Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-09-22
hOUISIANA'S COUP D'EfAF.
Proclamation of Gov. McEnery
and Lieut.. Gov. Penn
to the People,
The Brief, sad History OF a Heroic
afruexEe. S

The Brief, sad History OF a Heroic
Struggle.
Fellow-citizens: You are already aware
of the events which transpireds in the city
of New Orleans on Monday aud Tuesday
last, which RESULTED in the complete over
throw of the usurping government.
By the prompt and spontaneous action
of the people in the several parishes, this
odious usurpatiOn has been destroyed ef-
fectually, so that, to-day, no vestige of its
power remains; and the government chosen
and elected by you was in full operation
throughout the State, aud in the exercise
of all the powers and functions belonging
to it as government de jure and de facto.
We congratulate you, fellow citizens, on
this great result. The people Of Louis
lana present a spectacle grandly sublime
of which they and their children after
them may well be proud. On Monay, no
longer able to bear the outrages and OPP
pressions of the Kellogg usurpation, they
flew to arms, and prepared to assert their
rights. The army Of the Gsurper, his
trained bands Of metropolitans, attacked
them with artillery and infantry, aud after
a conflict, short and decisive, the people
were victorious. The metropolitan army
was completely routed and dispersed; and
on Thursday, the State House, arsen&ls
and all the public buildings and property
were abandoned, and were taken into pos
session by the rightful government of the
State.
From that day until this perfect peace,
order and quiet prevailed in the city of
New Orleans, and no crime has been COM
mitted, no violence, no injury has been
done to person or property, and JOY and
confidence filed all hearts.
On Tuesday the proclamation of the
President was issued, and on Wednesday
kilograms were received, clearly indica-
ting the determination of the Administra-
ton 10 put down this government with the
strong hand. On Wednesday evening Gen.
w. II. Emory, commanding tie Depart
ment of the Gulf, arrived in New Orleans,
and communicated to us his peremptory
orders to compel immediate compliance
with the proclamation Of the President of
18th September.
In a conference to which he invited us,
and in which we were assisted by several
gentlemen who were also invited to partic-
ipate al the Generals rooms last night, he
informed US that he was not permitted to
recognize our government in any way, and
that Immediate submission and a surTen-
der of the property of the State to the
United States would be the only means of
avoiding the employment of the military
aud naval forces of the United States TO
compel obedience.
AT our earnest solicitation we obtained a
delay until O'Clock to-day, which was, at
our request, this morning, extended to 3, to
confer with leading citizens.
After full conference, finding that fur
ther delay would not be granted, and that
war witlIthe United States would be the |
inevitable result of refusal on our part, we
were compelled to accede to the terms pro-
posed, and we have abandoned the State |
property which was in our possession to the |
United States alone.
We need not remind you, fellOW-citizens, |
that at every stage of our protracted con- |
flict with this UsurpatiOn, we have cen |
stantly asserted, and maintained the as
sertion, that we have never intended to |
come in conflict with the authority or the |
forces of the United States; and when that |
has been the alternative, we have not hest
tated to yield ready obedience to the au-
thority.
simultaneously with this, will be pub /
lished the protest which we made to Gen. |
Emory against this action of the Federal |
Government, which displaces your rightful |
Governor and Lieutenant Governor, and |
which places the State in the possession and |
under the control of The military forces of |
the United States.
Thus, fellow-citizens, has the State of |
Louisiana been finally stricken down by |
the hand Of power, and we are no longer |
citizens Of a State, but are inhabitants |
merely of what was once q free State, the |
peer Of any other in the American galaxy. |
1t is no disgrace to submit to power |
which we have not the capacity or the |
right to resist. II is painful to be COM |
PEELED to give up our most cherished rights; |
but we do so with the full determination to |
regain them, and to have them restored by |
the hand by which We have been deprived |
Of them.
IbOnly remains for US to urge upon VOC |
to summon to your aid all your courage |
and foItitUde, your virtue and forbear- |
ance, to enable you to submit with be- |
coming dignity to this great calami- |
ty, which no act of ours or of yours |
could have averted. Continue to be |
as you have been, law-abiding and |
faithful to your duty and obligations to |
the Government Of the United States. |
GU nave just gained a great NlctOTy over |
your enemy, arrayed in arms against You. |
Make one more sublime effort, and gain |
grand victOry-a victory over your passions |
and inclinations. Yield faithful, ready |
obedience to all legally constituted authc~- |
ity, and be assured that the story OF your |
wrongs, your long fOrbearance, your heroic |
virtues, displayed as well in your hour of
triumph as in your misfortunes, will COM
mand and receive the sympathy and respect |
OF the civilized world.
JOHN MCENERY, Governor,
ID. b. Penn, Lieut.. Governor.