New-York tribune., 1873-05-10
I0UJST1Nd,

LOUISIANA.
Gen. Grant may perhaps have been amused
during his pleasure trip by the telegrams from
the seat of Government, describing the con-
d;tion 10 which Louisiana has been reduced.
He must have read of burlesque attempts upon
Kellogg's life, and burlesque battles on the
Bayou Teche; armies facing each other Tor
days without any excuse for fighting, and ap-
parently with no stomach for war; expeditions
checked because a steamboat captain does not
wish to transport them and artillery engage
ments in which nobody is wounded. The
Louisiana contest has its ridiculous aspects;
but it is very serious business in reality,
and perhaps the public peace would have been
better protected if the President, who has as
sumed to direct the administration OF the
State, had remained at home during this critl-
cal period and completed the task which he
imposed upon himself.
The immediate cause of the disturbance at
st. Martnsville is an attempt to install the
local officers to whom Kellogg granted certifi-
Gates of election, notwithstanding that they
did not receive majority of the votes. From
the various accounts which reach the Northern
press it appears that the white citizens, who
do not acknowledge Kellogg as Governor OF
the State, have risen almost en- mdSS6 20 resist
what they regard as usurpatlon, have armed
themselves, and stand in observation on the
outskirts of the town, varying the monotony
of passive resistance by an occasional sklrmish
with the enemy. The negroes fortunately
take no part in the affair, and the forces of
Gov. kellogg consist of detachments of Met
ropolitan Police from New-0rleans, whose
~ 70 Y
the cause of increased bitterness. There
is no evidence thus far of any con-
certed action by the McEnery party.
There is no systematic resistance slmultane-
ously in various parts of the State. 1t is only
clear that the white population of Louisiana
is almost unanimously hostile to Kellogg, and
determined to go rs far as possible in oppos-
ing him. Steamboat owners withdraw their
vessels rather than transport his policemen.
It is supposed that in other parishes besides
st. Martins disturbances will break out on the
first opportunity, and there is evidently
feeling of great uneasiness in New-Orleans
itself. 1t is worthy of remark, however, that
there is no opposition anywhere TO the forces
of the United States The insurgents Qf we
may dignity them by that name) take pains
to distinguish between the Federal troops and
the Kellogg policemen-between legitimate
authority and usurpatiOn.
This is not civil war, but it is an alarming
symptom of public disorder. 1t exposes the
falsehood of Mr.. Kenoggs pretense that the
people sustain him, and that his opponents
are only the wretched remnant Of q disap
pointed faction. 1t shows that be has been
placed in Office against tho popular will, Is
kept there by force, and could not retain his
position for week if the Federal soldiers
were Withdrawn. 1t shows that the people
are not learning to acquiesce In the usurpa-
tion,-that their resistance on the contrary is
becoming more and more obstinate,-and this
is the serious feature of the present situation.
The conflict must continue until either the
Kellogg government is OverthrOwn or the
people are entirely subdued by the over
whelming power of the national army.
There can be no doubt as to the Presidents
course. He cannot retreat. He has commenced
sustaining Kellogg, and he must persevere to
the end. "Make o requisiton on the Presi-
dent,n telegraphs Senator West to Mr.. Kel-
logg, "in accordance with the Constitution of
the United States, stating that your Legisla-
| "ture cannot be convened, and l know that
every mthnb VIII 10 pidOcu NJ youI ulspOsdl
"to fully maintain your authority The Con-
stitution declares that "the United States
shall guarantee to every State in the Union
" a republican form Of government, and shall
protect each of them against invasion; and,
| I" on application of the Legislature, or of the
Executive (when the Legislature cannot be
convened), against domestic yiolence.n The
| Legislature of Louisiana might have been con-
| vened at any time during the progress of
these disorders. Mr.. Kellogg knew that troubles
| were impending; he knew that he would
have need of the troops if be meant to
keep his place; why he did not assemble the
Legislature under these circumstances, why
| he does not convene it even now, he can per-
| baps explain. We presume he will make
| requisiton on the President as the Senator
advises, and it will not be the duty of Gen.
Grant to go behind the Governors official
statement and inquire whether Mr. Kellogg
tells the truth. The usurpation which began
last November, and was from the outset so
garing as to provoke the outspoken condem-
nation of the strictest of Administration Sena-
| tors, like Carpenter and Logan and Anthony
this usurpation. which the Presidents best
friends most hotly denounced, will con-
tinue to the end of the chapter.
Mr.. Kellogg will be firmly established
by Federal bayonets in the place TO
which he was not elected. The candidates for
parish offices who were defeated at tho last
election will be torcibly intruded into power