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

United States to guarantee to every State OF
the Union republican form of government.
Having appealed to the political depart
ment of the Federal Government for the en-
forcement of this guarantee in behalf Of our
State and having never abandoned that ap- |
peal, nor authorized its withdrawal, we have |
recently learned, with surprise and indigna-
ton, that it is urged by the usurpers and their
supporters in other States, as fatal Objec-
ton to our appeal, that by the Wheeler ad-
justment of the difficulties which grew out OF
the organization of the House of Representa-
tives in January, 1875, we, the people of the
State, have acquiesced in the usurpation, and
can no longer be heard to question its legality
or to demand It's overthrow.
We assert that there is not one syllable OF
truth in this objection, and for the following
reasons:
l. Because the people of Louisiana did not
submit, for the adjudication of the Wheeler
committee. their constitutional right of self
government.
2. Because the persons who submitted their
own claims to seats in the State Legislature to
the decision OF the Wheeler committee, never
submitted, nor intended to submit, the con-
aicting claims between the lawfully elected
McEnery government and the usurpation.
and said latter claims are not covered by nor
embraced in the award of said committee.
3. That the rival claims of the de jure
and de .fdctO State governments were never
submitted to said committee, and said COM
mittee, in their official report, expressly state
that their investigations we're restricted to the
legislative difficulties of 1874 and 1875, and
that they took no evidence in regard to the
election of 1872.
4 That on its face the Wheeler adjustment
expressly withholds any approval OF the Kel-
loeg government, and it does not and can not
bind the peoples lawfully elected, but ex-
Guided Governor, officers and Senators, nor
the people themselves, who were not parties
to the Wheeler resolution, nor prevent their
appeal to the General Government for the
guarantee of q republican form of govern
ment
And now speaking for themselves the
people of the State OF Louisiana do solemnly
affir m that they have not acquissced, and
never will acquiesce, in the Kellogg usurpa-
ton; that it is as repugnant to their wishes,
and interests and sense of justice, as it was the
day of its lawless establishment over them by
| force that they recognize as the only govern
ment elected by The people of the State, as the
only government entitled to their sup.
port respect or confidence, that of
which John McEnery and D. B. Penn
are the official heads; and they affirm
that they have been patient and silent since
the adjournment of the last Congress, in the
hope and belief that the present Congress
would listen to their grievances and grant the
proper relief.
This is not only their right, bat, under the
positive direction of the Constitution, it is
the duty OF the General Government TO guar
antee to Louisiana, as a State in the Union,
the government of its choice, and thereby
republican form of government
And the people of louisiana Go solemnly
declare that they will not abandon their strug-
gle for the right of self-government. In urg-
ing this right, they teel that they discharge
duty not only to their own selt-respect, to them
selves and to their children, but also duty
to the Constitution, to the Union, and to
every State of the Union, whose rights and
liberties have been overthrown, violated and
trampled upon, by and through the outrages
hsaped upon the State of l. )uisiana.
The one hundredth year of our existence
as Republic has dawned.
Toward us as people, toward our civiliza-
ton and form OF government. and our con-
duct hereunder. the nations OF the earth are
bending the gaze of inquiry and scrutiny.
TO you, the President and Representatives
of the States and of the people OF the
Union, we. the people OF the State OF
Louisiana, do present our grievances and ask
you-in the name Of our common country, in
the name of our common civilization, in the
name of the sacred memories that cluster
around this Centennial year, in the name OF
liberty and of justice-that you blot from our
national history this shameful record OF
usurpation and of crime committed against
our State, and permit it no longer to remain
a precedent tor the overthrow of other States.
And this we urge, not only that we may be
released from the grasp of the lawless usurpa'
ton, but that, as q people, we may present to
the nations of the earth the spectacle OF a
republic, perfect, not only In form, but
breathing the spirit of democratic govern
ment through all of its members.
R. H. MARI, Chairman;
JAMES JEFFRIEs,
G. W. McCRAN1E,
X. A. Cross,
H. j. HEARsEY,
w. r RICHARDSON,
NJ. VOORHEES,,
E. w. HUNTINGTON.
On motion, the Secretary was instructed
to forward copies of the memorial to the
Louisiana congressman.
Mr.. Mari offered an amendment that au-
thentic copies be sent by the Congressman to
the President of the United States, and one
to each house of Congress. Carried.
Major Daniel Scully, chairman OF the Com
mittee on Municipal and State Taxation,
assembled the platform and read the report
Hon. D. s. Gage then moved that the Con-
vention proceed at once to elect the foul
Delegates and four alternates for the State al
large, at once, and that the action of the Con-
pressional delegations be ratified so far as the
names they have selected for the National
Convention was concerned. Carried.
The following was the result of the cleo
ton:
DELEGATES FOR THE STATE AT LARGE.
r. c.. Wlckliff, Hon. r H. Mari, E E Kidt
and Hon. T. G. Manning.
ALTERNATES.
James E. Brewer, Esq, Gen. Alex. De
Clouet, Albert VOORHEES, aud B. F. Jonas.