The Portland daily press., 1872-12-17
THE LOUISIANA TROUBLE.
The Attorney Generals Statement.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16- Attorney General
Williams to-day made the following statement
relative to the affairs in Louisiana:
According to the laws of Louisiana, Governor
Warmoth, Lieut.. Governor Pinchback, Secre-
tary of State Hernon and MessrS. Lynch and
Anderson, constituted at the late election, the
returning board, with power to canvass the
votes for Presidential electors, members of
Congress- State officers and members of the
Legislature. Pinchback and Anderson were
candidates on the Republican ticket and there
fore resigned their seats upon the board, and to
fill the vacancies, Longstreet and Hawkins
were elected by the remaining members as pro-
vided by law
Wsrmoth then pretended to remove the Sec
rotary of State from office and appointed in his
place a fellow by the name of Jack Wharton.
Warmoth and Wharton then repudiated the
election OF Longstreet and Hawkins and ap-
pointed in their places Hatch and Daponte.
The board so constituted was proceeding to
canvass the votes. when on due application
their proceedings were perpetually enjoined by
the judge of the 9Th District State Court whose
jurisdiction in the case was unquestioned.
Warmoth thereupon elected, the judge
granting said injunction from his office and in
stalled i'll his place, before the votes were can
canvassed, or it was legally known who was
elected. The Democratic candidate for the
Judgeship in that District at that election.
Proceedings were then had in the Supreme
Court of the United States, by which the valid
ity of the change Of Judges was brought in
question and the court held it invalid, and in
effect decided that Warmoth's board was lille
gal and its acts void. These decisions of the
State Court were treated by Warmoth with
perfect contempt. Tho suit was commenced on
the equity side of the United States District,
in which an injunction was asked and lobtaIned
aeains the Warmoth board, and this injunction
was also treated by the Warmoth board with
contempt. Instructions were then given to en-
force the orders of the court, and troops were
placed at his service for the purpose. Mean
while the board of canvassers organized accord
ing to law, and majority OF the canvassed
votes returned showed that the Republican cam
dldatos for Presidential electors and State Off
GERS were elected, and that certain persons were
elected to the Legislature.
Warm0th having called an extra session of
the Legislature, the persons returned as elected
as the regular board assembled in the State
House, and after organization, they made a
formal requistion under section four, article
four of the Constitution of the United States
upon the President to protecs the State from
domestic violence. Resolutions of impeach-
ment were also preferred by this body against
Warmoth, aud under the Constitution of the
State the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS became acting
Governor.
Another body assembled at Lyceum Hall,
New Orleans, claiming to be the Legislature of
the State and was recognized by Warmoth
Two organizations were thus made, promising
nothing to the State but discord and anarchy
Not doubling that Irregularities had occurred on
both sides, but believing that the Republican
ticket had received majority of the votes of
Louisiana; and acting in conformity to the re-
turns of the regular board of canvassers and
the decisions of the State and federal courts,
the President decided to answer the resolution
OF the State House Legislature by recognizing
the organization with which it is connected as
the lawful government of the State
Affairs ia Louisiana.
New ORLEANS, Dec. 16-B S. Lynch, Re-
publican to-day installed ,Jud0a nf tho
4th district court, Judge Bonner, fusionist, be-
ing forcibly elected Bonner held q commits
sion from Gov. Warmoth and Lynch holds his
from acting Gov. Pinchback.
Upon the return Of the Bovee board in the
Warmoth contempt case before the U. S. Dis
trict Court to-day, several witnesses were ex-
amined, but there were no new Developments.
The case was taken under advisement.
In the Legislature, the Impeachment pro-
eeedings were postponed until Wednesday. 1t