New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-03-10
LOUISIANA,


to the people of Louisiana, asking for their
"quiet support and encouragement" in the
endeavor to put legal government in opera
ton, "nOt by violent resistance to the author
"ity of the United States, but by firm and
united opposition to any and every act OF
the usurping government of Kellogg and his
cOnfederates." 1t is pity some such sensi-
BILE counsel had not been given few days
earlier, and the foolish and wicked attempt at
revolutionary violence been thereby avoided.
The distrust awakened by the circumstances
of Mr.. McEnery's election has been aggravated
by the unjustifable proceedings of last week |;
and those who sympathize with the cause he
represents are actuated now by no personal
preference for him and his associates, but by
indignation at the gross wrong which has been
inflicted through him upon the people of
Louisiana.
There is a very Serious question indeed to
be solved in Louisiana, to which the merits
and dement's of this or that claimant of office
are entirely immaterial. The passive and
peaceable resistance which the McEnery party
purpose opposing to the administration of
Gov. Kellogg will be more embarrassing than
street emeutes and militia battles. 1t will OBJ
struct the collection of taxes it will ruin in
dustry it may result in general political de-
moralization, and throw upon Gen. Grant the
responsibility of completing what he has begun
and setting up substantially military gov
ernment. The Constitution declares that the
United States shall guarantee to every State
Gin this Union q republican form of govern
"ment.n Louisiana is ruled by Legislature
and Executive who, having been defeated by
the popular vote, were fOrcibly intruded into
Office by the illegal action of drunken Federal
Judge, and are kept there by the employment of
the Federal soldiers. That is not a republican
form of government. 1t is absolute despotism.
A committee of the Presidents chief partisans
have declared that the Kellogg Government
rests upon no right whatever, and the acts by
which it was installed were acts of usurpa-
ton. Indeed the facts are so notorious that
scarcely anybody attempts to deny them. 1t
Z" is impossible to say" remark the Committee
of the Senate "that the State has any gov
Comment whatever. The Kellogg Gov
"ernment is in possession of the State House,
" the seal, records, and archives of the State,
"and its empty treasury. There are two
"bodies of men in that State, one claiming to
abe the Senate and the other the House of
Representatives, who recognize Kellogg and
81 his associates as the officers of the State.
" But there is not, and never has been, quo
rum of both houses who have any pretense
"of having been elected to their seats. This
pretended Legislature is daily passing laws
"and Kellogg is approving or vetoing them"
The McEnery Government has regularity and
a prima facie title but it has not possession
because the soldiers bar it out.
How then shall the United States sub
stitute for this despOtism of the bayOnet
a republican form Of government in the
sense of the Constitution We can ex-
pect nothing from the interference of the
President, because as we have seen, and
as the Committee of the Senate clearly admit,
it was the unfortunate and unauthorized in
reference of the President which dispOssessed
the rightful government, and Gen. Grant has
declared that he shall persevere in recognizing
the faction which he has set up, unless Con-
gress direct him to do otherwise. But even il
it were proper for the President to decide
which is the lawful Governor and the law
full Legislature, he has asked to be relieved of
the responsibility. Congress has adjourned
without the authoritative expression of opinion
comes regularly before the Senate on the ap-
plicatiOn of the rival Senators to be admitted
to that body. 1t is upon the Senate that the
duty imposed by the Constitution devOves.
The Senate has no right to evade it, no right to
leave Louisiana in its present dangerous con-
dition. The report of its own Committee has
made it impossible to admit Pinchback. To
postpone action until the next session, and ad-
NIT nobody, would be cowardly device of
doing indirectly what the Republican majority
dare not do frankly and openly. But if Nc
MILAN should be recognized Senator, the
difficulty would be solved in the easiest and
most natural way The conflicting claims Of
the rival State organizations would be decided
by the political branch of the General Gov
eminent, which has the right to decide them !;
and Gen. Grant would willingly conform his
action to the judgment which he has invoked.
The Kellogg usurpation would disappear in a
day if the cOuntenance of the Chief Executive
were Withdrawn. and if any men should thereby
be elevated to place who have won their cleo
ton by fraud, the courts would have power to
turn them out and give the Offices to the right
full owners. The question now is whether
Senators have the foresight TO disregard par
tisan animositics and supposed partisan ad-