The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1873-02-27
AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA.
Special Message CT the President.

Special Message CT the President.
The President sent the following message
to Congress yesterday:
| To tie Senate and House Of Representatives.:
Your attention is respectfully invited to the
condition Of affairs in the State of Louisiana
Grave complications have grown out OF the
election there, on the 9th OF November last,
chiefly attributable, it is believed, to an or
canized attempt, on the part OF those controll-
in.r the election OF officers and returns, to de-
fsat-in that election the will Of ma ori.y
/ Of the electors of the State Different per-
sons are claiming the. executive offices, two
bodies are claiming to De the legislative as
semby Of the State, and the confusion and
uncertainty, produced in this way, fall with
pasaly wing effect upon ali its interests. Con-
troversY arose as soon as tho election occur
ed. over its proceedings and results ; but de-
tc(i to Interfere Until suit, involving this
controversy to some extent, was brought in
tho Circuit Cocrt Of the United States under
and bY virtue of the act Of May, 81, 1870,
entitled" An act to enforce the right Of citi-
zess of the Unite1 States TO vote in the ser
eral States Of the Union and fer other pur-
| poses.
Finding that resistance was made to judi
cial process In that suit without any oppor-
sunity, sad in my Judgment without any
right to review the judgment OF the Court
upon thc jurisdictisnal or other questions ars-
| ing in the case, | directed the United States
marshal to enforce such process, and to use,
If necessary, troops for that purpose, in accor.
dance with til. 18th section ofsaid act, which
provides that cit shall be lawful for the Pres
idaut Of the United States to employ such
part Of the land OF naval forces Of TIE Uaisc
States, CT Of the militia, as shall be necessa-
ry to aid in the execution Of judicial process
under this act" Two bodies OF persons
claimed to be- the returning board for tse
State, and the Circuit Court in that case de-
cided that the orc to which Lynch belonged,
usually Designated BY his name, was the law
iul returning board, and this decision has
been repeatedly affirmed by the district
and the supreme courts Of tho State
Having had 30 opportunity OF pawer to
canvass the votes, and the exigenc,es of thu
case demanding 40 immediate decision, coz
ceire it to bs my duty to recognize those per-
sons who received End held their credentials
to Office from what then appeared to me to be,
and has aiace been decided by shs Supreme
Court OF the State to be, the lega! returning
board. Colfogmably to the decisions Of this
board, full set Of State officers has been in
stalled aud Legislative assembly organized,
constisasins,if net de- jars ct least dc Jacto
government, which, since sometime in Deem
Der last, las had possession CT tic offices aud
been exercising the usual powers of ssovern-
meat: bat opposed TO this has been another
4 government claiming to control the affairs of
the State, and which has to some extent been
pro forn,a organized.
Recent investigation Of the said election
has developed SO many frauds and forgeries
as to make it doubtful what candidates re-
oeivcd lnajorIty Of the votes actually cast,
and ia view OF these facts, variety CT action
has been proposed.
have 10 specific recommendation to make
upon the subject but Il there is any practi-
cal wsy Of removing these difficulties by log
is'ation, then I earnestly request that such
, action may be taken at the present session Of
Congress.
It ems lvisabe shat sh,nll state now
what course I shall feel bound to pursue in
reference to the matter in the event Of 30 &C
, ton by Congress at this time. Suhjscs to
any satisfactory arrangement that may be
made BY the parties to tina controversy.
which CT all things is the most desirable. it
viii be lny duty, 50 far as It tsay BE neces-
szrY for me to act, to aiharo to that govern
;neu: heretofore recognized BY me.
70 judge Of the election and qualification
Of is Members is the exclusive province Of
the Senate, as it is also tn, exclusive Of
the House to judge Of the election end lns-
iiaations Of its members, bus to State Of
fees, filed aad held under State laws, the de
cisions Of the State Judicial tribunal, it seems
. to me, ought to be respected.
ain extremely anxious to avoia any ap-
/ pearancc CT undue Interference in State al
fairs and if Congress differs from me az to
what oug't to be done, I respectfully urge
its immediate decision to that effect; other
wise shall Efeel obliged, as far as can
by the exercise Of Legitimate authority. to
put 81 end to the unhappy controversy
which disturbs the peace and prostsates the
business of Louisiana by the recognition and
E support Of that govern nent which is racog
nized and upheld by the courts 0: the State.
U. S. GRANT.
Executive Mansion. February rs, 1873