The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1875-01-14


peoplsofI.bes South I'd live tokstGer ii
peace and obey the laws, and nothing
would give me greater pleasure than
20 sees reconciliation and tranunillity;
everywhere prevail, and thereby. res
move all necessity for the presence OF
troops among them. I regret, how.
ever, to say that this state of thinRs
does not exist, nor does it's existence
seem to be desired in some .localities:.
and as to those, it may be proper for
me- to say that to the extent that
Congress has conferred power upon
me to prevent it, neither Ku Klux:
hlans, White Leagues, nor any other
association using arms and violence
to execute their unlawful purposes,
can be permitted in that way to govern
any part of this country, nor can I see
with indifference Union men or Re.
publIoaus ostracieed, persecuted and
murdered on account of their OBI.
Mons, as they now are in some locali-
ties. have. therefore; urged .hs casa
'of Louisiana upon the attentionotof
Congress. and cannot but think that
it's innction has produced great evil.
10 summarize: In September Last an
armed and organized body Of man in 2
the support of candidates. who lad
been put in nomination for the 6hlSsa
OF Governor and Lieutenant Governor.
ut the November election in 1872, and
who had bean declared not elected BY,
the Board Of Ounvaesers, recoRnfzen
by all the courts to9which Che question
had been submitted, undertook to Sfib-
vert and overthrow the State Govern
ment that had been recognized by me
in accordance with previous preoedeats.
The recognized Governor was driven
from the State House, and but for his
finding shelter in the United 6tatea
Custom House in the capitol OF the
State of which he was Governor; it 10
scarcely to be doubted shat he would
have been killed. From the State
House, before he had been driven to
the Custom House, call was made,
in accordance with the 4th Section or
the 4th Article of the Constitution OF
the United States. for the aid of the
General Government to suppress do
mestio violence. Under these circurn.
stances, and in accordance with my
sworn duties, my proclamation of She
10Th Of September, 1874, was issued.
This served to rsinstate Gov. Kellogg
to his position nominally; b1tit cannot
be claimed that the insurgents Had to
! this day surrendered torths State aus.
thorities the arms belonging to the
State, or that they have, in any sease,
disarmcd: on the contrary, it is known
that the same armed organizations that
existed on the 1Ath September, 1874
in opposition to the recognized State,
Government. s.ill retain theiE .oTEani-
zati oil. equipmep5s and comEoapdera.
and can be called ont at any hour to,
resist the State Government. Under
these circumstances, tho same military
force has been oontinued;in Hopisiaha
Ok was sent there under tha firsteall,' !
apd under tho same general inEtruc-
tions. repeat, that The task assumed
lby the troops la not, % pleasant one 20
the m; that the atmy,ds, not composed
of lawyers, capable ofjudging at d MO:
ment's notice OF just how far they can
go in the maintenance of law and
order; and tbat is was impossible TO
give specific instructions providing
Tor all possible contingencies that
might arise. The troops were
bound to act upon the Judgment
Of the conmanding officer, Upon
each sudden contingency that may
arise, or wait i1structions which odaid
only reach them after the, threatened
wrongs had been compittea which
they were called on. to prevent. sI fs
should be reooileoted. too. that upon
my recognition of the Kellogg Go.
vefument, I TepoEt1l thn iau5, with
the grounds of recognition, to Con.
gress. and asked that body TO- tska
action in the matter;' otherwise .f
should regard stheir silence an acduiS:
escence, in my course, No. action, ka5s
been taken by khat body, and i '6aaye.
naintained the position then marked
ont. II error has bsen committed by
the army in thess matters, it has
always been on Sthe Iside cot Nhe pre-.
[aervation OF good order, the mainta.
france Of law and the protection of life.
Their bearing reflects credit upon the
soldiers. and il wrong has resulted, The
blame is With the turbulent elements
surrounding them. I now earnestly
ask that such action be taken by Con-
gress as't0 "lesve my duties perfectly
clear in dealing with the Affairs of
Louisiana, giving assurance at the
| same time that whatever may be done
by that bodyin the premises will ba
executed according to the spirit and