The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1876-01-19
ADDRESS OF THE CONVENTION.


To the President, and to the Senate and
House of Representatives of tho United
States of America
We. the people of the State Of Lou
isiana, assembled in convention
through their regularly chosen dele
gates, respectfully petition this, our
memorial and petition, and ask for it
respectful consideration.
We assume that it has been estab-
lished before both Houses of Con-
gress that the acting government in
the State of Louisiana is q usurpa-
ton; that the individuals personating
it we're never elected by the people
of the State, but, on the contrary,
were unquestionably defeated at the
elections held for the Offices which
they fill in 1874; that this is true as
to the Governor, Lieutenant Cover
nor, all the State officers, fifteen SEN
ators, several Representatives, one Of
the Supreme judges, several Of the
district judges, and many of the in
ferior local officers.
We further assume as q fact equal
ity established, that the lawfully
elected Governor, State officers, Sen
ators, Representatives, judges and
inferior officers, whose places are
usurped and held BY their defeated
opponents, were, and are, excluded
from said official positions by the
unlawful interference Of the Federal
authority, through its courts, and
through its military power.
{ The midnight order and double
writ of mandamus and injunction is
sued by Judge Durell, United States
District Judge, by which he organ
lied the usurping Legislature, and
for which he arrested impeachment
only by resignation; the seizure Of
the State House by Federal troops
in December, 1872; the dispersion by.
force of the State Legislature and
the arrest Of Speaker Moncure in
March, 1873. the expulsion of Speak
Ell Wiltzand certain Representatives
in the State Legislature, in January,
1875; the proclamations Of the Pres
ident in April, 1872, and September,
1874, and the blood thirsty. orders
and dispatches Of General Sheridan
in January, 1876, are facts, the sick
ening recital Of which has engaged
the attention OF the people Of the
Union, and are too we'll known to
Justify REPETITION.
We also assume that it has been
established that the right Of the peo-
pie to elect their officers and repre-
sentatiyes has been taken from them
and vested in a partisan State Re-
turning Board of FIVE members, cho-
sen by the usurping State Senate,
and having the power within itself to
ill vacancies that may occur in its
membership; that it has been estab-
lished that this board may ignore
official returns Of elections, and sub
stitute therefor ec parte affldavits,
their own opinions and calculations;
that they may add supposititious
votes or reject legal votes, and Sc
modify the official returns as to. de.
feat the will of the people and sub
stitute therefor their own persona
or partisan choice of candidates, and
that the State Supreme Court has re.
pcatedly decided that the declare
tions of the Returning Board are fina
and cannot be reviewed by any tri
hunal.
In view of these facts, the peopl,
of the State see with alarm that til,
usurping Kellogg government which
they never elected, and which, there
fore, is not republican in form or il
substance, is armed with the fearful
power Of absolute self-perpetuation
and in view Of the atrociously wicke.
tvrannical and lawless conduct Of tn
usurpers, as shown by the statute
book, by the court records, and b.
the public history of this unfortu
nate State since their usurpation rul
began, the people cannot delud
themselves with the belief, or lul
themselves with the hope, that til
conduct of these corrupt and nnprir
cipled usurpers in the future Wi
!, differ from it's conduct in the past.
/ We furthermore assume that it liza
been demonstrated that this usurps
tion can exist only as it is supporte
by the military power Of the FEEDER.
Government.
The Senate Committee so found
1878; the House Committee so foun