The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-03-29
POLITICAL TALK.

and decision is expected at an early day.
POLITICAL TALK.
| The Governor has taken up
| THE BATON ROUGE MATTER,
and has addressed the following communica-
ton to the Parish District Attorney:
| STATE OF LOUISIANA,
| EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
| New Orleans, March %, 1876
Hon. Alvan E. Reed, District Attorney, Fifth Ju-
dlcial District:
Sir-Oficial information has reached me
that in the parish of East Baton Rouge certain
lawless persons have combined together for
the purpose Of displacing by force or other.
wise, the civil authorities of that parish.
I am definitely informed that George P.
State and Parish Tax Collector of East Baton
/ Rouge, have been driven from the parish in
open violation of law.
| The Parish Judge is constitutional Off GER,
elected by large and undisputed majority.
| Up to this time no charges have been sub.
stantiated against him which would affect his
right to exercise his Office. If. he has been
! guilty of any such charge, it is your duty to
institute proceedings against him before the
| District Court, now in session in East Baton
| Rouge.
The Tax Collector of the parish was ap-
pointed by me some three years since. He is
colored man, who, before I appointed him,
had served, I believe, creditably as United
is q defaulter or has been derelict in his duty,
it is also your province to proceed against
him before the Grand Jury now in session in
East Baton Rouge,
The Sheriff of the parish a constitutional
officer, elected by large majority, was some
time since driven away and compelled to re-
sign, no offsnse being alleged against him that
/ am aware Of except that he was colored
man. Iappointed in his place a white man,
a native of the parish, and perceive that q
committee chosen at the meeting recently
held at Baton Rouge, while expressing eds
satisfaction with him on account of his poiti-
Cal associations recommended that he be toll
Grated for the present"
The laws of the State provide ample means
for the removal and punishment Of derelic.
fficials.
If proper prosecutions are instituted so as
to give me jurisdici lion will set promptly in
the case of any sppointee proved guilty of
misconduct, but the forcing of officials by
threats of violence to resign their positions is
not only in violation of law but calculated to
bring discredit on the parish and State
The occurrence of such state of things in
Baton Rouge while the District Court is in
session, without any effort being made, SO far
as I am informed, to check these evils,
prompts me to call your attention thus specif-
cally to them. I do not intend to permit a
resort to mob violence in East Baton Rouge,
or elsewhere in this State.
To the end therefore that I may exhaust all
civil remedies, request you to Immediately
institute prosecutions before the District
Court against all persons known to have been
concerned in the recent unlawful disturbances
in the city of Baton Rouge, and not only
against these persons, but against any officers
Of the parish who have been ds.elict in the
discharge of their duties.
Should the Sheriff be called upon to ex-
ecute any process of the Court, you will
cause him to be instructed to summon posse
co,naat4s of good citizens to execute this pro-
cess, no matter by whom resisted; and, if
met with force, you will cause me to be in
formed Immediately of the fact
I request you, further, to call the special
attention of the District Judge to these
points, and to move in open court for in
structions to the Grand Jury touching these
matters. Very respectfully.
VIM. P. KELLOGG.
Gov Kellogg does not like the report that
he is
CANDIDATE FOB GOVERNOR,
and denies it emphatically, and states that
although urged to enter he has positively de-
clined.
Mr.. Deslonde has given up his intention Of
becoming Congressman, and says that he
never aspired to the position, honors and
emoluments. He is casting about for some
thino haitian