Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1874-10-02
The Louisiana Trouble.


tic, and we said then that we thought, on
the whole, the effect of this action of the
people of Louisiana would go far towards
sounding the death knell of Radicalism
the Union. We are still of the
same opinion. Indeed each mail brings
us information strongly confrmatory of
the opinion we expressed. But whilst this
is so, we regret to find that there are some
papers, which, whilst protesting to be en-
tirely ''independent in politics." are in
siduously seeking to poison public opinion
by their mode of speaking of the matter.
We ere told that the people of Louisiana
are insurgents, rising against the lawful
government-thatt their action resulted in
anarchy" which would only have the
effect of driving capital and labor from the
State, Sc. Now, for ourselves, we cannot
understand how any unbiased, and there
fore independent man, can speak thus
harshly and unjustly of the people of this
much abused State. We are bound there
fore to treat all such insidious assertions,
as being actuated by partisan motives, and
written in the interest of the Republican
party. We do not wish to be unjust, but
this conclusion is forced on Us irresistably
and we must yield to it. Now then let us
see how the case stands. Let us examine
the facts, in order that We may be the better
able to fix the responsibility where it just
ly belongs.
We admit in the outset, that perhaps by
this action of the people of Louisiana they
have for the time being subjected them
selves to the hardships of martial law. But
is not that better than to langush, and
languishing, live under the rule of the
thieves who have so long had the proper
ty of the State PROSTATE at their feet, in
order that they might steal wha. they wish
ed-their power in this respect being
limited only by their capacity All this
we admit and much more. But at the
same time we do say, that the people of
Louisiana have borne their grievances with
patience and manliness, which trumpet
tongucd" should have long ago appealed
to the fairness of their fellow citizens
throughout the nation. So far as this OPP
pressed people is concerned, they have en-
hausted every means in their power before
resorting to the last final arbitrament of
arms. But all without avail. Patiently,
but protestingly, day after day, month after
month, and year after year, they have borne
their trouble and sought to be good citi-
zcns, but this was not permitted to them
The Republican party would not recognize
or hear them.
But this same party Rough
its President, tbann this
State. How was - 3ction
was held for State offiJ k6ding a
Governor. A contest arose as to whether
McEnery or Kellogg were elected. Ordi-
narily and elsewhere this contest would
have been settled by the State Courts, but
here it was otherwise. One Durrell, a
portion of the scum which the boiling of
the political cauldron had brought to the
surface, had been appointed United States
Judge. BY some extraordinary means,
known only to those who manipulated
this creature, an order was obtained from
him directing the United States Marshal.
Packard, to take possession of the State
House and deliver the same only to Kel-
ogg. McEnery. claiming to have been
elected Governor, and so conceded after
wards, seeking to obtain possession of the
archives of the State, is resisted by this
United States Marshal with Federal troops
placed at his disposal by an order of At
torney General Williams, dated three DAYS
before, as it were in anticipation of the
Then an appeal is made TO
the President by McEnery, but the Presi-
dent, through the influence of the Attorney
General, decides in favor of Kellogg, on
the grounds that this United States Judge
Durrell had declared him to be the legiti-
mate Governor of the State Afterwards
the President refers the whole matter to
Congress and tells them that unless they
take action in the premises he shall feel
himself obliged to adhere to his previous
decision sustaining Kellogg. The Senate
appoints Committee which. Investigate
ing the subject, report that the action of
Judge Durrell was without warrant of
law, and that the action of the President
based thereon was without due considera-
ton. On this report no action was taken
by Congress, and President Grant, acting
with that persistency, which looks to us
like self-willed obstinacy, sustains Kellogg
in all his subsequent actions. Now what
we say is this: That the Republican party
is responsible for the present condition of
things In Louisiana. A Republican Pres
ident has recognized the action of a Fed
eral Judge, which the Committee of the
Senate has declared to be illegal, and a
Republican Congress has refused to do
anything to relieve the people seeking only
fair hearing. The responsibility is thus
fairly placed on that party. The people
of Louisiana, having thus exhausted every
means in their power to get a fair hearing
of their grievances from the Chief Magis-
trate of the cOuntry-from the CONGRESS-