The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-01-15
Judge Billings.

Judge Billings.
We do not know that the nomination
Of Il. G. Billings as United States Judge
for the District OF Louisiana, In. place
OF Durell. who resigned to avoid i'm
prise. Billings was deeply involved
transactions which resulted in the in
trusion OF Kellogg into the Governor
ship. He was concerned In the man
ufacture OF the famous midnight order
which overturned the State govern
ment. He was discreditably employ
cd at Washington al KelIogg's coun-
sci when the whole structure Of that
administration built up by fraud and
violence was menaced by Senatorial
investigation. II was he who wrote
Kellogg not to let his Registrar Of
Voters, Blanchard, 60 before the Senate
committee, because his examination
proposed that instead OF allowing the
committee to question witnesses who
knew too much to be safe, the Kellogg
conspirators should trust altogether to
the void decisions Of the Louisiana
courts and "the interests Of the Admin
istration party" II was he who in
structed Kellogg to telegraph TO Sena-
tor Carpenter "The Republican
interests require the immediate
seating Of Pinchback;' and wrote
to his Dear Governor" i
think II the matter Is pushed to
IN immediate vete on just enough OF
cdse we shall win" In short, the docu.
ments captured at the New Orleans
State House during tho Conservative
occupation Of the building In 1874 show
that Billings was then confidential
agent and negotiator between Kellogg
on the one hand and Senator Morton
and Attorney General Williams on the
other. in transaction which no good
citizen Of either party aan now reflect
upon without shame and resentment.
These facts may be reasons to the
Senate for rejecting the nomination,
but they are not reasons TO Gen. Grant
for not making IT, All the operations
Of Kellogg In Louisiana have had the
Presidents hearty approval and assist
ance. and while It is no doubt true that
since the disclosures Of repeated Re-
publican Investigating committees, o
great many honest friends OF the Ad.
ministration who formerly defended the
Louisiana policy now look upon 1t az
Iameptable blunder, II not something
worse. we must remember that there Is
no reason 10 suppose Gen. Grants
views have been modified In the slight
est degree. He acted on tho mid
night !order," and 1t is natural that at
the first opportunity he should reward
| the lawyer who aided the Judge In
making 1t. He cordially approved Du..
rell's restraining order In the case OF
Antoine VS.. Warmoth, OF which the
Senate committee decleared that they
knew "no language too strong to ex..
press their condemnation Of it," and
hence after the Judge has been virtually
driven off the bench for signing 1t he
NATURALLY promotes to the vacant place
the counsel who drew 1t up. In this in
stance Gen. Grant Is "yindicating" not
merely Durell and Kellogg, but himself.
Personally, Mr.. Billings Is unfit FOL. q
Judge, OF his ability al q lawyer we do
not speak but his associations dis
qualify him for the bench, and especial
" for the bench Of the Louisiana court,
where partisan politics have figured too
largely already. He has been al
through the troubles one OF the most
active politicians Of the Casey Packard'
Kellogg Norton faction, and an inti-
who was Durell's assignee in bank'
ruptcy, and whose transactions in
that capacity were the cause q
90 much scandal 1t is not at ail
unlikely that the affairs Of this clique
NAV REQUIRE judicial action 1t is almost
certain that questions OF party politics
will be involved in some OF the proceed
inos of the District Court in Louisiana,
as they are in ali the Southern States
and what respect can possibly be enter.
tained in such cases for the rulings Of
fudge 80 deeply complicated? But. il
these considerations are not enough fol
the Senators, we beg them to read ths
Louisiana report Of their own commit
tee, and remember that the outrageous
,Eordefs therein denounced with just In
|djgnation are the handiwork OF thu
! man whose name Is now submitted X
them for confirmation as Q judge OF {
high Federal Court.-N 7, Tribune.