New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-11-21
The RetuFnin9 Board.

/
Though their names and fame are ia
milisr az household words to the people OF
Louisiana, it is evident there are many
strangers with ne who would be glad fol-
Returning Board.
Hon. James Madison Wells, president OF
the board, is a native of the parish on Red
river where he still resides. In the year
1912, when the convention met in this city
to frame the constitution under which
Louisiana was admitted into the Union as
q State. the parish of Rapides was repre-
scented by Hon. Levi Wells, his father.
| The old gentleman lived there many
years, and died full of honors. The son
received liberal education, took active
care Of his fathers planting and other in
terests, and was early in life identified with
| the politics of his section. When the war
came on he suffered severely by loss of prop,
| erty, but never for moment wavered in his
allegiance to the Union. In 1864, under the
chosen Lieutenant Governor on the ticket
| with Governor Michael Hahn. A year
| later, upon the election of Hahn to the
United States Senate, Wells became Gov.
ernor of the State. After the war had
closed and President johnson announced
! his new theory of reconstruction, Governor
Wells gave him his cordial support, and
later was elected Governor of the State by
an almost unanimous vote. His manage
uent OF the affairs of State was wise,
conoiiatory and conservative, in marked
contrast With the spirit of most OF those
with whom he was associated. During his
term occurred the memorable massacre of
the thirtieth of July, 1866, which he did all
in his power to avert, and never failed to
denounce in unmeasured terms. Then fol-
lowed the congressional scheme of recon
struction, and in pursuance thereof, those
gentlemen failing to harmonic in their
views, Wells was removed from the execu-
tive office by General Sheridan, then in
command of the department.. Governor
Wells retired to his home in Rapides, and
devoted his energies to repairing his shat
tered fortunes. Measurably out of public
life until 1872, the Liberal movement,
which eliminated in the nomination of
Greeley at Cincinnati, attracted his Gym
pathies, and he became one of its most
ardent supporters. That movement in
Louisiana became q most M iserable tasco.
1t was swallowedup in the hungry nav
of Bourbonism, and Governor Wells aban-
- l4T1 G~o ho
last ditch of Democracy. This is all there
is to say of hin, until he came prominently
before the public as member of the Re
turning Board in 1874. His frmness of char
acter, foresight and clear sense OF the
| equities, then exhibited, notwithstanding
the Wheeler compromise, have since been
confirmed by The political events of the
State. 1t is fortunate for all who want even
and exact Justice aud fair play for all that
the eminent services of this gentleman are
portant juncture-
General Thomas C.. Anderson, next to the
senior member of the board is native of
Virginia, but has resided in this State tor
some forty years. He settled while young
man in the parish of ST. Landry near the
town of Opelousas, and no man has been
more influential than he in the material
| and social progress of his section. He. like
Governor Wells, is a planter and lawyer.
He represented his parish in the Legisla-
ture year after year before the war and
has held his seat as a Senator uninterrupt-
edly since. He was elected in 1863 as q
Democrat, and again in 1872, running
against F. A. Riard, Republican, and James
NJ. Moore, also a Democrat His intense love
of justice and his high sense OF honor forbade
his running in the party harness, and in the
last few years he has acted with the Re-
publicans. In the last election he was sup
ported by the Republicans and the 1nde-
pendents of his district for reelection, and
carried his own parish-a Dem ocratic
stronghold-by handsome majority. Dem
ocratic votes in other parishes where he
was not so we'll known prevented his cleo
ton by small vote. That he was not re-
elected was less misfortune to him than
to his people, by whom he is universally
beloved and esteemed, irrespective of faith
or faction.
Gadane Casanave, the third member of
the board, is worthy type of the large
and respectable class known before the war
as free persons Of color. Literally edu
Gated in the French schools, and of supe-
rior business habits, he had acquired a
large fortune before the war. He has never
sought office in all the years Of Republican
supremacy in Louisi ana, but now and then
the Office las sought him out, and he has
been repeatedly called to the performance
of delicate and responsible duties, where a
clear head, mature judgment and unques-
tonable integrity have been required. Casa
nave's name is the counterpart of honor,
and his word is his bond.
The junior member, Louis NJ. Kenner, ia
young man of colored blood and of good
connections. He bears, amended with
bar sinister, one of the Oldest and noblest
eecutcheons in the South. He represents
the freedmen element of the population on
the board, and represents it we'll. He is
man Of quick perception and superior pusi-
ness habits, which he we'll demonstrated
while in charge of the street commissioners
bureau of the Department of Improve
ments, under Colonel Lewis, few years
ago.
These, in brief, are the men who con-
prise the Returning Board-men against
whom no charge Of malfeasa nee or cOrrup-
ton has ever been truly made, and it is
q ON hfful IL the Damncracx at ita hest conld