The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-01-07

| are in favor of meeting ppnctuAlly the pay |
ment of the legitimate debt of Louisiana, we
are immovably opposed TO the recognition OF
the dishonest and fraudulent obligations
issued in the name of the State /; and We
pledge ourselves to make searching lnvesti-
CATION in the matter.
5. We advocate the reduction of the ex-
orbitant appropriations for public printing
and metropolitan police purposes and de-
demand that the whole system of police and
public printing be remodeled.
g. We declare our hearty opposition to all
monopolies whatever.
T. We recognize and reafirm the Demo-
cratic doctrine that gold and silver be the
legal currency and favor return to specie
basis as soon as it Can be done without injury
to the material interests OF the country.
Mr. Leonard read the minority report, pro-
testing against the adoption of the majority
report, as it would di-organize the crystalized
union perfected at B ton Rouge.
The report was on motion adopted.
Mr. Cross, OF East Feliciana, objected to
the introduction of platform at such an ear
ly day, and he moved that the seventh section
be stricken out
motion to lay that motion on the table
was carried.
The report of fhe committee was unani-
mously carried amidst the lOudeSt and con-
tiDued applause.
MOtlOn WAS LQ0Q mAU0 tuhI Tue pIOCS VI
the minority be spread upon the minutes.
Carried.
Toe Committee on Memorial and Address
then assembled the platform and made their
report. Mr.. Mari, who read the report, was
frequently applauded.
Col S. J N. Smith offered an amendment
to the address.
Judge Merrick objected to the adoption Of
any memorial, as being inopportune.
d. MI han, tlov ,Iaffn
and in q careful review went over the history
of the past four years. He referred in bitter
terms to the present usurpatiOn, and said that
Gov. Kellogg, who talked in the way he did
about The Returning Board, did not mean to
give the people any relief. The Supreme
Court would decide in their favor always
The people Of Louisiana were now chained
in slavery; the clanking of their chains could
oe heard. The sons of Louisiana would move
heaven and earth to secure their liberty.
[Applause.]
Mr.. Mari made vigorous speech in favor
of the memorial, and was followed by Mr..
Leonard of Caddo who offered resolution
as substitute to the address.
Gov Wickliffa spoke in opposition, and in
his powerful oratory riddled Mr.. Leonard's
speech.
Gen. John Young, of Claiborne, approved
the mem orial, as 1t did not reflect on COM
promisers.
Kidd, of Jackson, also in brilliant effort
sustained the address.
The motion to table Mr.. Leonards resolu-
. ton WIS carried, and the address Was carried
unanimously.
To the President and to the Senate and House
of REPRESENTATIVES of the United States OF
America:
We. the people of the State of Louisiana,
assembled in convention through our regu-
: iarly chosen delegates, respectfully present
this our memorial and petition and ask tor
it respectful consideration.
We assume that it has been established be-
, fore both houses of Congress that the acting
government in the State of louisiana is a
9 usurpation; that the individuals personatlug
8 it were never elected by the people of the
State, but. on the contrary, were unquestlona-
bly, defeated at the elections held for the offices
Q which they fill, in 1872 and 1874; that this is
true as to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor,
j all the State officers, fifteen enators, several
3 Representatives. one of the Sdpreme Judges,
several OF the District judges, and many Of
| the inferior local officers.
We further assume as fact equally estab-
lished, that the lawfully elected Governor,
e State officers, Senators, Representatives,
: judges and inferior officers, whose places are
usurped and held by their defeated oppo-
o nents, were, and are excluded from said OIL
# cial positions by the unlawful interference OF
9 the Federal authority, through its courts, and
through it's military power.
The midnight order and double writ of
t mandamus and injunction issued by Judge
: Durel, United States District Judge, by
: which he organized the usurping Legislature
Q and for which he escaped impeachment only
! by resignation the seizure of the State
: House by Federal troops in December. 1872 !;
So ~, Sto<o <v;11ok
/ and the arrest of Speaker Moncure In March,
d 1873 the expulsion of Speaker Witt and GER
q tain Representatives in the State Legislature in
/ January, 1875 the proclama ions OF the Pres-
dent in April 1873, and September, 1874
o and the blood-thirsty orders and dispatches
: of Gen. Sheridan in January, 1875, are facts
3 the sickening recital Of which has engaged
t the attention of the people OF the Union, and
# are too we'll known to jus tify repetition.
# We also assume that it has been established
IS that the right Of the people to elect their
: officers and representatives. has been taken
from them and vested in partisan State Re-
j. turning Board of five members, chosen by
) the usurping State Senate, and having the
# power within itself to fill vacancies that may
9 occur in its membership; that it has been es-
d tablished that this board may ignore the Off
cial returns of elections and substitute there
O for er parte affidavits, their own opinions and
i calculations; that they may add suppositi-
}. tious votes or reject legal votes, and SO modi-
r fly the off clal returns by unofficial statements
as to defeat the will of the people and substi-
j. ute therefor their own personal or partisan
j. choice of candidates. and that the State Su-
preme Court has repeatedly decided that the
J.. declarations of the Returning Board are final
8 and can not be reviewed by any tribunal
9 In view of these facts, the people Of the
! State see with alarm that the usurplDg Kel-
q log government, which they never elected,
l. and which, therefore, is not republican IN
It form or in substance, is armed with the fear
r tul power of absolute selfperpetuaion and
IS in view of the atrociously wicked, tyrann ical
i. and lawless conduct of the usurpers, as shown
by the statute book, by the court records,
t and by the public history of this unfortunate
e State since their usurping rule bsgan, the
IS people can not delude themselves with the