New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-01-07

f. themselves somewhat after the following
manner: I'VE had just saved you. by an ex-
traordinary struggle, from martial law. Inc
Legislature of Louisiana, elected by the
people, had declared their acquiescenoe IN
kellogg as Governor; the Democratic
party mad a majority in the Legislature.
and therefore control of tho money OF the
neonle. and quiet and peace resulted rom
the adjustment. We thought it best then
to accent the situation as ii was, and to
agree not to agitate the election OF 1877, but
to let it drop out among the many dead
issues of the past.
Moreover, the country has made its mind
I'D agains. any further agitation OF the Lou
i.ana case; it may give the President
another pretext to invoke military power,
and do harm to the Democratic party IN
the next election
Mr.. Gibson says:
These are the views entertained by nearly
all the leading Democrats here from the
South ss we'll as the North-and tney ea-
press them, or similar ones, with great
frankness and tirmness. No candid state
ment Of tie Louisiana case could be made
that did not give these views prominence
And he adds:
1t might sound better it | 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 de-
ceive ourselves.
Hon. Mr.. Levy gives similar testimony.
He says that, during the debate upon the
Louisiana credentials
1t was charged on the Republican
side, anG admitted by many OF sur
Democratic friends in the House, that
at the last session Of Congress there was an
Implied understanding and tacit agree
ment. though not formally expressed, that
the proposed Wheeler compromlse should
operate as an acquiescence in the Kellogg
government. and further action or discus.
sion on that subject By Congress should
not be had.
feel it nv duty to state that many OF
our friends in Congress indicate an I'M
willingness to reopen the Louisiana case.
The apparent and superficial quiet IN the
State is misinterpreted by them as the re-
suit of the wheeler compromise. and as
mauifesting tacit acquiescence in Kellogg's
government; and hence they contend 1t Is
our best policy to abstain from agitation OF
this question, but rather to bend our ener-
giss toward carrying the election in Novem-
Der. 1876. and thus effect the installation ct
the government Of our choice.
Mr.. Levy says:
The issue on the certificates Gid not and
could not embrace the case. There ls but
one wav in which tho election OF ls.2 can
be brought before the lower house OF Con-
gress, and that is by memorial or petition.
From these quotations it is evident that
the Democratic majority OF "nearly sew
enty' consider the status Of our State
government among "the dead issues. !"
The Democratic leaders have determined
in their caucus and in the House that the
Wheeler compromise shall cooperate as an
acquiescence in the Kellogg government, y
and that further action or discussion Of
that subject by Congress should not be
had" The substantial argument is used
that further agitation of this question
may "clo harm to the Democratic party IN
the next election" Both these members
quoted express the opinion that memo
rial from the people Of Louisiana can
alone bring the question Of executive
legitimacy before Congress.
Mr.. Ellis, however, seems to differ with
his colleagues in his disposition to con-
tinue contest in Louisiana which has
been foreclosed in Congress. He is Of
opinion that the legality of the Wheeler
compromise can be brought up by reso-
luton Of inquiry as to whether Louisiana
has a republican form of government.
This is true, and a similar inquiry can be
raised as TO New York or New Jersey.
The right Of petition is sacred; but when
the Democratic majority of seventy has
had the question before them, when Con-
gress entertained Jurisdiction over it, and
it has been determined not to reopen the
question, we would ask what chance Of
solution g resolution Of inquiry into a
question postponed by agreement OF both
parties can have before such body?
Messrs. Gibson ana Levy have answered
the question.
The legality Of the Kellogg administra-
ton, which has been thus decided by
Congress to have been established by
compromise, IS, however, to be continued
as State issue here. It is moot and
mischievous issue. It is urged by Rep
resentative who accepted commission
from what be now calls the "usurpation Of
the Kellogg government
What else does this state Of facts mean
but that "a dead issue" cast ont Of Con-
gress as threatening charm to the De-
mocracy in the next election" shall be
kept alive and ranking here. Congress
will let It drop out among the many
dead issues Of the past" The Democracy
will continue to agitate it as paramount to
ell other local questions.
We approve the candor of Congressman
Gibson, who does not 'choose to make
flourish Of trumpets or indulge in pleasant
Illusions" rather than the exhortations
of Mr.. Ellis to overthrow an administra-
ton which can not be legally displaced
until the end Of its official term.
AN EXPLANATION.