New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-03-07
THE LOUISIANA WAR-CLOUD.

So far we can see no possible occasion for
the precipitate attack of the McEnery militia
on the METROPOLITAN Police in New Orleans. 1t is
likely, however, that the McEnery party knew
that the Police, who are directed by Kellogg,
were concentrated for the purpose of selzng
the building used for its meetings by the Me-
Emery Legislature That act was cOnsum-
mated yesterday; and the Legislature Of
Louisiana, legally elected by great majority
of its citizens, is barred out by the MetrOpOl-
itan Police, backed by the promised support
of the U. S. troops. 1t is pretty clear, how
ever, that the people of Louisiana, irritated
by the perpetuation in power of Kellogg
usurpatiOn, and made desperate by the neglect
of Congress to adjust their difficulties, have
determined to resort to force to secure what
they consider to be their rights. This is
natural enough under the circumstances, how
ever deplOrable.
1t is doubtless true that at least four ffths
of the white voters of Louisiana consider the
Kellogg Government nothing but a violent
and illegal usurpatiOn. They know that no
partisan of Kellogg even preteDds that he
received a majority of the votes cast; and
they know that he was put into his Office by
decree of a United States Judge, which
decree the Judiciary Committee of the United
States Senate, composed of vehement Ad-
ministration partisans. have declared to
be illegal, invalid, and unwarranted. In
other words, the Kellogg Government
never received anything more than a
small fraction of the suffrageS of the people
of Louisiana it was extra-judicially and I'M
consttutiOnay put in power by drunken
and corrupt Judge, whose impeachment there
for is imminent and it is kept in power only
by the main strength of the Executive of the
United States. Is it any wonder that the
people of Louisiana look upon this usurpatiOn.
which has risen like an exhalatiOn from their
SOIL as foreign grOwth-a thing to be hated
and OverthrOwnf
But, granting all this; granting that the
basis on which the Kellogg party went into
the United States Court was a cunning fraud
granting that Durell is bad man who ought
to be impeached and removed; granting that
the Presidents promised support of the Kel-
| loeg Government is as clearly violative of law
as it is of equity-there is no justification fol
the course pursued by the New Orleans people
on the night of the 9Th of March. To say
nothing of the futility of an armed attack on
| the heuOSR IOfCeS klOr rtueIdl DayODels
must come at last such an attack
was unjustifable and unfortunate to the
last degree. By the courts the wrong was
wrought upon Louisiana by the courts, since
Congress has criminally neglected the case
the remedy must come. 1t is wicked to talk
of an armed resistance to the powers which
have at least show of legality, though that
show be thin and poor. The Kellogg Gov
eminent, such as it is, has the sanction of the
| law-such as that is. Resistance by force OF
arms is not only revolutionary, but it is a
| desperate and hopeless revolution. Every
body who wishes well for the people of
Louisiana will regret this precipitation of yio-
lence it will prejudice the case pending in
the Senate; it will shock the country which
looks sympathizingly on the struggles of the
oppressed. much enduring people of Louisiana.
We hope that better cOunsels have already
prevailed. At last accounts there was quiet in
New-0rleans; ana we join in the hope which
lovers of law, order, and justice will CHERISH
that the day has passed, in Louisiana, as else
where. when the sword must be invoked to