Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1873-06-13
The Louisiana Muddfe.

What howl would 90 up from the
papers opposed to President Grants Ad.
ministration if, in case of contested elec.
tion in any State, the judiciary should de-
eide in favor of one set of candidates and
the President should sustain the other
What caustic denunciations we should
read of the crime of overriding the courts
with military powerl Yet this is exactly
what General Grant would have done had
he recognized the McEnery faction in.
stead OF the Kellogg faction in Louisiana
The regularly constituted courts, both
State and Federal, decided that Kellogg
was elected Governor of Louisiana, and
that McEnery was not This left law
abiding National Executive no alternative
but recognition of Kellogg when two
rival State governments presented them
selves, each claiming to be lawfully con-
stituted. Yet President Graut was not
satisfied, hesitated to interfere in such a
muddle, evidently believing it doubtful
question as to which party had really car
ried the election, and distinotly urged
Congress to take some decisive action
relative to the question before its adjourn.
ment.
Congress, however, chose to shirk the
responsibility or the trouble of determin.
ing which of the two rival State govern
ments was the legal one. In the absence
of any decision by this supreme authority
the President could only confirm the ac-
ton of the courts by recognizing the Gov
ernment which they had declared legally
elected whatever his own opinions might
be respecting the election. This being the
case there should be an end of the TRADES
against President Grant for his action in
the matter. If the Kellogg Government
be an usurpation, then both the lower
courts in New Orleans and the Supreme
Court of Louisiana, the judges of which
were duly appointed by Warmoth long
before the present troubles were appre-
hended, and indeed before that function
ary had allied himself with the McEnery
party, as well as the United States District
Court, are primarily responsible for the
sanction which it has obtained, and Con
gress alone is responsible for its continu-
ance 1t is usual in civilized countries.
where law and order prevail, for the reg
ularly declared decisions of legally CON
stituted courts to be respected until re-
versed by some higher tribunal. This
being true, the McEnery party of Louisi-
ana, whether their grievances be great or
small, have no legal and honorable course
but to bide their time and peaceably obey
lne powers lndl De, until Inelf case can De
adjudicated either by Congress or the
Supreme Court of the United States.
President Grant has no alternative but to
sustain the said powers that be when duly
called on for that purpose, and help them
to put down any domestic violence by
whomsoever fomented. And the honest
newspaper press, regardless of party
lines, unless they desire to make matters
worse and precipitate a rebellion, should
counsel accordingly. President Grants
proclamation, published in another col.
umn, ordering all turbulent and disorder
ly persons to disperse and peaceably
retire to their respective abodes within
twenty days" in order that there may be
no necessity for employing the army
against them, is in the interests of peace
and order, and as such should be sus-
tained.-F0rneys Press.