The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-11-14
THE PRESIDENT AND THE SOUTH,

easily forget the shock he gave ls when h
turned over the New Orleans Custom Hous
to the Returning Board His promises ha,
been so fair, and his policy, to certain point
' 80 just, that the South had begun to beiev,
IN him and trust him, when suddenly Ton
Anderson and his influence were made pre-
dominant in Federal affairs In this State
lnstantaneously all the sleeping pas
sion OF the people was re-aroused and di
rected against the Administration. TIL,
Presid ent's recognition OF the Returning
Board was naturally regarded Us d reward
Tor their notorious and infamous crimes anc
as gross insult to this State. people may
be harshly and uniustly dealt with--op
pressed and plundered-and cordially forgive
the wrong. But they will not rest content
under insult, or give their confidence and
support to the power which humiliates them
There was no man in Louisiana who did not
feel outraged when the President rewarded
with public appointments the men who would
be, were the laws of the State enforced.
robed In felons stripes. Nor was the
insult felt and resented In this State
alone; the people throughout the South
participated in the disgust and Indignation
OF those of Louisiana. Mr. Hayes, therefore,
has only himself to thank IL he finds that
1.-THE Southern policy" has failed to win him
the support of the truly representative men
| OF this section; and he ought not to complain
II we are henceforth slow to trust an Admin
istration from which emanated In the same
year "the peace inaugural" and the commits
sions Of Mad. Wells and Tom Anderson; the
Southern policy, and civil service reform In
Louisiana.
Now we are told that the President has re-
solved to take the Louisiana appointments In
his own hands; that he feels that Secretary
Sherman has abused his confidence With
this story comes the news of the fierce
wrangle in the Republican caucus the bitter
attack there upon the President, and his
earnest defense by Christiancy and two or
three other Republican Senators. This looks
very fair, but the Democrats will act wisely
II they act warily. Before they can afford
to trust the Administration, the Administra-
ton must unload itself of the Returning
Board and adopt civil service policy In the
South, especially in Louisiana, which will
not shock and disgust the people by It's inde-
cency, and which will not be continuous de-
fiance of our laws and fragrant swindle upon
our penitentiary. When the President shall
have washed his hands of the Returning
Board, Packard, Warmoth and all that gang
of syindlers whose fame, importance and
influence have been acquired solely by ras-
cality, shanelessness and contempt Of honor
and even of decency, he will find himself much
less embarrassed with Louisiana affairs,
much more esteemed and respected by the
Southern people, and with some right to ask
the support of the Democrats in the policy of
his Administration.
And again, how can the people Of the South |
trust and respect the President and his
friends in the Senate until they have shown
that they believe in their work in Louisiana
and South Carolina, and that they regard
with too much reverence the laws and honor
OF the country to acquiesce in the Republi-
can plan to deny those two States their con-
Stitutional representation In the Senate:
Or to admit as their representatives
The most arrant frauds The admis-
sion of Kellogg and Corbin to seats
n the Senate will not only be an
INSULT to Louisiana and South Carolina, but
20 the whole country, and foul disgrace to
he American Senate. If the President is sin
ere in his expressions of desire to TRANQUIL
re the country, why is not his influence and
hat Of his friends exerted to have the Sena-
0rs from Louisiana and South Carolina.
elected by the Legislatures of those States
he Administration, nay, the American peo-
lie have recognized as the legal Legislatures?
20 long as these States are refused their rep-
esentation in the Senate we will have abnor-
nal political conditions and the country can
lot be tranquilized The right of representa-
ion is an indefeasble right; it is right
rec people will never relinquish until they
ave ceased to be fit to be free.
Nations with far less devotion to constitu-
ional liberty than prevails in this country,
ave been shaken to their very centres by the
fort to subvert constitutional rights less
ital than this one. South Carolina and
louisiana, therefore, will not be pacifed until
heir Senators are seated upon the same terms
those OF other States. On the contrary,
ney will vex the Administration and agitate
ne country, increasingly, until full justice is
one them in this matter. Their people are l..
zee people; they have the same rights under
le constitution as the people of the other 1
tates, and they will not be quiet or contented s
ntil they are accorded their constitutional j.,
representation in the Senate
The President and his friend understand
lis fully as we'll as we do. We shall not,
lerefore, trust their professions of desire
} do justice to the South, and to tranquilize
he country, until they have exhausted their
fluence to secure these States their repre-
'ntation. Nor will webe content if, under the
retext OF according Louisiana that right,
ley admit to the Senate, as her representa- +
ve cringing, crawling creature without
onesty. and without shame; pretender,
len to her soil, and an enemy to her inter
its and her honor; rascal who stinks in
e nostrils OF her people, and who could not
ISIS through the State, of which he claims to tt
Senator, without having the finger of e.
Lite and scorn pointed at him from every cl
ansion and cabin within its boundaries.