The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1877-01-31
The Returning Board.

Vie tluleS Degln PLAINLY TO be devel-
oped in the North and West, as re-
CARDS the true status of the infamous
"retches, who have so long misruled
US in poor Louisiana. We are re-
minded of this fact, in reading the
speech OF u. w. Julian, of Indiana,
delivered on the sth of the present
month at the grand monster gather
ing of the people. We have only
space for what he said about our
sweet scented institution, the Re-
turning Board, and here give it to
our readers, that they may see that
we have some indorsers of our opin-
ion in the great West:
And who are the men constituting
this autocratic, if not onnipotent insti-
tuition OF the Republican, party of Lou
'siana; concocted in the worst days of
caipet-bag government, aud for the
most nefarious purposes7 Two of them
are white men and two tolored. They
are the same men who sat upon the
Board in 1874, and after the election
in that year took the majority of votes
away from one side and gave it to the
other by "unjust, arbitra airy and illegal
action" as admitted by a Republican
Congressional Committee of which one
William A. Wheeler w rs a member
They are all members Of the Republic
can party, and one Of them holds a
Custom-house Office under the spoils
hunting system of the present Admin
istration. j. Madison Wells, the
PRESIDENT OF the Board, who was elect
ed Governor OF Louisiana under the
reconstruction policy of President
johnson, was summarilY elected from
that Office in 1867 by General Sheridan
fer violating an act of the Legislature
respecting the repair of herlevees, and
seeking to prostitute the funds of the
State to partisan purposes. General
Sheridan branded him Us a "political
trlckster and dishondred man. and
charged him with "subEerfuee and DO
lItlcal chicanery." He declared that
"his conduct had been as slpuous as
the mark lett In the dust by the move
ment of snake" and that he had "not
one friend who is an honest MANI
After a stay in New Orleans of over
three weeks, and minglng freely with
the people when not en- gagged in watch
ing the action of the Returning Board.
| have no hesitation In indorsing the
statement of General Sheridan as true.
Governor Wells is not only Journey
man and expert in rascality, through
long years oftraiuing and experience,
but lie is scoundrcl aboriginally; and
in saying this believe I simply give
expression to the genera sentiment of
the State. Anderson, die other white
man on the Board, is not quite so vi
eious. The element of humanity is
not so fatally left ont of his compost
ton. He is not so cold blooded. II
placed in command of 4 pirate ship he
might falter in SOME emergency which
his more intrepid and Satanic compan-
ion on the Board would enjoy us lux
ury. But he is not wanting the quail
ties which have made the Returning
Board famous, for he is thoroughly
accomplished knave and swindcr. He
counts well, and is, in word, the fit
companion and associate in Office of
the President of the body.
CassaDave, one of tile cOlored men,
bers of the Board, is an undertaken by
occupation, and was a slave holder be-
fere the war. He is a man of limited
education and intelligence, and not at
all qualiued by capacity or training
for the position he occupies. He is a
very strong partisan, but is regarded as
a kindly, well-disposcd sort of man,
whose worst MISFORTUNE is that the tho
roughly unprincipled men on the Bonrd
use him as their tool. This must be
regarded as certain, in the absence OF
any proof that he has ever opposed the
confessed ilegality and fraud of his
associates. Kenner, the other colored
man, and junior member of the Board,
is very small, light mulatto, quick
and sprightly in his movements, but
altogether untitled by talents, educa-
ton or experience, for so responsible
a position. He is gambler and grog-
saller, very low fellow, and few
years ago was kicked out of saloon
in New Orleans for stealing the money
of his employer.