The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1875-01-30
subscribers out of County, S1.2O.
Louisiana.

h0u1sHanS.
The evidence is all in, says the N. Y.
Observer, we have heard both sides.
Sheridan, Kellogg, the two parties in
the Legislature, the President of the
United States, and the Committee Of the
House OF Representatives appointed to
ascertain the facts. In the midst of all
this testimony we ought surely to find
the truth.
And it is remarkable fact that in
all points essential to the formation of
an opinion as to the consttutionalty of
the action of the military in expelling
persons from the Legislative Hal, there
is little or no conflict of evidence. 1t is
in the testimony of all parties and all
witnesses, and all advocates, that sold.
iers Of the United States army entered
the Hall of the Louisiana Legislature
aud took out five men by force. We
have nowhere seen the case more clear.
ly stated and stripped of all needless
appendages than in the remarks of Sem
ator Schurz in his place in the Senate
OF the United States:
at is said in extenua ion of the in
reference of the military power of the
United States that the persons elected
from the Legislature by the Federal
soldiery were not legally members of
that Legislature. Suppose that had
been so; but that is not the question.
The question is, Where is the constitu-
tional principle, the law authorizing
United States soldiers with muskets in
their hands to determine VINO is legally
elected member of State Legislature
and who not? 1t is said that that mode
of organizing that Legislature was not
in accordance with the statutes of the
State. Suppose that had been so; but
that is not the question: The question
is, Where is the constitutional or legal
warrant for the bayOnets of the Federal
soldery to interpret the statutes of
States and to decide for and in a Legs-
ature points Of parliamentary law? 1t is
said that the Governor requested the
aid of the United States soldiers to purge
the Legislature of illegal members. That
may be so; but that is not the question.
The questionis, Where is the lawauthor-
izing U. S. soldiers tc do the bidding of
State Governor who attempts to decide
who are to be the members of Legis-
lature regularly convened at the place
and at the time fixed by law? 1t is
said that trouble was threatened between
contending parties in Louisiana. Sup
pose that had been so but that is not
the question. The question is, Where
S the law from which the national gov
ernment,in in case of threatened trouble in
a State, derives its power to invade a
Legislative body by armed force to drag
out persons seated as members of a
State Legislature that others may take
J their places? Where is The law, | ask?
You will search the Constitution and
J the statutes in vain.'
The report of the Congressional Com
mittee shows:
Flrst-That the election in Louisiana
: was, in the words of the committee,
"full, fair, free and peaceable. Sec
l Oud That it resulted in the election OF
democratic majority of twenty nine
in the lower House Of the Legislature
< Third-That the report of the Return
5 ing Board, was fraudulent, unjust anc
; contrary to the very law under which
' it acted.
y There is there fore no doubt on the
= minds of the people ofthe United States
that the invasion of the Legislature wa.
. wholly unjustlGable.