Richland beacon., 1873-06-07
ADDRESS OF GOVERNOR M.ENEhY,
To the People Of Louisiana.
STATE OF LOUISIANA,
EXECUTIVE OFFICE,
1000

Governor Of Louisiana, overthrown
solely by the Intervention OF the judi /;
eial, military and executive authorl-
ties of the United States, deem it
nv duty, in view Of the recent procla-
nation of the President relative to
Louisiana affairs, to address you some
words of advice and counsel.
The Federal Executive, in the face
Of the report of the committee OF the
Fnited States Senate, declaring unan-
imously that the United States Dis
trict Judge usurpcd juriSdistion, aud
that bis court was without authority .
10 cocrce a State or seize or overthrow /
its government, has issued proela-
nation commanding the citizens ofthe
State to submit to the Kellogg usur-
patton. >,
1t is apparent to you as we'll as to
all the people Of this Union that the
President is resolved at all hazards
and at all costs to sustain by the mil
itary arm Of the nation, the present
usurpation of the State Government,
ushered into existence by the mid
night order of United States District
Judge Durell, executed by United
States bayonets, and presided over by
Mr.. William Pitt Kellogg. You are
ordered and required by the Presl-
dent to view with calmness and resig-
nation the overthrow OF the legal
Government of your State, elected by
YOU in pursuance to all the forms OF
law; the displacement Of judges,
clerks, sheriffs, recorders, justices OF
the peace, police jurors, etc:,-in fact,
the displacement by force ofthe whole
machinery of government-State, pa
rochial and municipal-and the install
lation by force Of persons VIGOROUSLY
defeated at the election, and whose
only title to Office rests upon the re-
turn of returning board without a
single official return or vote before 1t
to canvass or count, and predicaiing
its illegal action upon a&davits I'm
many instances forged) certificates,
statements, census returns, etc.
You are commanded by the Presi-
dent to oppose no armed assistance to
this admitted usurpation, which, With
out the potential aid Of Federal auth
ority. would cease to exist in thirty
DAYS, and | counsel and advise You
to obey this peremptory order of the
President. President Grant, as the
Chief Magistrate of the nation, has
assumed the high and grave RESPONSE
bility of foisting upon the people OF
this State usurpation without prece-
dent in this or any other free country,
and he is answerable before the bar
Of public opinion of this Republic for
this high-handed measure, so utterly
destructive Of free government in this
country.
The President of the United States,
with the army and navy at bis CON-
mand, has the physical power to CO.
ercc the people of this State into any
line of policy be may be pleased to
dictate, and it would be but folly and
madness to interpose any resistance
likely to bring US in conflict with the
national authority; and as it has al
ready been successfully demonstrated
that Mr.. Kellogg's Government, un
aided by Federal power, was power
less to enforce its mandates, further
violent denominations will provo bar
rem of useful or practical results.
While the Presidents proclamation
will speedily rspress any threatened
outbreak in any part OF the State. we
the deeply Fixed sentiments Of irrepres
sible hostility in the minds and heart
of an outraged people, against tn
vilest usurpation ever attempted t
be fastened upon freemen, will FIN
their full scope and vent, and l advis
that these manly and patriotic sent
ments take form and shape throug
all moral and legal agencies possibl
to be devised.
To abandon at this crisis of our a
fairs the peaceable and legal mean
within our power, by which we ma
contest, until the last hope is gon'
the pretensious of this usurpation
the title being the legal Cover
meut Of Louisiana, would be an abas
u,ent of our manhood; and thrustln
our necks in the yoke Of tyranny an
oppression already prepared to recsi'
them.
With the Executive Of the Unite
States to support him, Mr. kellogg
nay. until Congress meets, admin
1or his Government with some appa
aent degree of success, but this shout
~ cause rs to despair Of ultimate r
- public sentiment througho'
nien. and the sentiments an
- q :nonbers of Congress, lea
70 VEL Gnnsilered conclusie
- Z whieb her ii
i eI1 IA 4. ~ paEti
- lIars ssDd loyal y