Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-06-02
THE LOUISIANA MIDDLE.

What howl would go up from the pa
pers opposed to the administration, says
the Philadelphia Press, IF in case of a
contested election in any State, the judi
ciary should decide in favor of one set of
candidates and the President should sus
tain the other. What caustic denuncia-
tions we should read of the crime of over
riding the courts with military power Yet,
this is exactly what General Grant would
have done had he organized the McEnery
faction instead of the Kellogg faction in
Louisiana. The regularly constituted
courts, both State and Federal, decided
that Kellogg was elected Governor Of
Louisiana, and that McEnery was not.
This left law-abiding National Execu-
Kellogg when two rival State Governments
presented themselves, each claiming to
be lawfully constituted. Yet President
Grant was not satisfied, hesitated to inter-
fere in such muddle, evidently believing
it a doubtful question as to which party
had really carried the election, and dis
tinctly urged Congress TO take some de-
cisiye action relative to the question before
its adjournment.
Congress, however, chose to shrk the
responsibility or the trouble Of determining
which of the two rival State governments
was the legal one. In the absence Of any
decision by this supreme authority the
President could only confirm the action OF
the courts by recognizing the govern
ment which they had declared legally
elected. whatever his own opinions nigh
he respecting the election. This being
the case, there should be an end of tn,
Trades against President Grant for his ac
ton In the matter. Ii the Kellogg gov
eminent be an usurpation, then both the
lower courts in New Orleans and the SUI
rpreme Court of Louisiana, the judges OF
which were duly appointed by Yarmouth
long before the present troubles were APP
pretended, and indeed before that flnc-
tionary had allied himself with the Mc-
Emery party, as well as the United States
District Court, are primarily responsible
for the sanction which it has obtained, aud
Congress alone is responsible for its con-
tinuance. 1t is usual in civilized countries,
where law and order prevail, for the
regularly declared decisions of legally
constituted courts to be respected until re-
yersed by some higher tribunal This be-
ing true, the McEnery party in Louisiana,
whether their grievances be great or
small, have no legal or honorable course
but to bide their time and peaceably obey
the powers that be, until their case can be
adjudicated either by Congress or the Su-
preme Court of the United States. Presi-
dent Grant has no alternative but to sus-
tain the said powers that be when daily
called on for that purpose, and help them
toput down any domestic violence bv
whomsoever fomented. And the honest
newspaper press, regardless of party lines,
unless they desire to make matters worse
and precipitate rebellion, should counsel
accordingly. President Grants procla-
nation published the other morning. Or
dering all turbulent and disorderly per-
sons to disperse and peacefully retire to
their respective abodes within twenty
days in order that there may be no ne
cesity for employing the army against
them, is in the interests OF peace and or.
der, and as such should be sustained y