New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-04-05

Lesesr ~ D1seFnpe Aeoe1 49,
Dislziet Asepsssy -. g 1sa Rsses,
he's addrssssd thS following jettee to Gov
ernor KELLOGG in answer to the Governors
recent Communication to him:
BATON ROUGE, March %, 1876.
His Rxcelleecy william r. Kellogg Governor Of
Louhiano New Orleans:
SrR-Your letter Of tho twenty eighth in
slant came this morning. You must have
labored under . very grave misapprehen-
sion in supposing for one instant that the
court, the grand jury or myself would fail
lation Of law that may have occurred in
this parish, and l regret exceedingly that
you should have deemed it necessary ct all,
much less through the public prints. to in
dictate line of conduct, when my duties
are 90 plainly marked by law, and their
performance pledged by oath.
1t has been many days, week or more.
since our district court has been in SEES
sion. owing to grave question which has
arisen as to whether the term has iapsed-
the matter now being before the Supreme
Court for decision. 1t has now been deter
mined to 90 on, most of the attorneys be-
ing satisfied upon the point. This much in
answer to that portion Of Your letter which
says "the occurrence OF such state OF
things in Baton Rouge, while the district
court is n session, etc.
As you have deemed proper, however,sto
specify some grievances which you desire
TO have particularly inquired into. and evil
IDENTIFY are misinf0rmed about, l can not
perhaps do better than to take them up
eeriatim, with such comments as may seem
proper.
First then az to "certain lawless persons
having combined together for the purpose
of displacing the civil authorities" know
of no such lawless persons and have heard
nothing of the combination.
Upon two or three occasions recently
there have been large mass meetings held
in the open day at Pixies Hall. public no
tice having been given, for the avOwed pun
pose, ana that alone as far as l have been
able to find out, of discussing what they
deemed public grievances and OF devising
WAYS and means for their redress.
Their deliberations have been character
lied by calmnese, but of course with that
sort Of subdued excitement naturally incl
dent to large gatherings, and the speakers
specially deprecated violence and harsh
measures.
Asa result of the first of these meetings,
in acrorda nce with resolutions adopted, the
sheriff, the tax collector, and the parish
Judge resigned. You yourself evidently &C.
Va
at least one of these officers by recognizing
the business of the demand for an abdica-
ton, in your acceptance of the SHERIFF. res
ignation and the appointment of his sue
cessOr.
1 have seen Mr.. Leblanc, oar former
sheriff, and he learns with surprise and for
the first time by your letter that he was
ever driven away FROM his native parish.
The going and coming of none of these
officers was interfered With, and they came
and went at pleasure. Indeed, the parish
Judge continued in his duties, and go the
tax collector.
At the time of the mass meeting on the
twenty-f first instant the tax collector and
parish judge were both here, though have
learned that the latter had made prepare
tions for leaving place where he had seen
that 60 mnch dissatisfaction existed. The
meeting Of the twenty-first reiterated the
resolutions of the previous one as to the
designations of the tax collector and parish
Judge. and by action similar to that of the
mass meeting held in your city relative to
public schools. sent committees to the par
ties to communicate the wishes of the as
sembly. The parish judge then determined
to give up 90 unequal q contest, 80 stated
to the committee, "a l am told by one of
them, and left for New Orleans the same
day.
The tax collector could not be found and
the meeting determined to take charge of
the States property left in his Office. This
they did peaceably and quietly. These are
the facts.
Now, sir, have looked in vain TO find
law which has been violated by any of
these meetings. for they were not "unlaw-
full assemblies" but avowedlv in the in
terest of peace and order, and their cOunsels
calm and digni6ed.
have been unable after strict inquiry
to find out that any assault was made upon
or personal violence ut any time has been
offered to any of the officers above named.
The taking charge Of the collectors
books was, of course, irregular, and there
should be provisions made for such cases.
but none, as tar as I know, yet exist under
our law.
1t would not perhaps behoove me at this
time to comment on your remarks as to the
two oficers-parish Judge and tax collec-
tor-bnt if you will reflect you will readily
see how Judges may act in such q manner
az 10 beccme unbesrable to q people, with
out subjecting themselves to criminal prose-
cution; end the records of the United States
Court will show that the tax collector did
not serve in an entirely creditable manner
as collector of United States internal reve-
nue..
think, too, sir, that you err when you
say that the animus of the disaffection with
regard to the two named officers is to be
found in the fact that they are Repub
|icans. 1 am sure that there are Repub-
leans of this parish who would till those
offices with credit to themselves and to the
satisfaction Of the community. As to color,
the clerk of our court is q colored man,
against whom 1 have heard no complaint.
and our administrator of finance, another
,olcred man, is highly respected.
The grand jury is in session to-day (for
he first time since the question as to the
court arose) and will continue to investi-
gate fully all violations of law land there
sre grave ones against officials and others),
md this will be done the more eficaciousiy
~ come of our best citizens, white and
black, now compose the grand inquest of
he parish.
In conclusion, permit me to assure your
,xcelIency that shall do my duty prompt |
= aud conecientiously.
Very respectfully,
ALVAN T. READ,
District Attorney Fifth Judicial District.
Meteorological and River Report.
The following statement Of the weAther end