The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1877-01-16
LOUISIANA,
The History and Causes of Its
Political Troubles.
A Story Of Crime and Corruption
Without Parallel.
The Tale of Carpet-Bag Rule from its
Beginning.
Erorn the Mem York World.

The events which led up Ito the scenes
enacted in New Orleans yesterday con-
stitute the political history of Louisiana
since the war, and form altogether one OF
the most disgraceful pages in the annals
of American free government. With the
end of the war Of the rebellion there began
in this unfortunate state reign OF plllage,
robbery and tyranny almost unparalleled.
The infamous rule of Butler was
succeeded by the reconstruction expert
ments of Gen. Banks, and later, in 1854, |
by the election of Michael Hahn as the |
first I''free state" governor, Hahn's |
administration, bad as it was, was an i'm |
provement upon those that had preceded |
it, and it was an evil day for the people of
Louisiana when, in the autumn of 1865, |
j. Madison Wells of returning board |
notoriety, was elected governor. During |
his term of Office he did much to SOW the |
seeds of corruption broadcast in the state, |
and his proverbial treachery was the cause
Of much Of the strife land discord which |
prevailed within her borders. 1t was IN
der his administration that the present
state constitution was adopted, and Henry
G. Warmoth, youthful adventurer from
Illinois, elected governor, Warmoth
was, in every way, worthy successor of
Louisiana's post-bellum rulers. He de-
voted his time mainly to the making of
laws intended to secure him in his seat, to
the passage of bills destined to enrich him
self and his friends and to debauchinQ
generally the politics of the state. He
established the metropolitan police, a
political body guard supported by the
city to do his bidding wherever he might
choose to send them; he was the deus er
nacbtRd of half the jobs rushed through
the legislature; he ruled so corruptly
and extravagantly, and increased taxes
so enormously that during his term of
Office the people of the state were reduced
to degree Of poverty they had never
known before. But not only were the
people robbed and pillsged, their lives
we're endangered by the serious quarrels
which arose from time to time among their
rulers. Hardly a week passed without
some disturbance, and the appeal was al
ways to arms. In 1871 a number Of petty
disagreements eliminated 10 the Warmoth-
Carter riots, caused by a failing-out be-
tween the Warmoth party and the custom
house faction, led in the legislature by
George W, Carter and elsewhere by Col
lector Casey aud Marshal Packard
United States troops we're used by Carter
and Casey, aud for days the thoroughfares
were blocked up by federal cannon and
bodies Of armed men. The trouble lasted
for some time, and the breach between
Warmoth and the custom house grew be-
yond the power Of repair.
Matters were in this condition. the
treasury empty, business at a standstill
aGd the people thoroughly disheartned,
when the respectable citizens of the state
determined to make one supreme effort to
rid themselves Of their rulers and to place
l.
attempt this alone, unaided, would have
been reckless, for WarmOth had so misused
his power in securing the passage of bad
laws and in cOrrupting the officials
throughout the state that he held the cleo
ton machinery in his own hands, or as he
expressed it, every ballot must pass
through these fingers" The Reform
party, including Democrats, Independents
and Liberal Republicans, therefore made
terms with the governor, he agreeing tC
give them fair election and they prom.
ising not to impeach him for his notorious
misdemeanors. Then, taking the name Of
the Fusion party. they entered upon the
famous campaign of 1872. The Fusion
ticket was as follows: For governor, Johr
McEnery, of Ouachita; for ieutenant-gov
ernor, ID, BPenn of Orleans; for attorney
general, H, n Ogden, of Orleans; fol
auditor, James Graham, of Orleans; fol-
secretary of state, Samuel Armstronl
(cOlored) of Caddo; for superintendent o
public education, Robert NJ. Lusher o
Orleans. This was one of the best ticket
ever presented to the people of Louisiana
McEnery was a wellknown lawyer, Penn
an ex-union army officer and q wellto-d
merchant, Ogden lawyer of ability ant
reputation Lusher a scholar and the agen
Of the Peabody fund, and so on. The Re
pubicans nominated United States senate
and ex-collectOr of the Port VIM. Pit
Kellogg, man ofvery unsavory reputation
for governor, and Caius Cassius Antoine
an illiterate and disreputable negro
for lieutenant governor. After al
exciting canvass, during which War
moth, ex-Tax Collector Sheridan auC
other Republicans spoke in favor of thu
Fusion ticket and pledged themselves to d.
all in their power to repair the iniurie
they had done the state, the McEner,
party carried the state by a
least 5000 majority. For several day
this result was unquestioned, the Radica
party were overwhelmed by their defea
and the people were enthusiastic in cele
brating their victory, The returnini
board began its labors, and all thing
pointed to an early restoration of homes
government. But at this stage of tn
proceedings Kellogg, taking advantage O
the enforcement act, applied to the Unite,
States district court, presided over b.
Judge Durell, to intervene. Durell wa
at first inclined to hold back, but, assure,
OF the support of the administration an
urged on by Packard and Casey he wa
finally persuaded, while under the combiu
ed influence Of liquor and female blandish
ments, to issue his infamous "midnigh
order" This was paper signed by hiu
at dead Of night restraining the Warmot
returning board from Canvassing the re
turns, restraining the newly elected off
Gals from taking Office and commandin
Warmoth to deliver the returns to TIA
Lynch-Hawkins returning board, whic
had been manufactured by the custom
house party.
Emboldened by this extraordinary aC
ton, the Radicals began to plot to kec
possession of the government, They ha
large majority to overcome, and thi
they did by making ten thousand affidavit
signed with fictitious names of negroe
supposed to have been prevented fror
voting and counting them as votes cas
for Kellogg. As Warmoth refused I
surrender the returns in his possessio
the Lynch boards had to make up thei
count from estimates" evolved frot
their inner consciousness and by these 6Q
ures they arrived at the conclusion tha
Kellogg bad been elected, and 80 declared
The Warmoth board. in defiance {
Durell, canvassed the ballots and return