Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-02-25
THE LOUISIANA MIDDLE.

TIE President sent the following message to
Congress to-day:
To the !S,note and House Of Representatives.:
Nour attention is respectfully invited to the
Grave complications have grown out of the
election there, on the 9th Of November last,
chiefly attributable, it is believed, to an
those Controlling rt the electon of part ofsce p
and returns, to defeat in that election the will
of a majority of the electors of the state.
Different persons are claiming the executive
offices, two bodies are claiming to be the legs-
lative assembly of the state, and the con-
fusion and uncertainty, produced fn this way,
fall with paralyzing effect upon all its
the election occurred, over its proceedings and
results but declined to interfere until suit, in
volving this controversy TO some extent, was
brought in the circuit court of the United
States, under and by virtue of the act OF Nav
81, 1870, entitled IAN act to enforce the right
of citizens of the United States to vote i'm the
several states OF the Union and for other pur-
poses.''
Finding that resistance was made to judicial
process in that suit, without any opportunity,
and in my judgment, without any s:sh: &c re-
veiw the judgment of the court upon the iuris-
dictiOnai or other questions arising in the case
i directed the United States marshal to en-
force such process, and to use, if necessary,
troops for that purpose, in accordance with the
18th section of said act, which provides that .it
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 process under this act" Two bodies of
persons claimed to be the returning board for
the state, and the circuit court in
which Lynch belonged, usually designated
by his name was the lawful returning board
and this decision has been repeatedly affi rmed
by the district and the supreme courts of the
state. Having no opportunity or power to can
vass the votes, and exigencies OF the case de-
handing an immediate decision, cOncede il
to be my duty to recognize those persons as
elected, who received and held their creden-
tials TO office from what then appeared to NE
10 be, and has since been decided by
tn the .t supreme court of the state to
mably to the decisions of this board a
full set of state officers has been installed and
legislative assembly organized constituting if
not de .5ure at least de facto government
which since sometime in December last has had
Possession OF the offices and been exercising
the usual powers OF government; but opposed
to control the affairs of the state, and which
has to some extent Deen pro forma organized.
Recent investigation of the said election has
developed SO many frauds and forgeries to
make IT doubtful what candidates received a
majority OF the votes actually cast, and, i'm view
Of these facts, variety Of action has been pro-
posed.
i have no specific recommendation TO make
upon the subject, but III there is any practical
way Of removing these difficulties by legislation
then earnestly request that such action may
IT seems advisable that shurf!d state now
what course shall feel bound to pursue I'm ref
erence to the matter, in the event of no action
by Congress at this time. Subject to any salts
factory arrangement that may be made by the
parties to the controversy, 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.
To judge OF the election and qualification of
its members is the exclusive province OF the
Senate, as it is also the exclusive province of
the House to judge of the election and quaiifi-
cations Of its members; but as to state offices,
filled and held under state laws the decisions of
the state judicial tribunal, it seems to me,
ought to be respected.
am extremely anxious to avoid any appear
ance of undue interference in state affairs, and
If Congress differs from me as to what ought to
be done, respectfully urge its Immediate de-
cision to that effect; otherwise 1 shall feel
obliged, as far as can, by the exercise of legiti
mate authority to put an end to the unhap pv CON
troversy which disturbs the peace and pros
trates the business of Louisiana, by the recogni-
ton and support of that government which is
recognized and upheld by the courts of the
state. L. s. GRANT
Executive Mansion, Feb. %, 1873.