The New Orleans Democrat., 1876-07-16

that high legal HubnDf1tleS kuSlHlHeu
him in refusing to abdicate his office,
and begged for time. Mr.. Wiliz coolly
drawing his watch from his pocket, gave
him fps minutes in which to abdicate.
AZ the expiration Of that time Mr.. Wilt,
without O. commission from any power,
and solelyupon the authority Of The uotes
of the De0Dg who had elected him. pro-
claimed himself Mayor, took possession
of tha MAYORS office. installed the Ad-
minigtrators. ordered his secretary TO
take charge OF the archives OF the city,
and the Wiltz city government began
business. / distinctly affirm that Mr..
Wilt then Ind no commission from any
one. and he acted promptly and resolute-
ly solely on the authority Of The people.
FulIy n month after taking pos
session Of the city government, Pinch
back. then holding possession OF the
G1bernatorial office and exercising its
functions. of his 0lcn accord rendered
Mr. Wilt and his Administrators their
commissions, and they took them.
They never recognized Pinchback as
Governor Of Louisiana. 1t was Pinch
hack. in fact who recognized them, in
face of the fact that the Radical autlor-
tiles had at first disputed their official
character.
when rendered, was right aud proper.
pinohback was exercising the functions
IF the pubernatorial office, oil the
courts and departments of the State were
in harmony with him. The city govern
ment was ilnpotent to dislodge MN
and establish the legal g0Uer1tment, while
vast interests OF the city were at stake
and would have been sacrificed.
Had they refused to take commissions
| all their nets would have been held bJ
the courts as null and void, the engine
| ri nitv government would have been
! stopned. and in the course OF not many
davs appointees Of Kellogg would have
been installed in their places. In TINS
they acted for the good OF the city, ant
with the advice and appreciation OF aoit
inrists and the most patriotic oil thell
Gentlemen whose integrity OF pur
nose and whose devotion to Lolisi1Dt
stand unquestioned, even by 'Cltzen,
have accepted commissions from
similar source. There pre- no graaatIon'
i'm the authority OF usurpers the titi9 u
office of one usurper is as empty as thh
Of another. Pinchback was never tht
legal Governor of Louisiana, yet ne wai
fully as much the Governor in Decem
her 1872. as Kellogg was in 1874, ant
! Keitooo is and has been all along III
rnunh q 1surper as was Pinchback; ye
| Meesie1,rs Levy, Ellis, Gibson ant
Spencer, our Democratic members
Congress, not only accepted thelr ere
dentials from Kellogg, but osked t0
fben from that source. They are not cen
surubIe for doing so. The policy 0
revolution had been long abandoned
and they had TO recognize the de iacu
character of Kellogg or leave Loulsiab'
Ito be represented in Congress by tWo Q
three Radicais alone Does not Cltl
zen" himself perceive now uhlaiI ah
partial be bas been
ro,aness Toward the DE Jurc govern
ment.
On "Wednesday, December II, 1872, ]
obediepce TO the call OF Gov. Warmoth
the General Assembly OF Louisiana me
i'm speeial session at the CITY nan, III
Senate occupying the Councll IhaIn pe M
! and the House using Byceuul Haii, IN
, State House (Mechanics lnstitute) VI
inc in possession Of United states so
d;era oyoct1tiuq an order of the Unite
+ States Circuit Court, issued December
. lbv Dnrell to Marshal Packard. ~
) f,itv Hall was so occupied with NJ
Wits full and free consent and appr'
/ bation. although at great inconvenlent
) to all employed there in the business
l the citv. His office was occupied as 81
, ecltive office by Gov. Warmoth, and ii
3 business of the city was almost entlre
! suspended, while every facility W.
t given by him and his officers TO u
! members, officers and employees
:, both houses. 1o,,,.
:, ton OF Senators ana hepfeSeil,,sa'.,is
I called on him, and after consultatl
d thev readily concurred with him IN u
{ oninion that some other place shou
s he fouud. as the City Hall was not cap
i bic of accommodating the city COVER
r ment and the Legislature. Messl
9 Rooth. Mellon, McCaleb and other
II senators and Representatives, membe
V of the committee, will remember wh
n was said md confirm this statemef
n Thev withdrew their request. ana so
!. found a far more suitable ana comm
V dious b1ihing. It was afterwards fou
y necessaryto convert Lyceum Hall, nel
t. tofore used for public lectures, Iai
y etc, into six additional rooms or oiilc'
r for the accommodatloh OF tnooos
/" gagged in the various departments ol
e citv government alone. = 1r,
g II fs well known that Mayor WI
= urged Senators and Representatives.
% the LEGISLATURE, at its extra session
Ie December. 1872, to restore the control
ID the city police to the Mayor and cor
,r ell Gil The bill passed in the Senate. q
\. @ was adopted by substitute in n, the , ho1 4
A. hut before the Senate could act on t
D. substitute the Legislature ADJOURNED
ID the first Monday in January, upon :
es recommendation OF Gov. Warin0
Iy This adjournment, without action; ),
d, the m police State institution. as befo
and wholly beyond the control OF OF i !
Mnvor and Council. notwithstandl
tha 1eal with. which Mayor Wlltz b
,a ,n urged prompt and sweeping action
ne was then ready to take charge OF !
e. nolice n%i eat at once. Had the bill passed
a, a. n new city police, under Mayor WI vi
nr would have been put III In oPefati4n w
ots ont an hours delay. Tltat was the NJ
OF for for instant and vigorous action, Q
no Mr.. Witt was then ready and anxl' N
ne to so act as to put an end to m N
IIo odions. expensive and tyraDnous usur
he be ton OF municipal authority.
ad