The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-11-21
.iI.ouisiana,s Problem.


DEMOCRATIC REPLY TO THE REPUBLICAN LET
OTHER STANDPOINT.
The. following is the full text of the reply
Of the Democratic delegation in New Or
leans to the letter Of the Republicans:
To the Hons. John Sherman, Stanley Mat
thears, j. 4. Garfield, ". ID. Kelley, John
d. Kdssou, Z. w. Stoughton, 9. lrUing
DutH j. II. Yam Alen, Eugene Hale, ".
s. Quay, W. S. Cun,bdct, b. s. Moves,
j. E. Stevenson, John Cobur1e, Leo. Wal
lace, John N. Tuttte, ". a. McGreu, D..
Il. Chapman, w. r. Smith, .Abner Iay-
Tor, S. r. Hauen, j. N. BeardSley, c. b.
Far,ceU, Courtaaadt PARKER, Sidney
Clark, and j. q. Wilson:
Gentlemen,-We are in receipt Of your
answer to our letter OF the 14th instant, in
which you inform us Of your determination
not to confer with us for the purpose OF eX-
erting such influence as we may possess in
behalf of such q canvass Of the votes ac-
tually cast at the election in Louisiana as by
its fairness and impartiality shall command
the acquiescence and respect OF all parties.
We sincerely regret this failure of our
attempt to secure the cooperation OF citizens
from other northern States in furtherance OF
the purpose which, as we supposed, had
brought them hither at this juncture. We
regret it all the more because your refusal
to confer and cooperate with, us appears to
be based upon n serious misrepresentation
Of the language, no less than the spirit,
of our communication. 1t can hardly
have escaped your . notice that our
statement OF the result to be attained
by the cooperative action, which we
sought to bring about was simple repro
duction of the; language Of President Grant
lat whose request, we understand, you came
here) in his recent order to General Sher-
man., That Language was deliberately used
no doubt, in view Of the fact-about which,
as we conceive, there can be no dispute-that
the first and most essential prerequisite to
an honest and Just declaration of the result
of the recent, election in Louisiana is fair
and impartial canvass Of theIyotes actually
cast and itfseems toyus that you do the
President great injustice in surprising that
in speaking Of the votes actually cast he
meant to include votes cast illegally, as you
certainly do us injustice by the imputation
OF desire to, insist upon such narrow and
vicious Interpretation. In our judgment the
expression ss'.yoIes actually cast :" OF neces-
sity designates votes legally cast, and
as consequence Of such votes only did
we desire to secure fair and impartial cam
yass. We beg leave to say, therefore, that
you are mistaken in the belief that we
sought unduly to narrow,the basis onwhich
we invited your cooperative action, and you
are no less in error in attributing to us o
purpose to interfere with the legal authors
ties Of the State in the discharge OF their
duties, to claim rights; and to arrogate TO
ourselves powers which we do not possess.
In writing our letter we We're fully aware
that both the organization ,and q action,
whether. judicial or ministerial, OF the Re
turning Board OF Louisiana were beyond
any authoritative control from without, and
that it would be the height OF arrogance and
folly to attempt to alter the laws Of State
Of which we are not citizens, or to obtrude
orr interpretation y Of these laws upon
those whose duty il. is to, administer them;
but we had supposed, nevertheless, that
there was an influence which might be right
fully exerted by citizens Of the Republic
who are strangers in this State, and we had
taken Ii for granted that your presence here
in response to the suggestion OF the Presi-
dent wasa recognition Of this fact. We had
supposed that it was not Improper for us to,
remind the auth critics OF this State, by our
mere presence, ct least. that there are GER
tain rules OF fairness and justice which un-
derlie all constitutions and laws, and upon,
whose observance must depend the acqui-
declared result OF the Louisiana election.
Rules such as these That no one ought to
be Judge. in his own case that the decision
OF any contest ought not to depend upon
the mere arbitra,nent OF one OF the parties
thereto TINT before such decision d Is
made both parties ought to be- fully
and fnirfY heard. ali questions OF law