Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1873-03-06


Gratis.
4is LOUISIANA.
special Message Of the President In
Regard to the Condition Of Affairs i'm
that State.
The President sent the following
message to Congress
To The Senate and House Of Represen-
tdtices: q
Your attention is respectfully invited
to the. condition of affairs in the State
Of Louisiana. Grave complications
have grown out of the election there
on the 9th Of November last, chiefly
attributable, it is believed, to an Or
ganized attempt, on the part of those
controlling the election of officers and
returns, to defeat in that election the
will of a majority of the electors of the
State. Different persons are claiming
the executive, two bodies are claiming
to be the legislative assembly of the
State, and the confusion and uncer-
tainty produced in this way fall with
paralyizing effect upon all its interests.
Controversy arose as soon as the cleo
ton occurred over its proceedings and
results: but / declined to interfere
until suit, involving this controversy
to some extent, was brought in the
Circuit Court of the United States,
under and by virtue of the act of May
81, 1870. entitled "An act to -enferao
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
judicial process in that suit, without
any opportunity, and, in my judgment
without any right, to review the judg-
rnent of the court upon the iurisdic-
tional or other questions arising in the
case, directed the United States mar
shall to enforce such process, and to
use, il necessary, troops for that pur-
pose, in accordance with the 18th sec
ton of said act, which provides that
at shall be lawful for the President Of
the United States to employ such part
OF the land and naval forces of the
United States, or Of the militia, as
shall be necessary to aid in the execu-
ton of judicial process 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 onesto which Lynch belonged,
usually designated by his name, was
the lawful Returning Board, and this
decision has been repeatedly affirmed
by the District and the Supreme Courts
Of the State. Having no opportunity
or 20 wer to canvass the votes, and ex-
igencies OF the case demanding an inn
mediate idecisiOn,1 conceive it to be
my duty to recognize 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, q full set of State off,
GERS has been installed and Legisla-
tive Assembly organized, constituting,
if not de ,jure, at least de factO gov
eminent, which, since sometime in
December last, has had possession of
the Offices and been exercising the
usual powers Of government; but OPP
posed to this has been another govern
ment claiming to control the affairs of
the State, and which has TO some ex-
tent, been pro .f0rma organized.
Recent investigation of the said
election has developed so many frauds
and forgeries ens to make it doubtful
what candidates received majority
of the votes actually cast, and, in view
OF these facts, variety OF action has
been proposed. eat sf
.BsI have no specific Recommendation
TO make upon the subject but if there
is any practical way Of removing these
difficulties by Legislation, then earn.
estly request that such action may be
taken at the present session of Con-
gress. h
1t seems advisable that should
state now what course ! shall feel
bound to pursue in reference to the
matter, in the event of no action by
Congress at this time. Subject to any
satisfactory arrangement that may be
made by the parties to the cOntrOvcr-
sy, which. Of all things, is the most
desirable. it will be my duty, so far as
it may be necessary for me to act, to
adhere to that government heretofore
recognized by me. y
5 To Judge of the election and qualifi-
cation of its members is the exclusive
province of the Senate, rs it is also
the exclusive province OF the House
to judgesof tho election aud qualifica-
tons of its members but rs to State
offices, filled and heidnnder State laws,
the decisions Of the State indicial tri-
bunal, it seems 30 me, ought to be re-
spected. A5gai9 $3.50 ~
LAM extremely anxious to avoid any
appearance OF undue interference in
state affairs, and il Congress differs
from NE as to what ought 10 be done,
Respectfully urge its immediate deci-
sion To that effect: otherwise l shall
feel obliged, far rs can, by the ex-
ercise of iegitmatc authority to put an
end to the unhappy controversy which
;disturbs the peace and prostrates the
business of Louisiana, by the recogni-
ton and support OF That goyfenmcnt
which is recognized and upheld by the
courts of the State. u. ). GRANT. i
Executive Mansion, Feb. rs, 1873.
re-, y 81 a.----------- -ss.----------
d A society for the suppression 0
slang has been formed among the pu-,
pills Of the Girls High School Of San
Francisco. said a reporter to one Of
its members !oYour object is praise
worthy Que DO you think you will
succeed in epadicatiuu conversational