New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-02-16
LOUISIANA DISCUSSED.
Military and Federal Interference in
STATE Politics..

Military and Federal Interference in
State Politics..
In the United States Senate, last Friday
the amnesty bill and it's amendments being
under discussion, Mr.. Upton, of Iowa
spoke of tine military interference in
Chicago, and the protest of Governor Pal
mer, of Illinois, and said of his letter:
In concluding this letter the Governor OF
Illinois Expressed his profound regret
that the President did not feel at liberty to
dsavow the acts of Generals Sheridan and
Sherman, introducing troops into the State
of Illinois at their discretion, to act as
police or otherwise interfere in its internal
affairs"
FellOw-SenatOrs, there is the evidence
that we have of what is coming from prae-
tees showing such a want OF respect tor
the lives of States, the laws OF the States,
and the authority of the States under the
constitution of the United States.
The Senator proceeds and refers to Lou
isiana. He says:
But Republican Governors of the several
States have not only protested against mill
tary usurpations under cover of law and
from the orders of military commanders,
but, Also from the acts OF federal office
holders, appointed and continued in office by
the President of the United States.
The point | make is this that where we
have lecisated so recklessly tie army has
followed us equally as reclllessly, and the
federal office holders, taking example by
our legislation and the action of the army,
have set themselves up, also. with as much
despotc arrogance as the military have ever
assumed. 1t is all from the same teaching
and from the practice of license drawn from
the same school.
Desiring to be accurate in everything,
must quote from the message OF Governor
WarmOth. of Louisiana, to the Legislature
of 1872 in which he used this language:
I'm this State federal interference in
State matters has gone far beyond what it
did in those States to which congressional
attention has been directed. 1t has EN-
braced not only bribery, the use OF patron
age and the active, undisguised interior
ence of federal employees as such in political
meetings, but in addition to these reprehen-
sible acts the federal appolntees in this
State, or many OF them, have resorted to
menaces, threats, the prostitution of United
States buildings to factious party purposes,
to the exclusion of the business public,
| and beyond this even, what is UMPIRE
| cedented in the history OF this cOun
| try. the employment and presence of large
| numbers OF armed deputy United States
| marshals and of armed United States troops
| to interfere with, menace, and control 8
| political assemblage of citizens of the State
| | rectc briefly the facts that are undenieC
| as to this mOnstrous outrage on the peace
| and dignity of the State. In a time OF pro
! found peace, without any competent arl
| thority, or the least necessity, and without
| consultation with or the consent of tn,
| State authorities, the United States Officials
| here. in violation of law, cOnvoked a pOlit
| ical convention in the Customhouse in New
| Orleans, and this against the wishes and IL
the face of the solemn protest of a large
| majority Of the convention. The doors o
| the CustOmhouse were locked and barred
| for day. and the whole business public wht
| had interests there were excluded. United
| States deputy marshals, selected in man,
| instances from rough and lawless charac
| tiers, were especially deputized for the Occa
| SION armed with loaded revOlvels, and sta
| toned within the building and around thu
| United States courtroom, designed for thu
convention. The United States marsha
| previously declared that they should be sta
| toned within the convention itself. Jhel
! instructions had been such that these depu
ties were insolent and violent in Language
and manner toward the delegates, even II
| such an extent as to excite serious disturb
| ance, and going so far on the part of som
| ofthem as the offering of personal vIoienc
to the delegates.
United States troops were drawn up il
| the Customhouse. Their very presence wa
an alarming attack upon the right OF publ
| assembiage and upon every tradition an
principle of American liberty. They intel
rupted the deliberations Of the delegates
This interference of federal officers, arme'
| with federal authority and federal gun
and pistols. in the affairs of a peaceabl
political meeting of the people OF State
is a very serious encroachment upon tn
| peace and dignity of the State, and upo
the individual liberties of its citizens.
Il can not suffer it to pass by without er
tering against it my solemn protest, an
inviting YOU most seriously to join with N
in asking the national government TO IL
yestgate the outrages of its subordinat
officers and to punish the guilty parties.
Sir, when the Congress of the Unite
States, and the President and military. an
the civil officers of the general government
all combine to advance party interests b.
force of power and numbers. civil govern
ment becomes national farce, and persona
liberty gilded bauble.
In the case of these frauds upon tn
rights of the people to hold conventions IL
dependent of military control. there Is on
matter of congratulation in the fact tina
instead of presenting credentials to a mil
tary commander for his approval, an
passing through files of soldiers to COZ
vention room, the free, manly. indignan
populace of New Orleans stripped tn
horses from Governor Warmoth's carriag
and drew the manned soldier to an III
guarded hall, away from the control of tn
officials of the Customhouse and fedora
bayonets.
And although this outrage upon the pee
pie took place in August 1871, the wrOn
was not righted in January, 1872. Not oni
was it not righted, but the Governor send
a message to the President detailing ne,
outrages. charging that conspiracy
formed to prevent the legal organization G
the Legislature of Louisiana, and he says
in this plot they have the support OF tn
collector of customs, the United States maj
shall and several of your appointees here"