New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-01-07
NEW ORLEANS, FRIDAY, JANUARY 7, 1875.


the government was left in the hands of
representatives. l say again that the best
thing we could have done was to accept the
terms offered, which we did. The cOmprO-
mise was accepted.
Now. gentlemen of the convention. let us
look at this thing as men that are disposed
to look upon things calmly and dispassion-
ately; like men that have done all that they
could do, and can not do any more. And l,
therefore, think that q memorial to Con-
gress at this time should not be considered,
for in that case the whole question would
again be open, and we would have to go
through the came ordeal again. Now, sir,
what good would it dc, ask, were we to
get up Indignation meetings! Would it not
be better to pass this thing over for the
time in silencea 1t seems to me there is
nothing lett for US to do beside that.
Cheers and hisses marked the conclusion
of this address.
Mr.. j. Ad. Rozier, of Orleans-Mr. Presi.
dent, l have the very highest respect for the
opinions of the learned and revered gentle
man who has just addressed you. He has
told US that he thinks it would be advis.
able tor us at this time to present no me-
mortal to Congress. l can not agree with
him. That compromise, sir, was only in.
tered into for tho purpose OF settling the
status Of the lower house Of the Legisla-
ture-the House of Representatives. 1t
was not Intended 10 settle this Louisiana
question at all, and consider the position
taken by the gentleman as an indelicate
one. l certainly am opposed to it, and l
know that the people of this State and of
this great city are united as unit in their
opposition to this Kellogg usurpation; and
l know that they never Will be satisfied till
oh choI b.,,- M
away. [Cheers.J
NJw, as my TREND states, that ccmpro-
misc was effected; but, sir, 1t was effected
only for the purpose Of establishing the
status of one branch of the legislative de-
partment in this State. No idea ever en-
tered into the minds of those of our repre-
sentatives who made the compromise. Mr..
Chairman, think there could be no more
fitting time in which to present memorial
to the Congress of the United States, for,
according to the constitution of the United
States, there is no Legislature, there is no
House of Representatives in the State, and
William p. Kellogg is not Governor, un-
less man upheld by federal bayonets
can be called Governor. For does
the learned gentlemen pretend to say
that William P. Kellogg was elected
Governor OF the State of Louisiana
No sir-no. He never was elected
Governor OF this State, but was placed
there by the midnight order of an United
States Judge. He never was placed in the
gubernatorial chair by majority of the
l have no hesitation in declaring that there
is no republican form of government exist
ing in this State, and / am of the opinion
that the only way in which government
OF that kind can be established is by ap-
pealing to the Congress of the United
States; aud, sir, / believe that when the case
shall have been fairly presented before the
Congress which meets again this month in
Washington, l believe, sir, that they will
adopt such measures as will give US the re
lief sought tor.
tleman upon the floor Of this convention
who believes that William Pitt Kellogg
is Governor of this State or has any
claim whatever to the chair he now
occupies. Aud how would it be possible
sir. in any other way, except by memorial
izing Congress to have John McEnery re.
cognzad as the legally elected Governor OF
the State We all know, sir. he was in
stalled as Governor, with all the ceremonies
on such occasions, and even the clergymen
Of our city were present on the occasion
and bestowed their blessings upon the &C
tlon Of that day.
declare again, sir, that John McEnery
vas duly elected Governor OF Louisiana;
that D. B. Penn was duly elected Lieutenant
Governor of the STATE; that William p.
Kellogg was made Governor OF the State by
an order OF United States Judge. Then,
SIR. after that, came the support of the ad-
ministration at Washington, having for it's
object the maintsining in power of William
2. Kellogg. That support, sir, as We
well know, was backed by the army
OF the United States; and, sir, will
the gentleman pretend to say that under
shose circumstances it would be inadvis-
able at this time to petition Congress for
relief: for, sir, am satisfied that relief will
surely cone, SOC II ar or later. and when it does
come William z. Kellogg and his followers
will have to vacate the positions they now
occupy, and John McEnery, together with
h,s associates. will be installed in their
places.
|. sir, for one, am strongly in favor of the
proposed plan OF memorlalizing Congress;
70 ask Congress to right US in our wrong
Fcheers], and, sir. hope that this conven-
lion will not djourn without memofializing g
Congress to do something for us. ], sir,
snail vote that this report be adopted as a
memorial OF this convention to Congress.
Does my friend pretend TO say, sir, that
with the Democratic Congress no good can
bs accomplished for Louisiana by mamo-
ii! No sir. We have got Dem
ocratic majority in Congress; and what
time could be more appropriate than the
present for appealing To that Congress for
add That compromise surely did not prevent
us trom laying the Louisiana case before
Congress. 1t Only affected, as l before said,
the standing of certain members Of the
House of representatives of the State of
Louisiana. fCheers.l And, sir, want to
see this convention before it adjourns, by
its unanimous consent, agree to present our
case before Congress; for, sir, am assured
that when that is done Radicalism in this
State will have begun to decline. [Great
cheers
Mr.. Leonard, of Caddo-Mr. President,
from the manner in which this question has
been discussed, feel it my duty to make a
few remarks upon the subject.
a voice-Let the gentleman take the
platform.
Mr.. Leonard did SO, and then addressed
The conventions:
There have been certain reflections, Mr..
President, cast upon the gentlemen who
advocated the Wheeler compromise, by the
adoption of that report, and l, as repre-
and one of the persons that advO-
Gated the adoption of that compromise, do
not intend that those reflections shall pass
npnoticed by me. /, sir, was an advocate
Of the Wheeler compromise, but I am no
advocate of the Kellogg usurpstion in
this State. l have seen, for some time
past, articles in the press of this city,
in strong terms, those who ad-
socated that compromise. Sir, can say
10 all sincerity that did advocate the
adoption Of the Wheeler compromise only
after having given the subject the most
serious consideration. do not consider
that that compromise settled the case of the
State of Louisiana as between William =.
Kellogg and John McEnery, but it certainly
did settle the status of the lower house,
and believed at the time that the best
possible thing that could be done was to