The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1876-04-26
Justice for Louisiana,

unhappy condition manifested by the
present Democratic House of Repre-
sentat;ves. A brief review of tho situ.
alton will enable the reader to Judge
whether there is sufficient cause for
such complaints.
In 1872, Mr.. McEnery was elected
Governor by majority of over 10, 600,
and the other candidates on the same
general ticket by large majorities.
Mr.. McEnery was formally inaugurated
BY Legislature composed of a quorum
of members in both branches, all of
whom had been proved to be elected
by the sworn official returns. In the
same year came the illegal midnight
order of the drunken Judge Durell,
backed by the military forces of the
United States, overturning the legiti-
mate Government and installing the
negroes and carpet-baggers in power,
with Kellogg at their head. The spu.
rious Legislature which resulted from
this revolutionary proceeding is the
same one which elected, or pretended
to elect, Pinchback as United States
Senator. A Republican Senate long
ago decided that Durell's order was
illegal and utterly void; and recently
by deciding against the validity of
Pinchhack's election, it has again char
acterized the pretended Kellogg Gov
eminent as an infamous fraud.
In 1874, a Legislature having ma
jority Of Conservative members was
again chosen, and without shadow of
authority for doing so, President Grant
used United States troops to drive from
the halls of legislation the men who
were legally elected, and to install iii
their places partisans of his own. No
despot on earth could have performed
a more lawless Or tyrannical act than
this, which, however, seems to have
net the approval of the same Senate
which has placed on record its confess
sion that the Kellogg Government is
fraudulent usurpation.
Then came the Wheeler compromise,
which was limited to the settlement of
a few contested seats in the Legisla.
ture, and an informal promise of some
Of the Conservatives to party of gen
tlemen who had no official relation Ell
ther to the national Government or to
that of Louisiana, that Kellogg and
his confederates should not be modest.
ed for the crimes that they had then
committed. The GRANTEES claim that
this was an acquiescence in the legality
of the Kellogg Government, and set
Element of all grievances. The people
Of Louisiana, on the contrary, hold
that it was temporary expedient to
prevent disturbance Of the public
peace, and that they were induced to
consent to the compromise by pledges
Of reform from Wheeler and kellogg,
which have been utterly disregarled.
1t was certainly very oue-silel
bargain. III return for being permit
TED 70 seat in the Legislature u portion
of their candidates, who had been To-
gally elected, the Conservatives quiet
ly submitted to the continuance in of.
lice of Il Governor, Lieutenant Cover
nor, Auditor, Attorney. General. Sccro.
tary of State, and Treasurer, every one
Of whom had been defeated ut the polls
by majorities varying from 1900 to
$4,000. 1t also left ac"rrupt judiciary
elected by fraud, in power to carry out
the DEGREES of Il dishons st and spurious
Government. This is the condition of
Louisiana to-day, and it is not strange
that the people, taxed to the verge of
confiscation for the emolument of their
usurping rulers, should feel FESTIVE and
disconnected.
But what can Congress do to help
them7 With Republican majority in
the Senate, it would be impossible to
carry out any just legislation calcula-
ted to repair the wrongs which have
been inflicted upon this long-sq fering
people. Their only hope is in e polit-
ical whirlwicd In November which
will utterly overthrow the corrupted
party which still holds the balance of
power in Washington; and in order
that this may be accomplished, the
people of Louisiana can in no wise af-
ford greater aid to those in the North
and elsewhere who desire to see equal
justice dealt out to all, than by pa
tiently bearing their wrongs short
time longer, in tho hope of speedy
deliverance. Any other course might
be attended with the most unfortunate
results, not only to themselves, but to
their brethren in other Southern
States.
There is ono thing, however, which
Congress. 1t can institute an immedi-
ate investigation into those sinks of
corruption, the New Orleans Custom
House and the office of the United
States Marshal for Louisiana, and If it
will do this effectively, the result upon
public sentiment in the North will be
healthy and beneficial. And the