New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-02-15
The Leuisiana Qaestion from NOrthern
Democratic Standpoint.

l<D01010m0 V000t1Om u
Democratic Standpoint.
The New York World, of the tenth, con
tains the following from it's Washington
correspondent
The rumor IN regard to possible political
trouble in Louisiana was not without some
foundation, but it may be stated on good
authority that the shadowy and uniformed
danger has passed away. 1t has been
claimed by some of the Democrats Of that
State that the Wheeler compromise did not
include within it's terms q recognition OF the
validity of K.llegg's government. and
on the first day Of the session slight move
ment in the interest Of such doctrine was
made by Mr.. Wood, but was Immediately
discOuntenauced by the House. Since that
time the people of Louisiana, harrassed with
the effects and the memory Of past wrongs
and threatened with the passage of Q vicious
election law and the rejection of their
lawfully elected SenatOr-bOth acts in VIC
latiOn Of the Wheeler compromise-have
been Indignant and impatient. They have
chafed under the obligations of an agree
ment from which they receive no benefits.
As an expression of their sentiment, q me.
mortal was forwarded to Congress about
month ago. asking the House to reopen the
LOUISIANA case, and demand Justice for the
prostrale State at the hands of the Presi-
dent. This memorial was put into the
Speakers hands at the close of the amnesty
debate, and he gave to the Democratic
Representatives of the State his frank
opinion Of its folly. He wac, throughout
his political career, the staunchest cham
pion of the States enduring plumber and op
preston under the name of reconstruction.
but any scheme TO reviving the issues OF 1872
in Louisiana he regarded "a dangerous to the
OooCo of I'll af oOyv, m IN th and the welfare
Of the country. The wrongs then committed
we're part of the history, and the Repuo-
lican party should be held responsible tor
them. But their redress is not now poll
teal issue. The shadow can not be put
back upon the dial. This is merely your
correspondents way of trying to express
the Speakers strong determination AGAINST
oveItarowing the settlement made IN Louis
lana last epripg. False reports OF the attl-
tude of the Democratic m ,jority in the
House were subsequently circulated IN New
Orleans and tended to inhame the pOlltical
excitement, which was already hot enough.
The upshOt of the matter was that repre-
sentative in Washington of the New Orleans
extremists, under q deluslOn in regard 10
the position Of the Democracy OF the conn
try, undertook to carry out the hopes OF his
friends at home. Naturally enough he was
brought directly in contact with the Speaker.
his own prejudices and desires. the LOUIS
ianian had the fullest confidence; and,
though advised to 60 to others for corrobo-
ration of the views OF the Speaker ne
threw himself altogether on that gentle
mans wisdom The question put was
curious one. Mr.. Kerr Was asked what the
Democrats Of the House would do ii, driven
on BY the craftsmanship OF the Senate ana
the enactment of q law re-establishing the
infamous Returning Board. the lower
house of the Louisiana Legislature should
impeach Governor Kellogg, Lieutenant
Governor Antoine and the Secretary OF
State Such action would. according 10
the law Of the commonwealth, suspend
those officials from the performance OF |
their functions, and McEnery might be
restored to the authority to which he was
elected by bis fellow-citizsns nearly four
wears ago. The answer was prompt, vigor-
GUS and decisive, and may be summed up
in these terms Such action
would be virtually revolutionary. The |
ousted officials would appeal to the Presi-
dent for assistance and aid would be grant
ed to them. The Kellogg government would
be restored, with renewed powers for evil,
and the burdens of the people would be
multiplied; the contest would be put In /
such shape that the House would not only |
be powerless to interfere, but would be
the executive in maintaining order.
The plain duty of the people of |
Louisiana was to seek their rights by |
lawful means, and they should practice the |
virtue of patience not only for their own |
sake, but for the sake of the whole country.
1t would be better even to submit to wrong |
than by vol. mt or illegal methods give rea- |
son for the enemies of the Democracy to IS
serting that the party Was fomentlng dis |
cord and aiming at Overturning the estab- |
lished order of things in the South. These |
emph attic declarations, to which the best |
men Of the country will add their hearty |
emphasis. will ring in the ears OF the discon-
tented 10 Nav Orleans tomorrow morning,
and it any dream Of revolutionary move |
ments was cherished among them, it will be |
1issipated. For the outraged people Of |
Louisiana there will be abundant sympathy |
in their suffering, but no cOuntenance in |
b cir rashness.