, 1873-08-30
MORTON ON LOUISIANA.

Senator Morton, in his. speech at Athens, O.,
gavo his hearers tho most comforting aas,1rances
Of the political condition of Lousiaus. He rec
ognfzod the Kc1ogg Government in that State
aa "yalid and legnl," because as lo stated it,
this Government Ind boou recognized by tho
President Of the United States, by the United
states Court, and by tho Supreme Court of tho
State. Ho said, moreover, that tho vast
majority Of the citizens Of Louisiana
give tho Kollogg Government thcir Bympathy
and support, and that the McEnory Govorn-
mont was "criminal pretanslon," act up by
force and without warrant in tho suffrages Of tho
people. Those assertions would DO sufficiently
remarkable if Senator Morton had never express-
ol any other sentiments about tho Louisiana
controversy but, In viow of tho position which
he took in tho Senate during tho investigation
1t must DO concluded that Mr. Morton alapts
his utterancos to tho political exigoncies Of tho
occasion that calls thom out, To show this. tho
lending foatures OF the Louisiana investigation
in tho Senate may DO briefly rocapitu1atod.
Tho investigation was placed In tho hands Of
the Committee on Privileges and Elections, con-
sisting OF soven Republican Senators, with AIr.
Morton as Chairman. Tho Investigation WAS very
thorough, and tho rcsult WIS tho reporting Of tho
following resolution:
Resolved That thoro is no satc Government at prea-
Ont existing In tho State Of Louisiana.
II TO should 60 no further, this part Of tho
report would be sufficient to show the Judgment
Of his Republican colleagues upon that Commit
teo. Tint tho Senate took no doflnito
action in regard to Louisiana affairs was
tho result of d political combination
In the interests Of tho Administration,
not because tho majority Of the mombors doubt
cd tho conclusion which tho Committee had
reached after q long and laborous investigation.
Mr. Morton now gives, as one reason Of tho va
1idty OF tho Kollogg Government, that 1t was rec
oguizod by the United States Court. Concern
Ing this foaturo Of tho Louisiana complication,
tho Committee adjudged tho matter wholly boz
yond tho Jurisdiction OF tho United States Court,
and came to the conclusion that tho AIcEnory Gov
ornment would layo been tho dc facto Government
il Judge Durell had not usurped powers not bo.
longing to him, and had not ordered the intor-
position Of tho United States troops. Senator
Morton himself snid: "Tho conduct Of Judge
Durell, altting in tho Circuit Court Of the United
States, cannot bo Justified or dofonlel; ho
grossly exceeded Ills Jurisdiction, and assumed
tho exercise Of powers to which ho could lay no
olaim." Yet Judge Dnroll's action Alr. Morton
now citcs as ono Of tho reasons why tho
Kellogg Government Is "yalid aud loyal"
Another reason which he given is, that
tho President Of tho United States Inns frequent
" rocognlzod tho Kellogg dovornmout. But ho
saoms to forget TINT tho proBidonts recognition
aud support wore baaod directly upon tho dog
trino that It waa Ills duty to sustain the decision
OF tho Federal Court. II, tllon, as sonutor A[or-
ton sald "Ju1go Duroll grossly oxcoedod hia
Jurisdiction, ho can scarcely rotor to tho Presi
dont's support Of this eStra-julioial action rs q
ground for recognizing tho validity md legality
Of tho Kellogg Qoyorn,uont. Tho third reason
which hlr. Morton gives is that tho Bupron.o
court Of Louisiana hrs recognized the Kollogy
Goyornment. Thore woro Just two doolaionn Of
tho Supreme Court Of tho State which camo bo-
foro tho Senate Committee. In ono, TINT Of tho
Htatc Us. Wharton, 1t WAS found that the Bu-
promo Court lad no testimony before 1t showing
the character Of tho proceedings by tho Lynch
Returning Board, and tho Committee, after
examining thosc proceedings, decided that no