The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1876-04-26

How Billings Was Appointed.

.e The whole country was shocked
when the President appointed E. c.
Billings United States District
Judge for the District of Louisiana,
and Disguised when the Senate con-
frmed the scandalous appointment.
The infamous character of Billings
was we'll known in every State of the
Union, and his connection with Dn-
.rcll and his participation in that
worthy's great crime against Louisi-
ana were household stories. It was
difficult to understand the shameful
action of the President in making
such an appointment, and there were
whisperings abroad of corrupt iniu-
ences having been used. COL Geo.
Williamson, the present Minister to
Central America, and the Republican
in Louisiana who most commands
the confidence and respect of the
people, was an applicant for the va
cant District Judgeship. He visited
the President in Washington, and on
his return to New Orleans, and sub
sequently to his home in Caddo, he
told his friends here and there that
his appointment was assured. We
are aware of the fact that while in
Shreveport he was daily anticipating
his appointment. Instead of Will
hanson however, the President gave
us Billings; and the reason Of it, un-
ineligible then, is very clear now.
Billings was appointed at the in
stigation of a ring organized to OBJ
tain his appointment, the chief mem
bers of which were West, Babcock
and Porter. While the appointment
was pending and when it was gener-
ally believed that Williamson would
receive it, Billings approached Jim
Casey and proposed to put up forty
five thousand dollars for the appoint
ment. His proposition was that Ca
sey should receive fifteen thousand
dollars; West a like sum, and that
fifteen thousand should be divided
between Babcock and Porter; in con
sideration for this money the quar-.
tette were to influence the President
to make the appointment and tic
Senate to confirm it, The investiga
tion business was just then being
talked about, and Casey, irresolute
himself, submitted the proposition
to Bahcock and Porter. This pail
Immediately jumped at the PROPOSE
ton; but Casey hesitated still, anG
they parted without coming to ar
understanding. At one o'clock that
night Babcock and Porter, eager te
engage in the dirty business, visited
Casey at mis- room, and vehemently
urged him to close the compact will
Billings for the $4,000, affirming
that they were certain they coull
have the appointment made. Casey
however, finally declined to have
anything to do with the matter. H
told them he had good thing il
New Orleaus and did not care to rul
the risk of engaging in so unsafe
business. Nevertheless the appoint
ment was subsequently made, ant
there can be no doubt that it wa
paid for, and that it was obtained b,
: a ring of which Babcock, West ant
Porter were the leading spirits
Whether the whole sum of $4,000
was given to Babcock, West ant
, Porter, or whether Casey's refusa
to be party to the transaction save'
Billings fifteen thousand dollars, GU
information is not thorough enougl
to enable us to state. But all tn
: facts of the case can be made pei
fectly clear and satisfactory to com
mittee of investigation, as the eyi
dence is at hand.
There is not the shadow ola doub
that the purpose of the Presiden
, was to appoint Williamson to tn
District Judgesbip, and that Billing
> bought up the Presidents favorit
for $45, 900 or some other large sun
Corroborative of our statements tn
, fact that, while the appointment {
Durell's successor was still in dout
a prominent conservative Republica
q member of the New Orleans bar az
, preached one of the leaders Of til
, party here to solicit his influence
: obtaining the appointment, and til
' Radical chief very candidly told hi,