Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-01-20

20 direct such interference have always refused.
except wcfu u seemed 20 hc ms imperative duty ,
IN act IN such manner under The constitution
and laws NJ The United States ! have repeatedly
aud earnestly cntrcatcd the people of the south 10
live together I'm peace and obey the laws, and
nothing would give me greater pleasure than 10
see reconciliation and tranquility everywhere pre-
vail aud thereby remove al necessity Tor the pres
once Of truufS among them. regret however
10 say that this state Of things does not exist nor
does its existence seem to he desired In some lo-
calitics. and as to those Il may be proper for me
a. say that 10 the extent that Congress has confer
red power upon me 20 prevent il, neither ku-klux
klans, White Leagues nor any other association
using arms and violence 10 execute their unlawful
purposes can I've permitted IN that way TO govern
any part OF this country nor can see with indif-
ference Union men or Republicans ustracised per
secuted, and murdered on account Of their opin-
ions rs they now aro in some localities
GLIDING coNGREss
have heretofore urged the case Of Louisiana
upon the attention Of Congress and cannot but
think that its inacton has produced great evil
To summarize IN September last nm armed
organized body Of men In the support Of cnnd-
dates who had been put in nomination for the
offices Of governor and acknowledgement az the
November election in 1872. and who had been
declared not elected by the board Of canynsse
recognized by all the courts to which the question
had been submitted, undertook to suhyett and
overthrow the state government that had been
recognized by me in accordance with previous
precodents The recognized governor was driven
from the state house, and but for his finding
shelter In the United States custom house in tie
capital ~ the state Of which he was governor il is
scarcely to ho doubted that he would have been |
killed. From the state house. before hc had been |
driven 20 the custom house call was made In /
accordance with the fourth section fourth article
Of The constitution Of the United States for the
aid Of the general government 10 suppress doncs-
tic violence. Under those circumstances and i'm |
accordnnce with my sworn duties, my proclama-
ton Of the 18th OF September. 1874. was issued |
This served 10 rcinstate Governor Kellogg in his |
position nominally, but It cannot be claimed that
the insurgents have 10 this day surrendered to |
the state authorities the arms belonging to the |
state, or that they have In any sense disarmod |
On the contrary, il H. known that the same armed |
organization that existed on the iith Of September
1874, in opposition TO the state government still |
retain Their organization equipments, and COM |
manders and can be called out at any hour to resist
the state government Under these circumstances |
the same military force has been continued in /
Louisiana rs was sent there under the first call
and under the same general instructions I re- |
peat that the task assumed by the troops is not a |
pleasant one 10 them that the army r. not COM /
posed Of lawyers capable Of iudgingat "A moments |
notice OF just how far they can 60 in the main
tenance OF law and order, and that II was impossi-
Die To give specific Instructions providing for all |
possible contingencies that might arise The |
troops were bound 10 act upon the Judgment Of |
the commanding officer upon each sudden contn-
gency that arose, or wait instructions which could
only reach them after the threatened wrongs had
been committed which they were called ON To ne
vent. 1t should be recollccted, too that upon my
recognition o. the Kellogg government reported
the fact, with the grounds Of recognition TO Con-
gress, and asked that body 10 take action in the
matter, otherwise should regard their silence as
an acquiesccnce In my course. No action has
been taken by that body, and have maintained
the position then marked out
II error has been committed by the army in
these matters II has always been on the side OF the
preservation Of good order the maintenance of
law, and the protection Of life Their bearing re-
nd ha !
resulted the blame is with the turbulent elements
them
now earnestly ask that such action be taken by
Congress as 10 leave my duties perfectly clear in
dealing with the affairs Of Louisiana, giving
assurance at the same time that whatever may be
done by that body In the premises will be executed
according 10 the spirit and letter Of the law with
ont fear or favor
herewith transmit copies Of the documents
containing more specific information as to the sub
ject matter Of the resolution.
L. S GRANT
Executive Mansion, January 10, 1875