Year: 1872

Attorney General Williams has appeared
upon the scene of the political disturbances
in the South, and assumes the part in one in
stance of pacifcator and in the other OF
bully. He proposes plan of settlement TO
the two Legislatures now in session in Ala
bama which upon its face has the appear
ance Of fairness In this case no positive
ground is taken in favor of ono party or
against the other. The conservative body Is
in session at the State Capitol with quorum
of members bearing the only legal title to q
seattle certificate of the Secretary OF State.
The republican members, without quorum
SO qualified, is in session in another building,
and has filled up vacancies by awarding
seats to candidates who have been de-
clared defeated in the official canvass,
and who have no authority to show
for their claim to recognition as State legis-
lators. The representation from two counties
Barbour and Marengo-which are in dispute
turns the scale one way or the other. 80 far as
a conservative or republican majority is con-
cerned. The conservative candidates in those
counties hold the certificates of election, but
their seats are contested by the republicans.
Throwing out Marengo county and admitting
republicans from Barbour county to the regu-
lar or conservative Legislature would give
that party a bare majority in the House Of
Representatives. The proposition of the At
torney General of the United States, sane
toned, as he asserts, by President Grant,
contemplates the resignation of the officers of
both bodies, the assembling of the House on
certain day to be determined upon, with the
Barbour republican members admitted and
Marengo county unrepresented, and the vir-
tual decision by that body, SO composed,
of the question of the contested seats. There
is provision that the votes of Ma
rengo county shall be counted, or,
in their absence, the evidence of
the Inspectors of Election shall be taken by
two tellers, one republican and one conserva-
tive but these tellers are to be appointed by
the Speaker pro tenn, chosen on temporary
organization of the House, and as the House,
composed as suggested by Attorney General
Williams, would have republican majority,
the result of the Court would doubtless give
the Marengo county seats to the republicans.
The proposition, therefore, while apparently
in the interest of pacifcation, is actually in
the interest Of the republican party. 1t would
give to the Legislature now assembled without
shadow Of legal authority all for which they
arc contending This is the plain meaning of
the proposed federal settlement of the Ala
bama State difficulty.


In Louisiana entirely different ground is
taken by Attorney General Williams The
fight between Governor Warmoth and his fell
low carpet-bagger and former associate, Senator
Kellogg, is too distinct and bitter to admit of
compromise. Our special dispatches from
New Orleans published this morning show
that crisis is at hand, and that collision
between the rival parties, in which the federal
troops may be involved, is at any moment i'm
minent. In the early part of the morning of
yesterday Judge Durell took his seat on
the bench, but was evidently unprepared to
go further in his interference with the State
quarrel, and adjourned his Court until to-day
The police sided with the Kellogg party; the
militia with the Warmoth side. These facts,
having been telegraphed to Washington, drew
forth reply from Attorney General Williams
calculated to put new life and spirit into the
Kellogg faction and to urge them on to more
desperate and determined resistance to the Gov
ernor and his Legislature In this reply there was
none of the conciliatory tone adopted towards
Alabama. sLet it be understood" says
the United States official to Lieutenant Cover
nor Pinchback, ''that you are recognized by
the President as the lawful Executive of Louis
lana, and that the body assembled at Me-
chanics Institute is the lawful Legislature of
the State" and he suggests that proclamation
be made to that effect, and promises all neces-
sary aid ''to protect the State from disorder
and violence" Inspirited by this pledge the
State Auditors Office, ejecting the incumbent
and installing one of their own friends in his
place. The United States Attorney General $
despatch produced little effect on the War
moth side, and its authenticity was generally
discredited. The committee of citizens
merchants, bankers and others-continued
the appointment of their committee of one
hundred to proceed to Washington and lay
their views before President Grant. The militia
absolutely refused to obey any orders but those
Of the Governor of the State or his represent
ative, and remained on guard at the arsenal.
All this time, however, all intention to oppose
the United States authority was disclaimed by
the Warmoth party, and the militia and
Legislature signifed their intention to offer
no opposition to the federal troops, if their
surrender should be demanded in the name of
the federal government and at the point Of the
bayonet.


The action of Attorney General Williams in
both these cases imparts new feature to the
conflict. We have now not merely "a dis
graceful scramble for Office" in two of the
Southern States, but the active political in