The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1873-04-18
EIGMrINe IN LouIslANA.


As II In carly fulfIlmeut Of the pre-.
det'ons and reasonable expectations Of
oil honest men, the news IL now upon
ss. thst the illegal maintenance by hay
onen's Of the Kellogg faction in Louisi.
ana, has prccipitatcd upon that State
scenes Of fire, blood and carnage.
The negroes Of Grant Parish took for.
chile Possession Of the town Of Colfax,
raised barricades, threw up brcast-works,
and declared martial law within the cor
porate limits Of the town in the name,
and by the authority Of Kellogg the
usurpcr aud selfstyled Governor Of Lou.
isians. Armed TO the teeth, and pro.
tected from assault by improvised BARR.
cades and brcast-works, they proceeded
70 levy and collect taxes and force con-
tributicDs, ostensibly for the purpose Of
dcffaying the necessary expenses Of the
Kellogg Government Traders. who
presumed TO enter the town, were forced
to pay a tax Of onc-hundred dollars, or,
as a penalty, forfeit whatever of property
they might have in their possession.
Though the spirit Of the people of
Louisiana has been crushed by the heel
OF power; though they have been made
the target Of the most ficndish malice
that has thus far been fired at the South
cru States; and though, in their weak
ness, they have appealed for that poor
support, which comes only in the shape
of public sympathy, this act of ruffian-
ism on the part Of horde Of hired and
sbauched negroes, was more than even
oegraded humility could bear, and kin
died intoSdeveuriqs 1spe the feeble
spark of manly spirit .dat was left.
Headed by their lawfully chosen sheriff,
the good people Of Grant Parish arose in
arms, attacked the negroes fortified in
the town, drove them from their works
into the courthouse, where fag-of
truce was exhibited as sign Of their
surrender. Confding in their offered
terms of peace, as Gen. Candy did in
the Modocs, they peacefully approached
the courthouse to receive the surrender,
when, in an unsuspecting moment, they
were fired into by the negroes, and sew
eral of their number killed. Exaspera-
ted BY this act of treachery, they set fire
to the building, and, as the negroes ran
from it, they fred into them ard killed
lover onehundred.
The lives that we're lost in this fight
may possibly furnish no substantial cause
for grief outside of the narrow circle in
which they were known. But their
death, however little it may effect the
great public, furnishes a commentary,
which those who run should pause to
read. Ii is a commentary not written
ink. nor upon parchment; but one dis
dyed to the whole worldin bloody char
|ters,a commentary upon the corruption,
e yenality, and jack-ass ignorance
the majority of the people of all the
bates, who sit down in a state of stupi-
ed inertia, and witness the overthrow
fevery right of sovereign State by
be direct agency and instigation Of a
5erured administration. If Grant had
lot sustained Kellogg by illegal recogni-
ion and direct encouragement, this
oody tragedy would not have been en-
tted. Kellogg was never elected F; and
bis Grant knows full well, and the SEN
&c of the United States confessed it in
e most unmistakable terms. But in
% face Of the most Astounding evidence.
DEMONSTRATING as clearly as a mathemat.
,Jal truth that Kellogg was overwheTm-
ingly defeated. Grant chooses to uphold
him in his arrogance and illegal preten-
sions to the governorship of Louisiana.
The people could not endure his govern
inent. Industry was crippled, trade WAS
paralyzed, public credit was impaired,
and commerce fed from their ports.
But these results were viewed by Grant
with indifference. Nothing moved, he
persisted in his recognition. and as only
little part of the sequel, civil war has
already begun to rage. But this blow,
which is first felt by Louisiana, is in fact
aimed at all the States.
II is Grants determi ied purpose 10
strike down each feature in the theory
of our complex Government, which
looks to a recognition Of State sover-
eighty, until the whole shall be merged
into one common Government. He has
already made rapid strides to the attain
ment of that end; and unless the people
shall shake Off that lethargy which recon-
Giles them to usurpation, aud purge
themselves of that corruption which Is
daily poisoning the fountains of honest
manhood, they may expect in their own
day and generation to read the history
of the defunct United States.
THE railroads Of the State are destined
To 60 through an ordeal on the question
of taxation. The city of NeWDort has