Jasper Republican, Volume 1, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 October 1874 — Another Document from Gov. Kellogg. [ARTICLE]

Another Document from Gov. Kellogg.

New Orleans, La., Oct. 7,1874. The following letter is in relerence to tlwf ad4ress of the Conservative Committee, which was telegraphed hence last evening: State or Louisiana, Executive Department, t Miv Orluka Oct. 7, 1874. j Hon. B. H. Mart, Chairman Democratic State Central Committee: Sib—l have last read with surprise and regret the address of the committee of which you are Chairman. The occasion of yoar address is the annonneement of yonr acquiescence in the proposition in regard to the method of holding the coming election, recently agreed to in conference both by the Republican State Central Committee and by your committee. I ask you to contrast the manner and spirit in which this proposition has been received and acted upon by these committees respectively. The Republican Committee, actuated by a spirit which was naturally supposed to inspire such measures of adjustment, refrained from any allusion to recent occurrences in this city and State and abstained from any denunciation of their political opponents. In your address you take occasion to recapitulate the old charges of oppression and. cow ruption brought against the Republican party and the present State Government, notwithstanding the uncontradicted and uncontrovertible state, ments in my published address of the 80th ultshow that the present State Government is not responsible for either the present State debt or taxation, but has reduced noth, and also shows that for most of the debt and taxation of both State and city the Democratic party is directly accountable, you explain that the police Juries of parishes are swelling the taxes, bnt you fail to state that the takes are highest in some of the the strongest -Democratic parishes. You assert, as a reason for the recent disturbances, that we have been engaged in inciting hostilities between whites and blacks, and that arms had been and were being fnrnished-the latter. This I emphatically deny and challenge you to produce any' proof to sustain the assertion. On the other hand you are fully aware-that large quantities of arms nave been shipped to this Sts 1 !* for the purpose of arming the whites against the blacks, with a view not only to intimidate the colored people, but also to overthrow iheconstituted authorities of the State. But perhaps the most extraordinary statement contained in your address is the following: “Hence, the Presidential proclamation was no sooner heralded but he (referring to mv self) managed to inaugurate conferences to adjust the troubles. A Committee of Conference, selected by Jtim, met a .similar , committee selected by Gov. McEneryatkl Penn.” So uncalled for and groundl©e#is this statement that I cannot for a moment believe that those who represented yofcr party is the Committee of Conference were consulted before this publication was made. I was not present when a committee from your side first called upon Mr. Packard and others at"the Custom-House, directly after the events of the 14th of September, though I warmuc£ gratified at the prospect that the conferences so held would secure the people a fair registration and an election uninfluenced by violence, intimidation or fraud. This I have from the first desired, and still earnestly wish to see. 1 took part for a few moments, by invitation, at two or three discussions entered into with this object in view, but the statement that I managed to inaugurate the conferences is entirely Untrue, as is also the assertion that I selected the committee who acted in. behalf of the Republican party. I refrain from saying more on this point, except that I and toy- frienda will, faithfully carry out the terms of the agreement we have entered into, which I desire to remind you was strictly confined to matters of registration and election, and I trust your party, who virtually assumed the responsibility of the violence ana intimidation heretofore existing in the State, will carry out your part, of the agreement by suppressing the same. In your address, I perceive you say “We merely pledge ourselves to lend our aid and influence to preserve order, provided the agreement is in its spirit fairly executed in all respects.” In the formal protocol, signed on the 28th of Septemyour representatives said: “The committee representing the Conservative People’s party pledge themselves to cause all violence and intimidation, if any exist, to cease throughout the State, and to assist the constituted authorities in maintaining peace, and in insuring a strictly fair and impartial registration and election.” Permit me to say, in conclusion, that the whole tenor of your address, which assumes toward the Republican party a tone of superiority and acrimony, ill becomes the subject or the occasion. Very respectfully, (Signed) William P. Kellogg.