Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-02-01
rHR LOUISIANA N a

create any surprise. The American
people, regardless Of party or sec.
ton, know well enough that the
Louisiana State government, main
tanned for years by Federal bayonct'
and edict, is as corrupt as human
nature is capable of producing
Toe country knows that the State
was carried for Tilden aud Hen.
bricks by a majority Of eight
or ten thousand votes at a
fair, quiet election. 1t is equally
as we'll known that troops were
sent to that State for the sole pur-
pose of sustaining the Infamous re-
turning board in its decision. That
board was composed of two UNI
prineipled whites and two Ignorant
and plant negroes who refused to
comply with the law requiring that
a fifth member should be elected,
and that both parties should be
represented in the board. The his
tory of all these things is fresh in
the minds of the people. Little
field, one of the clerks of the board.
tells how some Of these things were
done. In one instance they had
all been to dinner, sitting foul
hours at the table, and returned to
the rooms Of the committee. They
were feeling very good, he says
No doubt Of it, after four hours
eating and guzzling champagne,
Then that godly man, Father
Wells, who carries q certificate o.
character from John Sherman in
his breast-pocket, requested Little.
field to transfer 178 votes ia the
returns from Vernon parish, in OF.
der to elect Hunter Judge, An
drews district attorney, and one
Kelso State senator, and to effect
other results. Littlefeld feel.
ing particularly good just then,
cheerfully complied. This is only
one little instance, The inference
is drawn that all the clerks took a
hand at such work from time to
time, when they felt good, which
must have been quite often.
Yesterday a man was found, Col.
j. II. Pickett, Of Confederate
archives fame, who testified that
he had been authorized to negotiate
with Tilden's friends for one mil.
lion dollars as a slight compensa,
ton that would induce this high
toned, patriotic board to give the
State to Tilden. This amount
would have enabled the members to
"feel good long ard often. But
no bidders were found. Even Johr
Morrissey declined to consider it
saying that everybody knew the
State had gone for Tilden and Hen
bricks any how, A beautiful Sc
Of men to hold the destinies oil tn.
country in their hands, offering h
sell out for a stipulated sum 0
money! How much the llepubli
cans paid to Wells, Anderson 4 0c
to throw out ten thousand vote
when one million was demands
for not throwing out any, j
one of those things which "n
fellah can find out" at presen.
The exposure comes at a fortunat
time. The excitement of the pee
pie has so far abated that they ca
look at the naked facts as they arr
and form opinions Independent {
partisan bias. Such huge villain
cannot long be concealed. It VIZ
such a big thing that some of I'll
thieves had to tell it as soon as the
had a fair opportunity. There
more to come; and as Horace Gre
ley once said, when looking ovt
letters which proved that one Of h
trusted employees had betrayed hin
1t is mighty interesting reading
We have had a Slush and a su
felt of such stuff. But this is
new brand of yillainy-the genuir
article with a sparkle that compel
safes almost for the odor. We ca
not think that this style Of Pres
dent-making will commend itself
the world or become popular,
even make a favorable impressic
on the electoral tribunal. Al
party that maintains itself in pow.
by such means and such despicab
creatures must come to disgraI
and grief.