Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-03-13
The Presidents Message Relative to
Louisiana Affairs.
To the Senate and House of Representatives !:


Your attention is respectfully invited to
the condition Of affairs in the State of Lou
isiana. Grave complication have grown out
of the election there ON the 9th of November
last, chiefly attributable, it is believed, to an
organized attempt on the part of those con-
trolling the election officers and the returns
to defeat, in that election, the will of the
majority of the electors of the State. Diff
ferent persons are claiming the executive
offices, two bodies are claiming to be the
Legislative Assembly of the State, and the
confusion and uncertainty produced in this
way falls with paralyzing effect upon all
its interests. Controversy arose as soon
as the election occurred over it's proceed
ings and results, but l declined to interfere
until suit involving this controversy to
some extent was brought into the Circuit
Court of the United States, under and by
virtue of an act of May 81, 1870, entitled
IAN Act to enforce the right of citizens of
the United States to vote in the several
States Of the Union, and for other purposes
Finding that resistance was made to the ju-
dicial process in that suit without any OPP
portunity, and, in my judgment, without
any right to review the judgment of the
court upon jurisdictional or other questions
arising in the case, I directed the United
States Marshal to enforce such process, and
to use, If necessary, troops for that purpose
in accordance with the thirteenth section of
said act, which provides that sit shall be
lawful for the President of the United States
to employ such part of the land or
naval forces of the United States, or OF
the militia, as shall be necessary to
aid in the execution of judicial pro-
cess under this act" Two bodies of
persons claimed to be the Returning Board
for the State, and the Circuit Court in that
case decided that the one to which Lynch
belonged, usually designated by his name,
was the lawful Returning Board, and this
decision has been repeatedly alluded to by
the District and Supreme Courts of the
State. Having no opportunity or power to
canvass the votes, and the exigencies of the
case demanding an immediate decision, l
those persons as elected who received and
held their credentials to office from what
then appeared to me to be, and has
since been decided by the Supreme Court of
the State to be, the legal Returning Board.
Conformably to the decisions of this board a
anu mas oeen d1n snnif
tuting, if not de jstre, at least It. t.cto gov
eminent, which since some time in
December last, has had possession of
the offices and been exercising the usual
powers of government. But opposed to this
has been another government, claiming to
control the affairs Of the State, and which
has to some extent been pro to1md organized.
The recent investigation of the said election
has developed SO many frauds and
forgeries as to make it doubtful what can
didates received majority of the votes &C
tually cast, and in view of these facts
variety Of action has been proposed. / have
no specific recommendation to make upon
the subject, but if there is any practical way
of removing these difficulties by legislation
then | earnestly request that such action
may be taken at the present session of
Congress. 1t seems advisable that / should
state now what course l shall feel bound
to pursue in reference to the matter,
in the event of no action by Congress-
At this time it will be my duty, SO far
as it may be necessary for me to act, to adj
here to that government heretofore recog-
nized by me. To Judge of the election and
qualification of its members is the exclusive
province of the Senate, as it is also the ex-
clusive'province of the House to judge of the
election and qualifications of its members,
but as to State offices filed and held under
State laws the decision of the State judicial
tribunals, it seems to me, ought to
be respected. I am extremely anx-
lous to avoid any appearance of undue
interference in State affairs, and if
Congress differs from me as to what ought
to be done respectfully urge its immediate
decision to that effect. Otherwise l shall
feel obliged, as far as l can by the exercise
OF legitimate authority, IS put an end to the
unhappy controversy which disturbs the
peace and prostrates the business of Louisi-
ana by the recognition and support of that
government which is recognized and upheld
by the Courts Of the State. US. GRANT.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, Feb. 25, 1873.