The New York herald., 1874-09-19
GENERAL BUTLER'S PLAN.

BOSTON, Sept. IS, 1874.
Ever since the premonitory symptoms OF a revo-
luton manifested in Louisiana General Butler
has been kept well informed by correspondents in
and around The Crescent City OF what was going
on, and the outbreak which has now come was no
surprise to him. Indeed, in his speech at
Gloucester last Saturday evening he foreshadowed
much OF what has since occurred, and intimated
that no wouldn't mind going down to New Or
leans again and taking hand in the enforcement
OF law and order. | called upon the General this
afternoon at his law ofice, in Pemberton square,
and after discussing lev general topics the mat
ter OF the Louisiana troubles was incidentally
alluded TO-
at Is a sad state OF a1airs," he remarked, with
much feeling, land what the result will be 1t is
now impossible 10 determine. had letter from
u friend there some two weeks ago, man who Is
we'll posted and reliable, and he says that even
then there was rebellion all over the State and
Kellogg's government was as good as over
thrown.n
"Can't the federal courts ettle this matter some
way or other and establish the fact that one party
or the other Is the government" ! asked.
~ don't see,' he replied, chow the action OF the
federal courts can afect these men. Whatever
the actual rights Of Kellogg may be, or whatever
the rights of McEnery may be, they have no
rights whatever by law for We have evidence
that there has even been an actual election ac
cording TO the provisions OF the constitution This
talk about the United States Senate settling the
matter OF the election Is absurd. That body has
no more right to decide upon an election in
Louisiana than 1t has in Massachusettsn
81 suppose, then, a new election is about the
only way IN which the matter can be properly and
satisfactorily settled" l said inquiringly
Eyes, that's it, exactly. Last December made
a speech in favor of q new election in louisiana
thinking that it was wise then to take positive
measures and thus avert the possibility OF such
events as have since happened, but was over
ruled at that time. and you see what the conse-
quences have been. The federal courts can't do
anything and all they have been able to do Is 10
stop one side from going into power and keep the
other side out. They don't seem to put an end to
trouble settle the matter to who is or who is
not Governor.n
at seems to be pretty complicated case, then,"
observed.
ayes, there Is going to be q great deal OF din.
Guilty in bringing matters to an end. President
GRAM has sent troops down there to enforce his
orders These troops however, can't have any,
thing to soy as to whether Kellogg or McEnery
shall assume to be Governor. What has the United
States TO say about the matter II l choose to sit
here In my ONCE and write and issue prOclama-
tons as Governor OF Massachusetts9 If l should
undertake to enforce such proclamations, then
there might be reasonable ground for interference
and not until then"
"But, General, suppose you were regarded as
Governor by the people and your orders were en-
forcedH"
"Oh, well, II the people choose to recognize me
as Governor and respect my proclamat0ns why,
that Is all very we'll. Tnis whole matter is some-
thing that the people must, sooner or later, de-
clde IN the manner OF an election. What wanted
was to have Congress declare the Louisiana gov
ernment vacant, ON account OF the failure OF the
people to elect government according to the
constitution, and have Congress direct matters
reconstrucIon enected. why, held precisely the
same position IN Louisiana during the war as
would exist now II the State government was
sunk IN the sea, and yet there was afterwards d
State govern ment established"
"BuL General, don't you regard the government
there now as practically non est p"
"Ihe judiciary exists, but there IS no Executive
to enforce its decrees ana 1t is, therefore, power
less"
.'What do you think about the riots and the
efforts to quell tnemW
.'Tnere is one thing 1 can't understand. and
that Is how the metropolitan police allowed them
selves to be captured, together with their artll-
lery, without even firing a single gun. IL would
had not been seriously wounded. 1t seems that
Longstreet had forty or nity OF his own men Killed,
and there were none killed on the other side.
Now, Ii 1t had been my case, should have pre-
ferred to have matters the otner way"
"Do you think the trouble Will be positively set
''rhe matter is not going TO be ended speedily
or easily. The great difficulty VIII be to ind the
trouble. When President Grant sends down the
United States forces they won't find any moo
there, but when they come away 1t Will oe there.
For my part don't see why Kellogg could not
have called out the United States troops IN the
vicinity ut once, for they are part OF the county
service, the same as the militia would be. There
the part Of the United States, so far as l
can Judge from the accounts furnished by
that m the Uned satss can't protsc its oWn SRn
citizens on its own SOIL then 1t Is about useless
an affair as we, can very well spend s3oo, 100000
Gent Grant will do his best to put down this insur-
rectiOn finally, but the difficulty VIII be that when
his troops are there they viii find no armed Oppo.
sitton. one faction seems to think that II the
other Will abdcate 1t will be the true government.
THIS is all wrong for there Is no evidence that
there has been any government properly elected.n
"Do you look upon this trouble as q riot, an In
surrectiOn or war 2"
State government. Although 1t only started IN d
riot 1t was conceived some time ago, and the
tnan what was anticipated. Now the insurrec.
tOnlsts were directly III defiance OF the State gov
ernment, but the moment they interpose the
United States troops or authorities this defiance
might develop into actual war. l can't conceive
that at any time the Louisiana people will be rash
The conversation then turned briefly upon the
right OF Kellogg TO disarm the citizens or militia
In which the General claimed that the Keeping and
bearing arms Tor the overthrow or protection OF q
government were two different things. 81 have
had occasion to examine that polnt," he re.
marked. with q merry twinkle in his eye. 'for
believe once disarmed the population Of New
Orleans myself. People have right to have fire
In their houses, but II they use the fire for pur-
poses OF inccndlarlsm they must be dispossessed
OF it,"
As intimated all through the interview, the Gen.
eral thinks affairs are very much mixed and can
only be Strengthened by new election; but neaH:
time he insists that it Is the duty of the govern.
ment to protect her own citizens on her own soil,
and am mistaken II he would not ike to take d