The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-02-05
THE RETURNING BOARD.
The Duty Of the House Of Representa-

ceived. We wish them TO comprehen
intelligently and perfectly our situation
What is that situation? From tn
Governor down to the lowest state Of
flccr, every place is occupied by per
son who was defeated ut the election
In the Senate nearly one half OF tn
members are usurpers. No law can b
passed without the concurrence Of tn
Senate. No law can be enforced with
out the action Of the Executive Depart
mcnt. From radical standpoint NJ
legislative changes are required. To-
every enactment necessary to Cypress
humiliate, harrass, rob and ruin thu
people Of the State, now has place
upon the statute book. If you doub
this statement look Mt the Police militia
bill. the tax bill, the assessment regu
lations, the change OF venue law, the
Capitalization Of all tho political power
In the hands Of the Governor, the accu
mutation Of all the judicial power IN
the Superior District Court, and then,
superaddod to all this that all the State
officers, and all the courts OF inferior
jurisdiction, and two-thirds Of the State
Senators are banded together for the
perpetuation or their power over the
rights and liberties Of tho people.
Under these circumstances, and
armed with these powers, the
leaders OF the Republican party
have taxed our citizens until labor can
find no employ, and until capital is
wholly unproductive. They have tram
pied upon law and right until there Is
left no such thing, in their estimation,
~ an absolute primeval right. Their
executive officers and subordinatcs dare
10 inflict any Outrage upon the people,
and their courts have been found ever
ready TO decide in their favor, and give
judicial sanction to the wrong. Citizens
have been imprisoned, police militia
and marshals have dragooned peaceful
communities, property has boon coniis-
Gated by tax sales, the right Of the pco-
pie to assemble has been denied by
legislative enactment, and In 1874 VIM.
Pitt Kellogg, the usurpcr, attempted to
disarm the people, and actually made
domiciliary search and seizure of arms
in certain cases. Under this state Of
affairs who was justified In hoping for
any reformation at the hands of these
usurpers? And yet our people-patient,
long suffering, even crcdulous, did
hope. They know that ut q fair election
In 1875 they can, by peaceful means,
drive out the usurper and spoilers, and
elect honest officials In every department
Of the State government. This they did
in 1872, and 1874, but their decision at
the polls was annulled by the State Re
turning Board. With the Returning
Board, they knew there was no hope,
but their faith In the future Icy in tho
professions Of the usurper and his fol-
lowers that q fair election law would be
And now, these hopes are
dashed. for the Radical Senate has just
rejected IN election law which the
House passed, which was fair in every
partis liar, and has adopted an act, in
It's ST. I'd, which retains the State Return
ing Board. The present law, with its Re
turning Board feature, Is not repealed,
md Radicalism will not repeal It, unless
= law equally infamous be pissed in It's
place. In the fall campaign we vote,
subject to the decision OF the State Re
turning Board. We can roll up Demo
ratio majority Of thousands as UiN be
lone, beyond doubt, but after the con-
lict Is over, land the silence and calm
como on" the Radical Returning Board
will assemble in some attic or garnet of
,ur city, and declare elected Radical
Governor, State officers, Judges and
Legislature. In 1872 Lynch and Long
street and Hawkins did this, and they
we're rewarded by their party. In 1874, |
Wells and Anderson did this, and they, |
likewise, have had their reward. Radi-
al Congressional committees have con-
lemned their action, but the results OF
hat action have been left undisturbed,
md the Supreme Court has decided re-
'eatedly that the Returning Board is
upreme. and that it's decisions are
lnal
Then where are our hopes We tell
he people, plainly, that, under this
tate OF affairs, there is no hope. The
adical Senate and Mr.. Kellogg do not
intend to repeal the Returning Board
NV. They will promise to do so, and
'hen the conference committees OF
he Senate and House meet, they will
ak fairly and profess all things, but
ime will be wasted, days will pass into
7eeks, the Legislative term will expire,
nd we will find ourselves duped, de-
eived, and hopeless, in the midst Of
ne ruins OF our State.
But there is remedy. In spite OF
lkewarm friends and merciless en-
mics, there is path out OF our diff
ulties. 1t Is not in withholding
appropriations, for this is child's play.
.ellogg and his courts will enforce the
ayment OF taxes, and, with their hands
the treasury, they will appropriate
II that they need or desire. Nor is it
| temporizing and holding conferences I
18th Radical Senators.
The plan is for the House of Repre-
'ntatives to assert its power under the !
institution. I
Let the usurper Kellogg, with his
senate at his heels" be told, by the
copies House Of Representatives, in i
10 name of the people, and by their c
that the peOp1a dnmnp1 that