New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-09-08
Reply of Governor Antoine to Major E.
A. Burke.

neply OF governor Antoine 70 MdJOE e.
A. Burke.
Acting Governor Antoine has forwarded
to Major E. A. Burke, chairman OF the
Democratic committee on registration, in
answer to his letter Of September !. re-
questing an equal division OF clerks and
supervisors between the Republican and
Democratic parties, these officers to be as
signed alternately, the following reply:
STATE OF LOUISIANA.
Executive Department.
New Orleans, September :, 1861
Hon F.. A. Burke. Chairman Committee on Regis
tra.ion of the Democratic Conservative Party:
SIR-Your communication Of September
l was duly received. 1t substantially re-
peats the cuest made by Colonel /. W.
Patton, chairman Of the Democratic-Con-
servative committee, under date of August
@, and fully answered by me August &c.
The only new point brought forward in your
letter is the statement that the chairman
of the Republican Campaign Committee
testified under oath before the COMPRESSION
al committee, of which Mr. Hosr was chair
man, as follows:
Il assume the colored vote in this city in
1874 not to exceed LEGO. There was over
$4,000. and ali over II 200, in my opinion, is
fraudulent
Passing over the circumstance that the
gentleman alluded to is not 1.-The chairman
of the Republican Campaign Committee"
as of no great consequence, call your at.
tention to the fact that in quoting his evil
dence, and thus making him your witness,
you have quoted imperfectly, and have
omitted not the least important part of his
statement. By referring to the same page
from which you have quoted, and the page
following, you will perceive your witness
said that in his opinion there were 10000
fraudulent votes registered in this city at
the last election. 1000 Of which were Repub-
lican and sir thousand lrere Democratic.
The Democratic party in 1874 were given
q clerk in each registration Office in this
city. and yet,if the testimony referr to by
you is to he relied on, the result was q
fraudulent registration of over 10000
names. May it not be inferred that, with
an increased party representation at the
registration Offices, such ss is now asked
for by you, the Irregularities would be still
greater9
repeat the assurance given in my letter
to Colonel Patton that "lf it be made ap-
parent that the interests of fair election
can be promoted by changes or removals
in the registration appointments already
filled, those changes will be made, and any
recommendations which You may send will
receive their due weight"
have lately made several changes and
appointments on the recommendation OF
prominent Denocrats-in one instance at
the request Of leading candidate on the
Democratic State ticket. But it is not by
any means made apparent to me that the
interests of fair election will be promoted
by complying with your request, That .
Democratic and Conservative supervisor of
registration be appointed in each alternate
parish of the State and in each alternate
ward of New Orleans, and similar dis.
tribution in the appointment Of clerks. In
other words, that to each Republican su-
pervisor be assigned two clerks from the
Democratic and Conservative party, and to
each Democratic and Conservative super
visor be assigned two clerks
This Is demand for patronage, not sim
ply for fair opportunity OF scrutiny. 1t is
no more reasonable than would be de-
nand on the part of the Repu blican Parish
Committee to be represented in the appoint
1nents of the Department of Improvements.
] repeat, we are willing to accord fair op-
portunity for scrutiny, notwithstanding z
your party refused to yield that right 70 US
in 1872. l notice, however. that the dOmi-
nalt Democratic party in the neighborlng
State of Alabama made no such cOHces sion
to their political opponents in the recent
election.
again mention the fact that no recon-
mendatiOns for officers OF registration have
vet been forwarded to me- either by Colonel
Patton or yourself. The conclusion seems
irresistible that the demands for representa-
tion preferred by Democratic committees
at this late hour, when, of necessity, all or
nearly all the registration appointments
have been filled, are made not with view
of aiding the executive to select fair and
honorable men to discharge delicate duty.
but to make record and give pretext for
charges Of fraud and wrong-doing founded
neither on truth nor Justice.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
c. C. ANTOINE,
Lieutenant Governor and Acting Governor.