenty first reiterated tho
resolutions of the previous ono % to the
reeienations of tho tax collector and parish
iudee, and BY action similar to that Of the
mass meeting held in your city relative to
public schools, sent committees to tho par
fies to oommunicate tho wishes of the ~
eembly. The parish judge then determined
70 give MP 20 unequal contest, 20 stated
70 the committee, - l an told oy one OF
them, and left for New Orleans the .ssme
day: ,,...., ..,,a -. !. f.rra and
the meeting determined - take charge OF
tha Rtate'e property left in his ofioe. This
they did peaoesbly and quietly. These are
Nov, cir, hsve locked in vain to ind .
Law which has been violated BY any OF
these meetings. for they were not "unlaw-
ful assembliss," but avowedly IN tho m
toreet Of poace and order, and their counsels
Thsve been unable after strict inquiry
to find out that any assault was made upon
or personal violence st any time has been
ofFered TO anv of the officers abovo named.
The taking charge Of tho coIlector's
books was. of course, irregular, and there
should be provisions made for such cases.
but none, - tar "a l know, yet exist under
our law. 49,.
tima tn comment ON your remarks as to the
two ofiicers-psrish Judge and tax colleo-
tor-bnt if you will reflect you will readily
zee how Judges may act in such . manner
se to become unbearable to . people, with
ont suhiectinr themselves to criminal prose
cution; and the records of the United States
Court will show that the tax collector did
not servo in an entirely creditable manner
- collector of United States internal reve-
nue. 80
think. too, sir, that you orr when you
say that the animus Of the disanecti0n witn
regard to the two named officers u to 30
found in tho fact that they aro kepu0-
licaus. I am sure that there areRepub-
lcans of this parish who would NIL those
Offices with credit to themselves and 70 the
satisfaction Of the community. A. to color,
the clerk Of our court 10 . colored man,
sesinst whom have heard NO complaint,
and our administrator Of finance, another
coIored man, 10 highly respected.
The grand jury - in session to-day (for
the first time since tho question - to tho
court srose) and viii continue to investi-
gate fully all VIOLATIONS Of law land there
are grave ones against of6cisls and others),
and this will be done the moro efficaciously
% come of our best citizens, white and
black, now compose the grand inquest OF
the parish. -tz1 i.-
In conclusion, permit mo to assure your
excellency that 1 shall do my duty prompt
ly and conscientiously.
Very respectfully, ,r.n
District Attorney Fifth Judicial District.
Opera House, April %,
Opera House, April %,
Or~ lr~ - Second golden drawing.
Second golden drawing.
Second golden drawing.
Second golden drawing.
C..,x., S.;~a A1O0 (0O. Sold. F