Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-01-21
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT.
He Responds TO the Resolution for
Light on Louisiana Affairs.


struction acts, the President says is only repeat
what has become well known part of its up-
happy history: He briefly reviews the leading
of 1868, and the bloody riots preceding
and following that event; the shameful
and undisguised conspiracy to carry the election
of 1872 against the Republicans; the glaring
frauds and forgeries committed in the returns:
the suit brought by Gov. Kellogg in the United
States Circuit Court; the decision of that court
in Mr.. Kellogg's favor, and his subsequent as
sumption of the office of Governor. The Presi-
dents says that the courts of the United States
have the right to interfere with State elections,
so as to maintain political equality
and rights therein, irrespective of race
or color, is a new, and to some ii seems
startling idea, but ii results clearly from the
Fifteenth amendment and the acts to enforce
that amendment as the abrOgation of State laws
upholding slavery results from the Thirteenth
amendment. The jurisdiction of the court being
clear, its judgment was properly executed He
had in the discharge of his duty under Sec. of
Art. of the Constitution recognized
he was elected and it equally uncertain that
McEnery was elected. Kellogg obtained posses
sion of The office and in his opinion had more
right TO it than his competitor.
Assuming the correctness of the report
made by the Senate Committee PriYi-
leges and Elections the effect that to recognize
the McEnery Government would be recognizing
government based on fraud, in defiance of the
wishes and intentions of the voters of the State
report which seems TO have been generally ac
cepted by the country at the time it was made
the great crime in Louisiana is that is holding
the office of Governor who was cheated out of
10000 votes against another whose title to the
office is based on fraud and in defiance of the
wishes and intentions of the voters of the State
The President then referred to the butChery of
citizens at Colfax, which be characterized
affair which, in bloodthirstiness and barbarity.
was hardly surpassed by any acts of savage war
fare. The facts, the President says, are admit
ted. To hold the people of Louisiana RESPONSE
a lamentable fact that insuperable distinctions
have been thrown in the way of pun
ishing these murderers, and the so-called
conservative papers not only justified the
massacre, but denounced Federal tyranny
and despotism" the attempt of United States
officers to bring them to justice. No way could
be found in this boosted land of civilization and
Christianity to punish the perpetrators of this
bloody and mOnstrous crime. Not unlike III its
leading features was the COushatta massacre.
No one has been punished, and the ''Conserva-
uve'' press denounced all efforts to that end and
boldly justified the crime. The President relates
additional Outrages, to which more or less promi-
hence has been given in the public press.
In consequence of representations made to him
that the presence of troops in Louisiana was un-
necessary, and that there would be no disturb
| ance if they were removed, he had withdrawn all
troops from the State early last summer with the
exception Of a small garrison at New Orleans. On
the i4th of September D. B. Penn, who claimed
that he had been elected Lieutenant GOvernorin
1872, issued an infammatory proclamation, call
ing upon the militia of the State to arm assemble
and drive out the "usurpers,' as he designated
the officers of the State. The White Leaguers,
sponded. On the same day the Governor
made a formal requisition upon him in
pursuance OF the act Of 1895, and Sec.
OF the Constitution, to aid in suppressing
domestic violence. On the next day he issued
his proclamation commanding the insurgents to
dispense within five days from the date thereof,
but before the proclamation published in
New Orleans, the organized and armed forces re-
organizing, usurplng government had taken
forcible possession of the State-HoUse and tenn
porarily subyerted the Government. Twenty or
more people were killed, including q number of
the police of the city.
The President insists that there was great in
timidatiOn exercised at the recent election
and instances the agreement of the
chants of Shreveport demonstrating the
fact. He also refers at considerable length
to the efforts made to control the election and
manipulate the vote as to assure the ascendency
of their friends and the defeat of the Republi-
cans. By Sec. s of the act of Feb o. 1871, it is
made the duty of the United States Marshals and
their deputies at the polls where votes are cast
for Representatives in Congress to keep the
peace and prevent any violations of the sO-Called
Enforcement act and other Offenses against the
laws Of the United States, and upon requisition
of the Marshal OF Louisiana, and in view of said
armed organization and other pOrtentOus circum-
stances, he caused detachments Of troops TO be
stationed in various localities in the State to aid
him in the performance of his official duties
In regard to the alleged interference of the mil
itary with the organization of the Leigh latdre of
Louisiana on the 9TH, he had int nation
which had not been received by him since that
time and published. His first information was
received from the papers of the morning of the
9Th of January. he did not know that any such
thing was anticipated and no orders, no sugges-
tiOns, were ever given TO any military officer in
that State upon the subject prior to the occur
renee. He was well aware that any military
interference by the officers or troops Of the United
States with the organization of a State Leg
islature or any of its proceedings, or with any
civil department of the Government is repug-
rant to our ideas of government. He could con
Ceive of no case not involving rebellion or in
surrection where such interference by the author
ity the General Government ought to be permit
ted can be justified; but there are circum-
stances connected with the late egisla-
tive 1mbroglio in Louisiana which seem to exempt
the military from any Intentional wrong in that
matter, knowing that they had been placed in
Louisiana to prevent domestic violence, and to
aid in depressing it. The revolution was apparent
ly, though it is believed not really, abandoned,
and the cry Of Federal usurpatOn' and "tyran-
ny in Louisiana was renewed with redoubled
energy. Troops had been sent to the State under
the requisiton of the Governor, and as other
disturbances seemed imminent they were al
lowed to remain there to render the Executive
such aid might become necessary to enforce
the laws OF the State and repress the continued
violence which seemed inevitable at the moment
when the Federal support should be Withdrawn.
He had no information Of the proceedings of
the Returning Board for the late election which !
may not be found in its report, which has been
published, but 1t is matter of public information
that great part of the time taken canvass the
votes was consumed by the arguments of lawyers. !
several of whom represented each party before
the Board. He had no evidence that the pro-
Ceedings of this Board were not IN accordance |
with the law under which they acted. Whether. |
in excluding from their count certain returns, |
they right or wrong is q question that de-
ponds upon The evidence they had before them:
but it is very clear that the law gives them the
power if they chose to exercise it, to decide that
way, and p75n1G Jdc5e, the persons whom they
return selected were entitled to the offices for
which they were candidates.
Each branch of LegislativeT Assembly is the
judge of the election and qualification Of its
members; but if q mob hold the legislative hall |
III violent manner, and SO prevent any or
ganizatiOn by those legally returned elected, |
it might become the duty of the Executive to
interfere if requested by majority Of the mem
bers eject, and enable the House to organ
iZe. With reference to Louisiana. 1t is 10 be
borne in mind that any attempt made by the Gov |
to use the police force of that State ct this
time would have undoubtedly precipitated a
bloody conflict with the White League, it did !
the 18th OF September. There is no doubt but
the presence of the United States troops that
occasion prevented bloOdshed and the loss of
life Both parties appear to have relied upon
them as conservators of the public peace. The
first call was made by the Democrats to remove |
from the legislative hall persons obnoxious to !
them and the second by the Republicans to re-
move alleged usurpers.
That the Democratic minority of the House |
undertook to seize its organization by fraud and
violence; that in this attempt they trampled |
under foot the law, in that they undertook to
make persons not returned as elected members |
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