New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-11-05

lam, sir, very respectfully,
l. w. PA ALTON,
President Democratic Conservative party.
New ORLEANS. November 4, 1876.
Hon. W. Patton, Presi Dent state Central Com.
mittee. Democrat c-C0nservstive Party:
S1R-I have r. crivt from the hands of +.
G. Z.charie, Esq, your communication OF
tho third instant accompanied with both ian
application for the appointment OF special
deputy narshals at the various polls OF cleo
tion" in the city, end "a list of suitable per-
sirable to have two of these deputy mar
shals at each polling place.
In reply, have to state, first, that the
application made under section 2O21, Re-
vised Statutes of the United States, was
unnecessary, previous apple alton having
been made to this office on the fifteenth
ultimo by "two ci!izens resid ny in such
city or town" Upon that application pro-
ceeded to act, and had 50 far sutficed the
statute and the need to which the statute
addresses itself, that, after due delibera-
ton upon your communicate and its in
closures, lind myself unable to respond,
save by denial Of your application.
But had not 50 far advanced III my So
lection OF deputy marshals, and were the
sum appor ioned for their stipends larger
In amount, the list of persons which you
submit would afford me mesgre help to
such q selection. The Attorney General re-
marks in his letter of inAtructiOns (Septem-
ber 4, 1876, to each United States mar
shall:
''As the chief executive officer of the
United s stes in your district, you will be-
held responelhle for all breaches of the
peace of the United States which diligence
on Jour part might have prevented"
In view of this responsibility l can not
reasonably be expected to acoredit as depu
ties to assist me in conserving the peace of
the polls of New Orleans men who, two
years age, wantonly rallied with arms in
that city, shot down and dispersed her p0-
lice. subverted the State government, and
obdurately forbade peace until the Uaited
States reassured it by military force.
conceive that I should be grossly
derelict as q servant of the United States
were to commission persons 10 preserve
the peace who did not tcruple at so recent
. date to convert that peace to bl ,ody an
arcby. Your own assurance by recent
"conddentiaP political circular, Issued
over your name, that I'VE have the means
of carrying tho election and intend to use
them;r your recommend ~tion therein "thst
clubs be organized in different sections of
each parish" occasionally ''fOrm 8t their
several places of meeting and proceed
thence on horseback to the central rendez-
yous" and thus Empress the negroes with
. sense of your united strength" tho VIC.
lence, the exercise of Intimidation and even
the assassinations that have ensued the
issuance of that circular; the miechievOus
sentiment, whose breath is powder and
whose tang is blade, that has Of late been
manifest in msnv ports of this
district of the United States, yet
has received no rebuke-unless it
be one az "confidential'' as was
your circular-frOm q committee especially
charged with the political direction of the
element whence alone that sentiment
seems to colne-all these would constrain
me, even without reference to the list be-
fore me, to ecrutinizs with miegiving an
application forwarded from your committee
room.
Yet another reason for suspicion appears
when tho New Orleans Democrat, selected
as the organ of your committee. can e1-
press the hope that ''this people may be ex-
empted frtm the necessity Of ever resorting
to the fearful and desperate measures Of
assassination to protect their liberties and
their manhood"
Still another reason Is furnished in the
the temper of your Published inquiry Ton
the thirtieth altimo) of Chairman Hewitt,
of New York, whether you should Sub
nit" to the 6ction Of State officers here
charged with duties in relation to the reg
istratiOn rolls in order to assure an honest
vote.
There are very many in the list whom l
am responsibly assured we're, and dOubtl less
are, mem bers of the White League. There
are Others whom I do not know to be-
long to that 6iecik lined body, but concernip &
whom, 40 being iii to eerve as deputies,
there is now sparse time for deliberate in
quiry. l can not appoint men to whom
I might have to surrender the peace,
which deputies in the present case arc &C.
lected to defend. Permit me to state here
that the less aggressive element OF those
whose political chief you are, can doubtless
render this district of the United States
material service on election day without
eeverally receiving commission from me.
"In discharging the duties above men
toned" remarks the Attorney General,
"you (she marshsl) will doubtless receive
the COuntenance snd support OF all the good
citizens of the United States in your re-
spective districts. 1t ie not necessary to
say that it is upon such countenance and
support that the United States mainly rely
in their endeavor to enforce the right to
vete." Should disorder OCCUR in the city
of New Orleans on the seventh IN.
can be summoned among others, by
myself or by . deputy marshal. to pre-
vent and quell it; and being bound to obey
the Summons, they will be enabled to vim
dioate the credit, not only of the State, but
also of an element which has hitherto ex'
hibited barren respect for law and for any
civil and political rights except those of its
own members. shall not hesitate in case
of disorder to summon to my assistance
such persons, irrespective of party, as may
serve nv need, "whatever may be their 90
cupstion, whether civilians or not, and IN.
cludipg the military OF all denominations,
militia, soldiers, marines" Those whose
names your list presents will, if deserving
Of confidence % deputy marshals. be Ell
cient contributions to whatever posse CONT
tatus it may be necessary that l should en-
body.
means by which the peace of this district,
whenever in extreme hassrd, Is usually
re established, to Wit: the military arm
Of the United States. In earnest Of my
efforts to maintain the peace, l have
seleoted az deputies persons who have
never been in anywise chargeable with a
violent purpose against that peace OF
against the freedom and security of voters
Thev are men who have been or will be 60
thoroughly instructed in their duties under
the law as to secure purity to the ballot,
freedom and safety to the voter and tran
nnillitv at the polls. They have not been
racruited for this service by the Republican
State Committee, with which body, indeed
7 have never held . word Of conference
mon the subject. They have been chose Il
IN INV own way and under . grave sense 0I
INV responsibility, not to either political