Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-12-21
LOUISIANA.
Emil Report OF the Interview between
The Louisiana Citizens Committee
and the President st wash
iBgtOE.
Judge Campbell, Of the Committee, Ex-
plains the SitBatioh, and Makes
Known the Wishes OF the
People OF the State.
The Presidents Reply-interesting Col
IoqUy between the Judge, on behalf
Of the Citizens, and PreSi-
dent Grant.

mlttee, IN accordance VIII lItNloui
arrangement through Attorney-Genera
Williams. had an interview with Presl
dent Grant. in his business office at tn,
Executive Mansion.
Judge Campbell explained the purpOs,
Of their coming TO Washington, ant
cave q brief account Of the cOndii ion o.
affairs in Louisiana, in consequence O
which commerce was seriously affected
and trade generally so injured that
THE PEOPLE ABE DIs0IAYED.
This unfavorable condition of affair.
bgs not only injured that State, bu
other States having close business rela
tons with Louisiana. As there was nc
prospect Of a just and satisfactory solu-
ton Of the present trouble by means o.
The agency now at work, the people
through compassion. asked that in thi,
exigency Associated ustice Bradley Of
the Supreme Court of the United States
and Judge Woods of the United States
Circuit Court, may take charge of the
fudiciaI administration of the Circuit
Court sitting I'm New Orleans.
Judge Campbell said that when he Oc-
eur,ied q seat on the Bench of the Su-
prene Court of the United States, he
was twice requested by the Chief Mag
i-trate 10 perform such a duty, that the
force. power and influence Of the court
should he ielt and respected. He also
went there twice at his own in
stance. He did not know Of a
more serious condition of affairs
than that which now existed in Lou
5sisna. and could see no relief except in
the manner now suggested. The Judges
whom ne mentioned, having greater
mower and Independence than the Judge
who now presided in the Circuit Court,
lLecOurse he had indicated promised a
solution of the difficulties, so far as the
utlicial question was concerned. In the
second place, the President of the Uni
ted states, living twelve hundred miles
distant from New Orleans, Louisiana,
could not be expected to have knOWl-
edge of ali the facts. What the people
5rEutel. what the President wanted, and
what all good men wanted was the
-frI1r in this matter, about which there
were conflicting statements and
terminating remarks. The people o. that
STATE. as represented 10y the committee,
also ask the Executive of the United
states to send To New Orleans their in
fe0eudeut, impartial, learned and just
men 10 make fun inquiry into all the
facts: to take testimony, and thorough
IL explore the situation; they desired
thrx an the facts be reported to the
President. He repeated that what they
wanted was q clear, exact, truthful,
honest Investigation into all the matters
fuyolved: and they also asked that the
President submit their memorial 10
CONGRESS. together with the result Of the
INVESTIGATION made in the manner indi-
Gated. This memorial contained the
signatures OF mary Of the wealthiest and
hast men TO be found in Louisiana, and
who have the largest stake in society.
His apprehensiOn was that things have
zone beyond local OF State power but
IN advance Of any appeal TO Congress,
they asked the President to make q
czndid examination Of their condition
through three of the best men IN the
land, and to submit the subject 10 Con-
press for determination, If this should
become necessary, but il may not be 50.
PRESIDENT GRANT, IN REPLY,
.a,d that he supposed it was competent
r1- the supreme Court TO designate any
one of its members TO proceed to Lou
f-iapa. but that he did not think it would
be quite proper for him to make re-
.Uesf of them. Congress had the power
~ investigate the facts in the case pre-
scented, but he did not propose to inter-
fsrr with the local affairs in that State
f5v putting one set OF officers or another
n power, although numerous kilograms,
letters and papers say he had
done 50. No action was taken by the
administration until a decree Of the
United States Court was attempted to
be- set aside or restricted by the last
Governor Of that State. Then the
United states Marshal was simply in-
e5ructei 20 see that the decree Of the
Federal Court was sustained, and mill
rsrv forces were TO be used if necessary
10 support the Federal authority. lie
did not feel at liberty 20 make request
Eor Judge Bradley 10 90 10 New Orleans,
particularly Is he is wanted here While
the court Is IN session, although II the
court should make the request II would
meet with his appreciation.
Judge Campbell said that there was
80 AUTHORITY UNDER THE CoNsTITU-
TI0N AND LAWS
of the United States for a Federal Court
- interfere with the affairs Of a State, as
a.f be4H dome la Louisiana; and he
briefly recisea the decree Of the court
and It's effect in seating and unseatlhg
persons elected TO Office.
The President, during the colloquy
with Judge Campbell, said his under
Standing Of the subject was, that the
court had merely decided who were legal
..gvassers: and. even if a. stated IN the
$50. the court exceeded its authority,
nd IFS decision viii have to be respected
,g-ti. sci aside by q superior court. II
,sog3d be dangerous for the President 10
-. a ureeedent of interfering with the
DECISIONS OF courts.
T8dge Campbell remarked that if
Frdga Carter, Chief-J us-ice Of the sd
r.-.r1a Cont Of the District OF Column
t5q shouid undertake 10 count votes Tor
fba President and Nice-Presidenti and
declare who were elected 10 these offices,
WITH the mower Of the Government TO
=upD9rt him, the set would be no more
legal than the course pursued IN Loulsl-
44a. under the opinion of the court
supported by Federal power. The COM
mittee
DID NOT ASK THE PRESIDENT TO De
eide ANYTHING.
They only asked him 10 investigate the
,1arfer- and u communicate to congress
the report OF three honest men, selected
hy him for that purpose. -.
Vse President said be could not, with
ont the action of Congress, employ ana
compensate such men,
Tu.lsa Csmpbeu said there was so
--,57..il patriotism involved, the gentle
upu would trust 10 Congress for COM
Tie President repeated, that without
Congressional authority, such com
nftIee could not administer oathsl OF
..onpeI TIE attendance OF witnesses.
Judge Campbell said that the COM
,n,.tCe could communicate with those
aea.ainted with al the circumstances,
and learning the facts report the truth
What they wanted was responsive IN
auirv by men whom everybody knew
would tell the TRUTH
THE President repeated, that such
committee should have authority, by
law, TO send for persons ana papers
and examine the witnesses on oath.
Judge Campbell asked whether the
President would receive frOm the COM
mice. the Law and the facts ia the case.
They did not wish 10 go outside of them.
The President replied that they would
DE examined by the Acknowledgement If
IL was thought proper 10 do so.
The commit will hold another
meeting tomorrow morning.
The probable programme Is that a
.ub-committee Of five nemGers viii re-
main here in charge OF the subject, and
tbat the remainder Of the committee
will visit the great centers Of trade,
where they have business relations.
Later.
WAsHINGTON, December ga del
sgat,on of the Subcommittee OF Louis
ana to-day expressed 10 the judges Of
~. -.uure me Court their desire 20 have
Fud@e Bradley 20 TO New Orleans TO Te-
80 he proceedings of Judge Durell.
Judge Bradley, however thinks tnat
~e.oeiatss. who took the matter under