Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-12-18


New York Herald, the sympathies of
which, have been heretofore in behalf of
the Grant administration asa a
THE OVERTHROW OF THE LOUISIANA
STATE eovERNMEET-TRUMPH OF THE
FEDERAL POWER OVER THE PEOPLE.
The story of yesterdays proceedings in
New Orleans will be memorable one In
that city and win create deep sensation
throughout.the United States. The special
dispatches published inthe Herald to-day
give graphic account Of the stirring events
which followed each other in rapid success
sion from morning tllnight, and will be
read with painful interest. The singular
spectacle wac presented Of two rival Legis-
latures converting within a short distance
of each other-the one recognized By
the Governor and the State Courts;
the other owing its existence to the action
of Federal Court, meeting at the State
Capitol under The protection. OF Federal
bayonets, with doors guarded by armed
troops and with cannon frowning on the
people from the surrounding grounds. The
plans of the Federal party were boldly laid
and resolutely carried out. The Legisla-
ture recognized blythe State authorities had
all the advantages of regularity on its side.
Its members were declared elected by the
regular canvassing board headed by the
Executive of the State; the Governor was
prepared TO receive It's messages and act
with it; the Senators who hold over were
the parties To decide what new Senators
were entitled TO seats, and majority of the
old members were prepared to act with the
State authorities; the law requires the Clerk
of the last House of Representatives to call
the nav House to order and to read the
roll Of members, aud that officer was
ready to discharge this duty in the War
moth House. Both legislatures had been
called to assemble at an early hour in
the morning. As the Warmoth members
entered the building designated for their
meeting they were served individually with
a copy OF the Injunction, issued by Judge
Durell, of the Federal Circuit Court, pro-
hibitiRg them from taking any steps towards
organization. Before the hour of their as
sembling the clerk of the last House of
Representatives was arrested by Deputy
United States Marshal aud held prisoner
to prevent bis attendance in the Warmoth
body. Under thess circumstances the
Wsrmoth legislators could do nothing but
hold secret caucus and refrain from any
definite action as Legislature. Had they
done otherwise they would have been ar
rested and imprisoned for contempt.
The Legislature of the Federal party
meanwhile met and organized. Lieut..
Gov. PiDchback, who presides over the Sem
ate, Overlapping the Law, boldly called the
roll of the Senators agreed upon by his party
and swoTe them in, the old Senators pro-
testing against the illegal act. AS soon as
the Kellogg Legislature was thus organized
Gov. Warmoth, who would have refused to
recognize its existence, was disposed Of by
impeachment, and Lieut.. Gov. Pinchback
was elevated to the Executive chair. In
defiance of the constitution the Governor
was impeached and removed by a simple
resolution without being accorded a hear
ing. This done, the Legislature adopted
joint resolution declaring that the State was
threatened with violence by persons COM
bined TO. disturb the public peace, and call
lug Oh President Grant to afford them the
protection Of the United States Army, or,
in other words, to put the State under mar
tai law. Outside the Legislature the ex-
element was also great. Judge Elmore,
who had granted an Injunction in the inter
est Of the State authorities, was arrested,
taken before Judge Durell and sentenced to
fifty dollars fine and ten days imprison-
ment. Gov. Wsrmoth Immediately exer-
cised his preorogative and granted Judge
Gilmore pardon. As soon as the removal
Of the Governor became known, a party of
drunken negroes, flushed with triumph,
broke open the doors Of the Executive
Chamber aud took possession in the name
: If the Lieutenant Governor. Gov. War
moth at onc9 obtained an injunc-
ton from the State Courts prohibiting the
Lieutenant Governor from usUTping any of
the functions of the Executive, but, backed
by Federal bayonets, it is asserted that the
latter officer will laugh at the process. The
Attorney General Of Louisiana, who had
proceeded to Washington for that purpose,
applied yesterday TO the Supreme Court of
the United States for writ of prohibition
restraining Judge DuTen from taking any
further steps in the case, and asked for its
immediate consideration, as the very life of
the State was involved 10 the controversy.
But the Court did not appear to favor the
application, and took the paper under al
visement. In the success Of this movement
IS now the only hope of the State auth0ri-
ties, and il appears to be forlorn one.
Should the application fail nothing will be
left to the Governor aud Legislature but TO
give up the contest. Resistance would only
bring on collision with the United States
troops, and there seems no disposition 10
provoke such desperate and hopeless con
test. Indeed, the United States Marshal, who
has continued all through the excitement to
despatch political bulletins to the United
States Attorney General at Washington, in
announcing the triumph Of the party upheld
by the Federal force, declares that all is
quiet and no trouble spprehended. So it
would seem that in asking martial law and
United States bsy0nets from the President
the Kellogg-Durell Legislature cannot be
actuatsd by the fear Of present violence.
In this "nniserable scramble" of the poll
iicians the people are the real sufferers.
We are told by our special correspondent
that they are singulaTly spathetic; that
deep and bitter feeling of indignation per-
vades all classes of society, but is repressed
from expression by the utter helplessness of |
the State in the face of a large body of
United States troops. The city seems par
alyzed, ssys our special dispatch. Never |
theles5 a public meeting was called to as |
samble at noon to-day to express popular |
sentiment and to take counsel as to the |
Wisest course TO be pursued. Some of the |
best citizens recommend that all places |
business snail be closed and othen signs of |
general mourning adopted while the |
Kellogg Legislature remains in session |
guarded by Federal bayonets; while others
urge a united refusal to pay taxes or re-
ceive State warrants. The evil effect o Il q |
revolution is seen in the depression of state |
securities and the stoppage OF Stale works. |
Urquestionably there is room to question |
the legality of any act of the so-called Leg.
islatGre. Even the law under which their
seizure of the government is attempted to |
be justified gives no jurisdiction to the Uni
ted States District Court over the election |
returns for members Of State Legislature,
and should the Federal bayonet be taken
from the threat of the State it is almost
certain that the law, impartially admins
tered, would declare the whole proceeding
Illegal. If determination to resist the |
of taxes, on the ground of the
illegality of the Legislature, should be al
rived at by the best citizens, the question
would have TO be taken TO the Courts, de-
spite Judge Durel and the Federal troops.
1t is fortunate thing that the crisis has
passed without bloodshed, for collision was
probable ct any moment. We have no doubt