The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-10-10
SOUTHERN ANARCHY.
The Powers of U. 8. Courts in SOuf!,cri
States-..An Important Opinion.


New YORK, Oct. GA Louisville despatch
states that Judge Ballard, in his instructions
to the grand jury1 of the United States court
for that district, gave the following important
opinlOn
l cannot omit speaking to you in respect to a
class of cases which is attracting so much at
tenton abroad as we'll as at home. l refer to
what are ordinarily denominated Ku-Klux out.
RACES Let me say once for all in respect to
Them this court has no jurisdiction; for their
continuance the people of the state and the tri-
bunals of the state are alone responsible. The
governments of the United States and the states
differ in this particular: The legislative power
of the latter is unlimited except so far as it is
restrained by the constitution of the United
States, while the Congress of the United States
has no power except that which is derived i'm
mediately from the constitution itself. 1t is not
sufficient that law passed by Congress is not
inhibited by that constitution. To be valid it
must be authorized by that instrument. 1t las
been supposed by some that the act of Con-
gress, approved April 90 1871 passed to en-
force the 14th amendment to the constitution of
the United States, has conferred the jurisdc-
ton upon the courts of the United States of
crimes and offences committed against colored
people. 1t is true that this act has enlarged
the jurisdiction of the courts of the United
States, but not. in my opinion, to the extent
claimed.
Louisiana Matters.
The Tribune's New OrleansIspecial says there
are no threatened disturbances in the interior of
Louisiana; that the soldiers are well received
everywhere except at Bayou Sara, where the
negroes were opposed to their presence, and
there had been no difficulty in reinstating the
Kellogg officials, 1t is certain, however that
if the troops were withdrawn from the state
these officials would be quietly deposed The
White League is not under arms, but the or
ganiZatiOn is maintained.
The Herald's special says that the negota
tons between the Conservatives and Republic
cans are likely to fall through as the latter re.
fuse to procure the resignation of two Republic
cans from the returning board, which refusal is
based on the fact that the Conservatives failed
in their promise to disarm the White Leagues,
Several companies of cavalry arrived at New
Orleans yesterday, and reported that Custer is
to be sent there.
The Times special says the address by the
colored leader. issued yesterday, 81 signed by
Pinchback, Antoine and others.
Gov. Kellogg stated last evening that Pres-
dent Grant is not inimical to the existing state
government of Louisiana.
The advisory board last night decided to rec
ommend that theDernocrats be allowed to name
place in New Orleans. Subsequently Gen.
Ogden issued an order to the White League,
commanding them to refrain from drilling in
the streets.
The same special says that mass meeting of
colored citizens held in NewOrleans last night.
adopted the Pnchback address and resolutions
denounclng Kellogg
Disturbance i'm Mississippi.
A New Orleans despatch to the Times says
that negro riot is threatened at Hazelhurst,
Miss On Wednesday negro was arrested for
arson, and while trying to escape from the
officers was killed. The officers gave them
selves up andiwere lodged in Jail. A negro cor
oner decided that the incendiary had been
murdered. Whereupon the negroes of the
town held mass meeting, and vowed their in
tention of lynching. the officers. The white
men armed and guarded the Jail and up to mid
night Thursday no riot had taken place.
The Billings Murderers.
A Washington despatch to the Republic
states that postal agent Clark, who has re-
turned from Montgomery, Alabama, denies
that the prisoners charged with the murder of
Billings were i'll treated. He saw them when
they arrived at Montgomery, and says that
they were we'll and did not complain of i'll
treatment. The marshals having them in
charge were southerners and would not allow
them to be ill treated y p - d.
The same despatch states that another spec
ial agent reports the condition Of several south
ern states as very bad general feeling of dis
trust existing between whites and blacks.