The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-01-21
President Grants Louisiana message.

president 'Grant'S GOulslaHa mesSaSe'
/ ~: In answer to- Mr.. Thurman's resolution, ask
ing, for information upon Louisiana affairs
President Grant sent in u message to the Sch
ant ITO 81 the 18th inst The principal portion Of
the message is occupied with q recital of out.
litages hnd' revienbf the political excitement
IN Hh&t.State for the last two years Upon the
main point in regard 10 tie military interfer.
ence With: the organization Of the Legislature,
the President speaks as follows :. sno2aJ hrs
+ Respecting the alleged interference by the
military with the organization of the Legisla-
ture Of Louisiana on the 4th instant, 1 have no
knowledge or information which has not been
received zine since that time and published.
Inv first Information was from the papers Of
the morning of the 9Th Of january. L did not
know that any such thing was anticipated, and
no orders nor suggestions we're ever given to
any military officer in that State upon that sub
| ';ect,p to the occurrence. Il am we'll aware
that any military interference by any officer or
troops of the United States with the organiza-
.tion of d State Legislature, or any of its pro-
ceedings,, or with any civil department. OF the
government, is repugnant to our ideas OF gov
trnnnent iI.can conceive of no case not Inyoly-
ing rebellion. or insurection where such inter
ference by authority of the General Govern
ment, ought to be permitted or can be Justified.
But there are circumstances connected with
the late Legislative embroglio in Louisiana
which seem to exempt the military from any
Intentional wrong in the matter. knowing
that they had been in Louisiana to prevent
domestic violence, and aid in the enforcement
of thk State laws, the officers and troops of the
United States may well have supposed that it
Has their duty to act when called upon by the
Governor for that purpose. Each branch of q
rfeuislatiTe assemblyis the judge of the election
:and qualification Of its own members; but If
"a mob of Unauthorized persons seize and hold
the IIegislative haIlin q tumultuous and riot
ious manner ahd SO prevent any organization
by those legally returned as elected, 1t might
become the duty of the State Executive to in
.serpose, andG requested by q majority OF the
members elect, to suppress the disturbance, and
enable ,the persons elected to. organize the
house Any exercise Of this power would only
be iusti6able under the most extraordinary cir
cunstances; and it would be the duty of the
Governor to call upon the constabulary, or, II
necessary: the military force of the State. But
with reference to Louisiana it is to be borne IN
mind that any; attempt by the government to
use the police force of that State at the time
would have undoubtedly precipitated bloody
conflict with the white league, as it, did on the
.l4th of September. There is no doubt but'that
the presence of the United States troops upon
that occasion prevented bloodshed and the loss
of life., Both parties appear to have relied up
on 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 persons who had
usurped seats in the Legislature without legal
certificates authorizing them to seats, and in
sufficient number to. change the majority. No
body was disturbed by the military who hac
legal right:at that time to occupy seat IN the
Legislature. 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; that they
undertook to make persons not returned as
elected members, 80 as to create majority ];
that they acted under preconcerted plan ana
under false pretences introduced into the hall
body of men to support their pretences by
force. If necessary, and that conflict, disorder
and riotou. proceedings followed, are facts that
seem to be we'll established and l am credita-
bly informed that these violent proceedings
we're premeditated plan. to have the House
oryanized in this way, and recognize what has
been called The McEnery Senate, and then to
dispose of Governor Kellogg, and so revolution
ize' the State Government, -, AS
Whether it was wrong for the governor, at
the request of the majority Of the members re-
'tufned as elected to the house, to use such
sm1Ieaiii as were in his power to defeat these
laWisgsss and revolutionary proceedings, is per
fhapI debatable question, but it is luite GER
itsY1 t6Sfe W6hld have beeli fo trouble If those
WHO COMPLAIN Of illegal interference had al
1oNef the hoiise1 TO be organized III a lawfM
and regular manner. When those who inaugu-
rate disorder and anarc6y disavow such proceed
ms ,itIIiIl Be time enough to CONDEMN those
Who bY Such means as they have, try to pre-
vent the success Of their lawless and desperate
schen1es.. Lieutenant General Sheridan was
.requested-by mc-tu-go'to Louisiana .to-observe
and report the. situation there, and II, IN his
opinion necessary to assume the command,
I which he did on the 4th instrnt after the leg
islatufre disturbance had occurred, at 9 o'clock
p. NJ, number of hours after the disturban-
ces No party motives or prejudices can rea-
sonably be imputed to him; but, honestly con-
yicted by what he has seen and heard there,
he has characterized the leaders OF the white
League in severe terms, and suggested sum-
mary mode of proceeding against them, which,
though they cant De auopteu, Mouiu' =. ~ ieSai'
soon put an end to the trouble and disorders
in the State. General. Sheridan was looking
at facts, and possibly not thinking of any pro-
ceeding WHICH would be the only proper one 'll
to pursue in time Of peace i. he thought more
Of the utterly lawless condition Of society that
surrounded him at the time of his dispatch,
aInnd Of what would prove sure remedy. He
never proposed to do any illegal act, nor ex,
pressed determination to proceed beyond
what the law in the future might authorize for
the punishment Of the atrocities which have
been committed, and the commission of which
cannot be successfully denied. 1t is deplo-
rable fact that political crimes and murders
have been committed in Louisiana which have
rome unpunshed, and which have been justi-
lied or apologized for, which must rest as re-
proach upon the State aud country, long after
the present generation has passed away l
have no desire to have United States troops
interfere ili the domestic concerns of Louisiana
or auy other State. On the 9th of December