The New York herald., 1872-12-10
The Overthrow OF the Louisiana
state Government-Triump or the
Federal Power Over the People.

published in the HERAID to-day give graphic
account Of the stirring events which followed
each other in rapid succession from morning
I'LL night, and will be read with painful inter
est. The singular spectacle was presented o.
two rival Legislatures convening within g
short distance Of each other-the one rccog
nized by the Governor and the State Courts;
the other owing its existence to the action Of
a federal Court, meeting at tho State Capitol
under the protection of federal bayonets, with
doors guarded by armed troops and with can
non frowning on the people from the sur.
rounding grounds. The plans Of the federal
party were boldly laid and resolutely carried
out. The Legislature recognized by the 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 pre-
pared to receive its messages and act with it.;
the Senators who hold over were tho 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 new House to
order and to read the roll of members. and
that officer was ready to discharge this duty
i'll the Warmoth House. Both Legislatures
had been called to assemble at on carly hour
in the morning As the Warmoth members
entered the building designated for their
meeting they were served individually with
~ f1a s,,s,, ok.a 1x, T,,1
Durell, Of the federal Circuit Court, pro-
hibiting them from taking any step towards
organization. Before the hour OF their as
sembling the Clerk of the last House of Repre-
sentatives was arrested by a deputy United
States marshal and held prisoner to prevent
his attendance in the Warmoth body. Under
these circumstances the Warmoth legislators
conld do nothing but hold secret caucus and
refrain from any definite action as Legis-
lature. Had they done otherwise they would
have been arrested and imprisoned for con-
tempt.
The Legislature of the federal party mean
while met and organized Lieutenant Gov
ernor Pinchback, who presides over the
Senate, overlapping the law, boldly called the
roll of the Senators agreed upon by his party
and swore them in, the old Senators protest
ing against the illegal act. AS soon as the
Kellogg Legislature was thus organized Gov
ernor Warmoth, who would have refused to
recognize its existence, was disposed of by
Impeachment, and Lieutenant Governor Pinch
back was elevated to the Executive chair In
dafianca If tha tut:
impeached and removed by simple resolu-
ton without being accorded hearing. This
done, the Legislature adopted joint resolu-
ton declaring that the State was threatened
with violence by persons combined to
disturb the public peace, and calling on
President Grant to afford them the
protection of the United States Army.
or, in other words to put the State under
martial law. Outside the Legislature the ex-
element was also great. Judge Elmore, who
had granted an injunction in the interest of
the State authorities, was arrested, taken be-
fore Judge Durell and sentenced to fifty dol
lars fine and ten days imprisonment Gov
ernor Warmoth Immediately exercised his
and granted Judge Elmore par
don. 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 and took possession in
the name Of the Lieutenant Governor. Gov
ernor Warmoth at once obtained an injunc-
ton from the State Courts prohibiting the
Lieutenant Governor from usurpng 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 pro-
ceeded to Washington for that purpose,
applied yesterday to the Supreme Court
of the United States for writ Of
prohibition restraining Judge Durell from
taking any further steps in the case,
and asked for its immediate considera-
ton, as the very life of the State was involved
in the controversy. But the Court did not
appear to favor the application, and took the
papers under advisement In the success of
this movement is now the only hope of the
State authorities, and it appears to be forlorn
one. Should the application fail nothing
will be left to the Governor and Legislature
but to give up the contest Resistance would
only bring on collision with the United
States troops. and there seems no disposition
to 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 announc-
ing the triumph of the party upheld by the
federal force, declares that all is quiet and no
trouble apprehended So it would seem that
in asking martial law and United States bayo-
nets from the President the Kellogg-Durell
Legislature cannot be actuated by the fear OF
present violence
In this .missrabls !.e!sie ss!rsmasle" Of the poll
ticiians the people ore the real sufferers :, we
are told by our special correspondent that they