Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-01-17
CINCINNATI.
Indignation Meeting Yesterday.
Letters from Gov. Allen and w.
s. GrOeSbeck.

lob Stevenson Refuses TO Protest"
CINCINNATI, o., Jan. ia large meet
ing Of citizens was held at Pixies Opera
House TO protest against the action of the
military authorities in Louisiana. Letters
were read from Gov. Allen and Hon. W. 5.
GrOesbeck expressive Of sympathy with
the objects Of the meeting, and from Hon.
Job E. Stevenson, who expressed a desire
to take part in meeting to express public
sentiment, but objected to a meeting to
protest against military action.
The meeting was addressed by Mayor
johnson, Geo. II. PendletOn, Theodore
Wright, o. j. Uodds and Hon. W. L. Con-
verse, Speaker Of the Ohio House of Rep
resentatiyes.
Preamble aud Resolutions.
Whereas, 1t is a part Of the current pub
lie history Of the country that on the 4th
day Of January, 1875, a General Of the
Army of the United States detailed an
armed body Of soldiers with orders to enter
the Legislative Hall of the State Cf LOuisi-
ana while the Legislature of the State was
engaged in the work of organization, and
to compel the withdrawal from the Hall of
persons claiming membership, and who
had been admitted to seats and
qualified as members, said orders
being executed by said soldiers,
thus inteTupting the organization of said
body, and attOrding an opportunity to other
persons claiming the same seats 70 enter
and occupy the same and organize said
Legislature, thus practically determining a
contest Of election; and whereas, a General
Of the army has publicly called upon the
President Of the United States to declare a
portion of the people outlaws, and to grant
him authority to try, cOndem and punish
them by martial law; therefore,
Resolved, that as citizens invested with
the right and charged with giving earnest
attention to public affairs and pronounce
dispassionate judgment thereon, we regard
these events with alarm and indignation.
Resolved, that it is essential to the pres
eTvatiOn of free institutions in the United
States, that the military power shall at all
times be subordinate to the civil
power; that the army shall not be
called upon or permitted to perform
mere police power in any part Of the Union;
that the right aud duty of preserving social
order within the several States shall at all
times be recognized as belonging to the re-
spective State governments, except in the
single instance provided by the Federal
Constitution, which authorizes the general
government to protect the States, Tespec-
lively, against domestic violence upon the
call Of the executive, when the Legislature
cannot be convened.
Resolved, that our judgment of the &C
tiOn Of Gen. Sheridan is formed without
regard to the truth OF falsity of the ground
upon which he has sought to justify it;
that upon his statement Of facts it was an
unwarranted and violent usurpatiOn and
violation Of the Constitution, and we call
upon our fellOW-citIzens throughout the
Union not to be misled in the discussion
Of this grave topic by the recital Of al
legged wrongful and illegal acts of
other persons at other times and
places, but to judge the action Of
Gen. Sheridan upon its own merits, that
usurpers Of power in all periods Of the his
tory Of the struggle between liberty and
despotism justified themselves upon the
pea Of public safety requiring their usur-
patton.
Resolved, that the call of Gen. Sheridan
for the power to arrest, condemn and pun
ish citizens Of Louisiana by martial law is
gross insult TO the people Of this country,
and deserves rebuke from the government
anc people.
Resolved, that we view with distrust and
disapprObatiOn the multiplication Of mill
tary titles and military emolument,s be-
lieving that the true military power Of the
Republic should always be its citizen sol
diery, and that we call upon our immedi-
ate representatives in Congress to support a
bIll recently introduced providing for the
abolition of the Office of Lieutenant Gen
eral Of the Army Of the United States, with
an amendment including all other unnec-
essary military Offices.
ResOl5 5ed, that a copy of these resolutions
be forwarded to our representatives in Con-
greSs by the chairman of this meeting.