The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-01-12
SHERIDAN SELF-CONvICTED.
An analysis Of His Appeal to the People.

The giving to the press of Sheridan repor
to the Secretary Of War is Of the nature OF az
appeal to the tribunal Of public opinion, ano
after its publication he cannot refuse to re-
spend to the questionings of the press with
ont damage to himself He may evade ques
tons propounded by its representatives, and
try to evade the issue by pretended dignity
or bluntness, but this will not avail him when
We formerly arraign him to answer for the
many foolish, injurious and absolutely false
statements he makes in the said report.
He begins by avowing himself responsible
Scr the action Of military force which he de-
,.lares he did not command-an abs,vdity.
lie, using the personal pronoun, says. Il
repeatedly heard threats of assassinating the
Governor" If this be true, why did he not
lodge information and cause the arrest Of the
parties. as is the duty Of any American citi-
Ter, and in this republic soldier cannot d.
vest himself of the rights of citizen, nor of
his responsibilities. Thus he exposes himself
-, either a bad citizen or stupid one, and
therefore 8 dangerous man to be invested
Will, authority.
He says Cousin, the kidnapped member Of
the Legislature, was a member ELECT. Le-
7vssee testif ed that he (Levissee) "was re-
turned by the Returning Board, but was
not elected by the popular vote
Cousin was exactly in the same position.
This statement of Sheridan, therefore, as
srmes omniscience- another piece of folly His
narration Of Willis proceedings tallies with
krl!ogg's, which, in this community, and
possibly in the Senate of the United States,
is prima facis evidence Of fa.sity. De Tro-
brand has already given Kellogg the lie cir
cumssaatal, which will help to establish this
point. Paragraph says:
Gen. De Trobriand asked the acting Speaker
if it Was not pJssible for him to preserve
order without appealing to him as United
States army officer. Mr. Witt said 1t ,nas not,
wherein ION the General proceeded to the
lobby, and addressing few words to the
crowd, peace was at once restored.
Paragraph 18th says:
When Mr.. Witt, the usnrping Speaker of
the House, called for troops to prevent blood
shol. they were given him; when the Cover
Of the State called for posse for the
same purpose and to enforce the law, it was
furnished also. Had this not been done, it is
any firm belief that scenes Of bloodshed
would have ensped.
Compare the two, and it is apparent that in
the former he makes Wilt unequivocally and
without reservation say, he could not preserve
orier. and in the latter, adds the qualifying
statement that his call was to prevent blood
shed. What this amounts to the public will
readily conclude.
In paragraph 6 he says the remaining men,
bers proceeded to effect an organization under
She Sute acs Who made him Jurist I'll
lie claims to be one, why did he not look into
the Constitution Of the State and make himself
familiar with the fact that the laws under
which the Rump organized were violation of
chat instrument.
Psha,r. If the enormity Of Federal troops
removing at'the point Of the bayonet MEM
bers Of the opposition in State Legislature
had not already aroused the deepest popular
Indignation, this document of Phil Sheridan's
would certainly teach the American people
that soldiers are not the proper persons to be
employee'in. questions involving the impassive
and unbiased administration of law.