New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-01-14
MIR. sEURErARY ARMsrEAD.
An Interview with ''de Jure'' secretaT!
of Stnte Armstoad.

An Interview Win "de JuFeO secretary
of State Armstoad.
In glancing over the proceedings of the
St. Patriek's Hall Legislature, as published
in the New Orleans journals, we we're struck
with the announcement that de jltre (so-
calledl Secretary OF State Samuel Armstead
hal furnished Speaker Bush with the re-
turns Of the late election, after the same
had been refused committee appointed by
his House by Secretary of State DeelOnde.
Knowing that tine Rev Samuel had not been
abseEt IRON Shreveport for 10 these many
days, we sought him for an interview as to
the part he lie reported to have taken in the
interesting scenes now being enacted in the
Crescent City. The interview was very
pleasant, and we lay it before our readers
| for their edifoatiOn. 1t will be seen that
the Rev. Samuel is somewhat nOnplussed
himself regarding the part he is said to
have played in making a Governor for
Louisiana:
Reporter-Mr. Armstead, ! believe you
are considered by the Democrats as Seort-
tary of the State of Louisiana.
Mr.. Armstesd-Yes, sir; I believe 80.
| They say Colonel McEnery was elected
Governor in 1872. and if he was elected
Governor / was elected Secretary of State,
for ran on the same ticket.
RepOrter-That was what waB known as
| the Fusion ticket, was it nOti
Mr.. Armstoad-Yes, sir; it was the Fu-
sion ticket.
RepOrter-Did you ever get your commits
siODl
Mr.. Armstead-Yes, sir; Governor War
moth gave me commission, and have it
yet
Reporter-Did you ever act under that
/ cOmmissioni
Mr.. Armstead-oh, yes, sir. Our govern
ment first acted at Mechanics Institute,
until they compelled us to leave there, and
| m odd EallOxve1 Hall tfnA
had nice Office fitted up there.
| RepOrter-Did you ever sign any official
| dOoumenJsi
Mr.. Armstead-Y Yes, cir, our Legislature
passed bill appropriatinR S75, C0O to pay us
/ of, and signed it and placed the great seal
Of State upon it; but before we could get
/ the money they arrested some of our Off
GERS, and ] shut ap the ctbce and left.
RepOrter-They didn't arrest you, then3
Mr.. Armstead-No, cir; left the Office
RepOrter-Whsre did yOu get the seal of
STATED
Mr.. Armstead- Oh, we brought that away
from Mechanics Institute when We left
| there.
Reporter-Well, Mr.. Armstead, what be-
/ came Of yOur official documents, the apprO-
priAtion bill, and the great seal of State9
Mr. Armstead--I don't know exaotly, but
learned afterward that Colonel McEnery
got them.
Reporter-Then yon have never acted in
your Official OapAOity rs Secretary Of State
| sIncel
Mr.. Armstead-No, cir.
Reporter-Then you have not been at the
| State capital latelyi
Mr. Armstead--NOt for the past eight
months.
Reporter-But, Mr.. Armstead, read in
the New Orleans Times, of January 3, the
/ following paragraph in the proceedings of
the Joint session of the sO-oalled Democratic
Legislature, assembled in St. Patriek's Hall
in New Orleans:
"Speaker Bush then stated that the COM
mittee appointed to wait on the Secretary
of State reported that the committee had
been refused the returns, that the de jltre
Secretary of State had now furnished the
returns as compiled according to law from
the commissioners returns, and that the
body was now ready to proceed to the
cOnnt.n
Mr.. Armstead-Will you please read that
paragraph over againf
The paragraph was read again.
Mr.. Armstead-I reckon I'm the individ-
ual referred to as de jltre Secretary of State,
but it's q mistake. ] have never given
them any returns, for have never had any
TO give them.
have had some correspondence regarding
this portion Of your duty.
Mr. Armntead-No, sir, have never had
any correspondence. The only time re-
member lately of having any conversation
about the office was some two OF three
weeks ago, when / went into Mr.. Blaneh-
i ardis office on some business and met Mr..
Blanchard, Judge Seay and Captain Mutt.
One Of the gentlemen asked me who was
my Assistant Secretary of State. replied
\ that Mr.. Woodward was. ] was then asked
If / had any objection TO appointing an
other, and said that / had not. An ap-
| pointment was then written out for Mr..
William Brown, rs Assistant Secretary Of
State, whom the gentlemen recommended,
which / signed as Secretary of state,
RepOrter-Then yOu eigned the appoint
ment samuel Armatead, Secretary Of
/ Staten
Mt. Armstsad-Yes. sir, that's the way /
| signed it.
Reporter Did you put the seal of State
i on Il, Mr.. AFmsteAds
MI. Armstead-Of course not. siFi didn't
| I tell you j left the seal in my office in New
I Orleans. had q little secret closet IN the
/ end Of my desk, and left 1t in there and
| have never ssen It since.
Reporter-Mr. Armetead, you stated be-
fore that you signed the appropriation bill.
| Did you not aign other documants besides
the appropriation billi
Mr.. Armstead--O yes, sir; signed sew
/ eral other Documents
Reporter- course you always placed
/ the seal upon theml
Mr.. Armstead Invariably, sir. 1t made
them valid,
Reporter-Then you don't think the ap-
poininent you slgned here in Shreveport IL
81 much consequences
M, Armstsad--I don't know, slf. will
leave that to Do figured ont hereafter.
Reporter When do you expect . visi1
/ NaW OrloansI
III Armatead--T may 80 dorm within ihe
next Esu ds1f.
tlsl.@Te iate psfl ii political nat
ft. 81. Is. ~ Isoaf 81
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