The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1875-01-22


the votes WINS consumed by the arguments
of lnwyers, several Of whom represented
each party before the Board. I have no
evidence that the proceedings of this
Board were not in accordance with the
law under which they acted. Whether
in excluding from their court certain re-
turns, they were right or wrong is a
question that depends upon the evidence
they had before them, butitis very clear
that the law gives them the power, if
they choose TO exercise it, of deciding
that way, and prima facie, the persons
whom they return as elected are entitled
to the offices for which they we're candi-
dates.
Respecting the alleged interference
by the military with the organization of
the Legislature of Louisiana on the
4th inst, L have no knowledge or in
formation which has not been received
by me since that time and published.
My first information was from the pa
pers of the morning of the 9TH of Janu-
ary. l did not know that any such
thing was anticipated, and no orders, no
suggestions were ever given to any mill
tary officers in that State upon any sub
ject prior to the occurrence. 1 am well
aware that any interference by the Of
ficers or troops of the United States
with the organization of State Legisla-
ture or any of its proceedings, or with
any civil departments of the government,
is repugnant to our ideas of government.
can conceive of no case not involving
rebellion or insurrection where such in
reference by the authorities of the gen
eral government ought to be permitted
or can be justified; but there are cir
cumstances connected with the late leg
islative imbroglio in Louisiana which
seems to exempt the military from any
wrong in that matter, know
ing that they had been placed in Louis
lana to prevent domestic violence and
aid to repressit. The officers and troops
of the United States may well have sup
posed that it was their duty to act when
called upon by the government for that
purpose. Each branch of Legislative
is the judge of the election
and qualification of its own members,
but if mob or body of unauthorized
persons seize and hold the Legislative
hall in tunultuous and riotous man
ner, and so prevent any organization by
those legally returned as elected, it might
become the duty of the State Executive
to interpose, if requested bya majority
of the members elect, to suppress the
and enable the persons cleo
ted to organize the House. Any exer-
else of this power would be justifable
only under most extraordinary circum-
stances, and it would then be the duty
of the Governor to call upon the con-
or, if necessary, the military
force of the State. But with reference
to Louisiana, it is to be borne in mind
that any attempt of the Governorto use
the police force of that State at this time
would have undoubtedly precipitafed a
bloody conflict with the White League
as it did on the 14th of September.
There is no doubt but the presence of
the United States troops on 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 persons obnoxious to them
from the Legislative hall, and the second
was from the Republicans to remove
who had usurped seats in the
Legislature without legal certificates au
thorizing them to seats and in sufficient
number to change the majority. Nobody
was disturbed by the military who had
legal right at that time to occupya seat
in the legislature. That the Democratic
minority of the House undertook to
seize its organization by fraud and vio-
lence; that in this attempt they trampled
under foot the law; that they undertook
to seat persons not returned as elected
members so as to create majority; that
they acted under preconcerted plan,
and under false pretenses introducing
into thehall men to support their pre-
tensions by force, if necessary, and that
conflict, disorder and riotous proceed
ings followed are facts that seem to be
well established, and 1 am credibly in
formed that these violent proceedings
we're part of a premeditated plan to
have the House organized and in this
way recognize what has been called the
McEnery Senate; then to depose Gov
ernor Kellogg, and so revolutionize the
State government. Whether it was
wrong for the Governor, at the request
of the majority of the members returned
as elected to the House, to use such
means as were in his power to defeat
these lawless and revolutionary proceed
ings is perhaps a debateable question,
but it is quite certain that there would
have been no trouble if those who now
complain of illegal interference had al