The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1875-01-22
LOUISIANA.
Special Message Of President
Grant.
His Response to the Senate's Request
for Information.
2, Ia Senate # The ra;.sf STATES:

We 30 a Senate resolution Oh Luo = inetohs,
asking for information - to any interference
nv aGv military officer or any part Of the army
If the United States Will the organization or
proceedings OF the General Assembly or the
3tate If Louisiana, or either branch thereon,
and also .uquiring IN regard TO me existence
If armed organizations in that State hostile
to the government thereof. and Intent on
-oyerIrrnmg such government by Iofce.
To sav that lawlessness. turbulence and
blood shed have characterized the political
Affairs of that State since its organization
under the reconstruction acts, Is only to re-
meat what has become we'll known as a part
~ It's unhappy nistors: but it may be proper
here . refer to the election OF 1868. by which
the republican vote OF the State, through
franz and violence, was reduced to q few
tbon and and the bloody riots of 1856 and
1893 to show disorder. Those are not
dine % spv recen. causes or TO any late action
of ths Federal authorities. Preparatory 10 the
eIerti0n Of 1872, 3 shameful and u~ndlsgulsed
conspiracy was formed to carry that election
4cAlns. the Republicans. without regard tolaw
or right. and 10 that end the most giarlnS
frauds and forgerie5 were committed III the
RETURNS. after many c0lCred citizens had oeen
denied registration and others deferred by
fear from casting their ballots. When the
time cane for 4 final canvass Of the votes. IN
view o. the foregoing facts, William T. Mel
Iocg. the Republican candidate For Governor,
brouSk. suit upon The equity side or the
TniIed States Circnit Court for Loulsians,
and against WarmOtl aud others who had OBJ
tanned possession of tho returns of the cleo.
zion. TeDf e3enting that several Thousand
ya.ers Of the State had been deprived OF the
elective franchise on account OF their color,
and D-aviug that steps might be taken 10
have IAeir votes counted, anu Tor
genera! relief. To enable the court to IN
.9u;re AZ - the truth Of thesas allegations, a
.-o-- rout-aipipr crSnT UaH ISrDp1
against the defendants. which was at ouco
wholly Girregarded and treated with contempt
.Sv hose TO HON it was directed.
There proceedings have been widely de-
nolncei a. an unwarrGntab!e Interference py
the Federal Judiciary with the election OF
State officers. hut it is TO be that
by the Fifteenth Amendment to The Constitu-
ton If the United States the political equal
itv Of cniored citizens ~ secured. and under
the second section of that amendment, pro-
ding that Congress shall have power TO en-
fore ia provisions By appropriate leGisia-
tier su act was passed on tho 3lst Of May,
tsTH. and amended in 1871, the object Of
wiicA was to prevent tha denial or abr!d5e-
meni Of the suffrage OF cltiZens on account OF
race. rg.Or or previous condition OF serVltn!e,
ana Z has been held By al the Federal j Judges
before whom tho question has arisen, in
clEd,E- Justice Strong, of the Supreme
Cont. tha the protection afforded 10y these
sricu:meuts and these acts extends To State a.
well ar 10 other elections
TIA. :: is the duty of the Federal Courts to
enforce The provisions of the CONSTITUTION OF
the Uni.ed States and the laws passed. III pur-
suaTce Hereof it 100 clear for controversy.
Section u of said act. after numerous pro
visions therein, to prevent an evasion OF the
Fifteenth Amendment. pro 7ides that the
i3r;-!,ct.on Of the Circuit Coart OF the United
State3 shall extend to aliCisoS i'll law or equity
arising under the PROVISIONS OF SAID act anu OF
the set amendatCrv thereof. Congress- seems
20 have taken prompt and equltaSie as well AZ
lega! proceedings TO Prevent the dental OF
suffrage 20 the co,ored citizens, ana IL may Do
satolv G-selted, tnaLIf Mr.. Kellogg blli III the
aboyr Eauaed case does not present a case FOR
+hc equitable interpoSition of the court.
no suct case can arise under the act. That
the courts of the United States have the right
to interfere in various ways with State cleo
tom. 80 as to maintain political equality and
rights therein, irrespective Of race or color IS
c1muAratiyeIy q new, and to some 1t seems to
be & startling, idea: but 1t results AZ clearly
from The Fifteenth Amendment OF the Con
etItu.iOu and the acts that have been passed
tn enforce that amendment, as the abrOgatlon
of State laws uphOlding slavery results
from the Thirteenth Amendment of the Con
stitution. While the Jurisdiction OF the court
IN the case OF Kellogg VS.. Warmoth Snd
OfntIE is CatuE " il lilIL ~ ON"hA' $1,000
some Of the orders made by the Judge IN that
and The Hundred case Of Antoine were Illegal;
lint while thew are go held and considered, II
- not 20 be forgotten that the mardate OF
his court had been contGmptuously dehed, and
they we're made while wild scenes OF anarchy
were sweeping away all restraint OF law ano
orde-. Doubtless the Jud g Of this court
made grave mistakes, but the law allows
me Chancellor great latitude not only II
furnishing those cOntemning biz orders, bu'
hose preventing the c~onsurnnatlon OF th(
wrong which he has ludicaliy forb!ddeh
whatever may be said or thought of these
matters, il WAS only made known to me tha
the process OF the United States Court wa
reeja cd. and as said acts specially preTld'
for the u-e of the army and navy when Deces
ssry 20 enforce judicial process arising there
under, I considered it my duty 20 see tina
Al III rrJcess vas executed ACCORDING
to the Judgment Of the court. Resultln,
from these proceedings, through varlofs con
rroversies and complications, a state admins
tratiou was organized, with VIM. L: heilos;
- Governor, which. IN the dlscharg
~ nv duty, under section t of article 4 o
Che Constitution, 1 have recognized as tn
government of the State. Ii has been bit
te1Iv End persistently alleged that Kellogg wa
m, oicc,ed. Whether he was or not IL no
altcre:her certain; nor Is It any more ceriai
that his competitor, McEnery, WAS chosen
The eiectjon was q gigantic fraud, &hn Liner
ara no reliable returns of its result. kellogg
obtained possession of the Office, and. in In
opinion. has more right to it than his con
9etlscr.
On the Goth OF February. 1878, the Commit
tee on Privileges and Elections Of the Senat
made a report in which they say that they al
.stisfed by the testimony that the mauipuls
sion of the election machinery by Warmot
snd others was equivalent TO 90 coo voter
and they add that to recognize the McEnel
government would be recognizing q govern
neut based upon fIaEd, in defiance OF Il
wishes and intentions OF the voters of Il
State. Assuming the correctness Of II
statements in this report. and they see
20 have been generally accepted by the coa
try, the great criue in Louisiana, about WIKI
so much has been done and sid, liz that OF
Is holding the Office Of Governor who W
honLrI ont nf % NnO rn+na nrninSt ANGth