The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1875-01-23

| by men in ambush on the Sth of October
| 1873, and the wife of the former, in com
munication to the apartment OF justice, tell
| pltiful tale OF the persecution OF her hus
bard because he was a union man. and of tn
| efforts made to seize those who had committe,
| crime which, to use her language, left TIVE
widows and nine orphans destitute. To sa!
| that the murder of negro or white II puoli
| can, is not considered a crime in Iouisians
would probably be unjust to great part
the people, but it is true that great nnmoe
| OF surh murders have been committee ait
no one has been punished therefor, ana mani
| festly the spirit of hatred and violence IL
| stronger than the law
| Representa- ions were made 70 me tnat the
presence of trcoHs in Louisiana was unneces
| cary. ard that there was no danger OF pupii'
| disturbances il they were taken away G II
| s-quently. early last summer the troops were
Withdrawn from the state, with the exception
| of small garrison al New Orleans barracks
| 1t was stated that a comparative state of qule
| had supervened and that political excitement
as to Louisiana affairs seemed to be diving
out, bnt the November election was approach
ing, and it was necessary for party purposes
that the flame should be relighted- Accord
ingly on the I4th of Septea,ber d. b Penn
claiming that he was elected lieutenant gov
erpor in 1872, issued an inilammatory procla
nation calling upon the militia of the state t6
arm, assemble, and to drive out the usurpers
as he DESIGNATE the officers OF the state. The
White Leagues. armed and ready for the CON
fiict, promptly Responded. On the same day
the governor made formal requisition upon
me. IN pursuance of the act OF 1875, and sec
ton l. article 1 of the constitution, to aid IN
suppressing domestic violence. On the next
day issued my procla mston commanding the
insurgents to GIsperse within hve days OF tue
date thereof but before the proclamation was
published in New Oflesns, the organized and
armed forces recognizing usurping govern
ment. had taken forcible possession OF the
state-housc and temporarily subverted the
government, Twenty or more people were
LII af na
the CITY, The streets Of the city were stained
with blood. All that was desired in the way
OF excitement had been accomplished. And
in view of the steps taken to repress 1t, the
revolution was apparently. though it is be-
lievei not really, abandoned, and the cry OF
fe ieral usurpstion and tyranny in Louisiana
was renewed with redoubled energy. Troops
had been sent to the state under the requisl-
seemed imminent. They were allowed to re-
main there to render the executive suci aid
as might become necessary to enforce the
laws OF the STATE, and repress the continued
viol .nce which seemed inevitable the moment
federal support should be withdrawn Pilor
to aud with q view to the late election in Lou
isiana white men associated themselves to-
gether in armed bodies called White Leagues.
and at the same time threats were made IN
the journals of the state, that the election
should be carried against the republicans at
all hazards, which, very naturally. greatly
alarmed the colored voters.
BY section OF the act of Feb %, 1871, 1t
is made the duty of United States marshals
and their deputies, at polls where votes are
cast for representatives in congress. to keep
order and prevent violations OF the 30 called
enforcement act, and other ohenses against
the laws of the United States, and. upon a
requisition of the marshal of Louisiana
and in view OF armed organization and
portentous circumstances, l caused detach-
ments of troops to be stationed in various 10
calitiss in tie state. to aid him In the perform
ance Of his official duties.
That there was intimidation Of republican
voters at the election, notwithstanding this
precaution, admits of no doubt. The follow
log are specimens of the means used: On
the 18th of October. eighty persons signed and
published the following at shreveport:
1--WE. the undersigned, merchants OF the
city of Shreveport, in obedience to request
OF tine Shreveport Campaign club, agree to
use every endeavor to get our employees TO
vote the peoples ticket at the ensuing cleo
ton and in the event of their refusal so to do
or il case they vote the radical ticket, to re-
fuse to employ them at the expiration OF their
term of service"
On the same day another large body of per-
sons published in the same place a paper, in
which they used the following language:
ave. the undersigned, merchants of the
ance of securing good and honest government
to the state, do agree and pledge ourselves
not to advance any supp les or money to any
planter the coming year, who will give employ
ment or rent lan0S TO laDOTere WHO NCLe the
radical ticket in the coming election"
have no information Of the proceedings of
the returning board for said election, which
may not be found in its report which has been
publ shed, but it is a matter of public infor-
nation that great part of the time taken to
canvass the votes was consumed by the argu
ments of lawyers, several OF whom represented
each party before the board. l have no evil
dence that the proceedings of this board were
not in accordance with the law under which
I'D in
count certain returns they were ri hit or
wrong. is a question that depends upon the
evidence they had before them, but it is very
clear that the law gives them the power, if
they choose to exerc it, of deciding that
way, and prima facie, the persons whom they
return as elected, are entitled to the offices
for which they were candidates.
Respecting the alleged interference by the
military with the org anization OF the legisla-
ture of Louisiana on the 4th inst, I have no
or information which has not been
received by me since that time and published.
My first information was from the papers of
the morning of the 5th of Jsnuarv. 1 d
not know that any such thing was anticipated,
and no orders and no suggestions were ever
given to any military officers in that state on
that subject prior to the occurrences. am
well aware that any military interference by
the officers of the United States with the or
ganization of a state legislature any OF its
proceedings, or with any civil department of
the government, is repugnant to our ide as OF
involving rebellion or insuri ection, where such
Interference by authority Of the general gov
ernment ought to be permitted or can be justi-
led But tuere are circumstances connected
with tie legislative imbroglio in Louisiana
which seem to exempt the military from any |
Intentional wrong in that matter.
The enforcement of the state laws the |
officers and troops of the United States may
well have supposed that it was their duty to |
act when called upon by the governor for that
purpose. Each branch Of the legislative as
,embly is the judge of the election and quail |
icatons of its own members, but if a mob or |
body of unauthorized persons seize and |
hold the legislative hall i'll q tumultuous and |
-iotous manner. and SO prevent any organiza-
.lon those legally returned as elected, it |
night become the duty of the state executive |
10 interfere, if requested by ma oiity of the |
members elect, to suppress the disturbance
md enable the persons elected to organize the |
house Any exercise of this power would be |
ustiiable under most extraordinary circum-
tances, and it would then be the duty Of the
governor to call upon the constabulary, or if
necessary, the military force of the state.
But, with reference to Louisiana, it is to be
'orne in mind that any attemp, of the govern
" to use the police force of that state &C this
ime, would have undoubtedly precipitated a
bloody conflict with the white league, as it did
N the 18th of September. There is no doubt
,ut that the presence of the United States
roops on that occasion prevented bleodshed
nd the loss of life. Both parties appear to
AVE relied upon them as conservators Of the
,ubl,c peace The first call was made by the
democrats to remove persons obnoxious to
hem from the Legislative hall, and the second
Tas from the republicans. to remove persons
rho had usurped seats i'll the legislature, |
Tithout legal certificates authorizing them to
eats, and in sufficient number to change the
majority. Nobody was disturbed by the mill
airy who had legal right at that time to &C.
Ipy seat in the legislature. That the demo-
ratio minority of the house undertook to
eize its organization by fraud and malice
hat in this attempt they trampled under foot
ne law; that they undertook to make persons
OF returned as elected members, so as to
reate majority; that they acted under
preconcerted plan, and under false pre-
enses introduced into the hall men to sup |
ort their pretensions by force, il necessary,
nd that conflict, disorder and riotous proceed
igs following. are facts that seem to be well
and am credibly informed that |
iese violent proceedings were part of pre-
leditate plan to have The house organized in
his way recognize what has been called the
[cEnery senate, then to depose Gov. Kellogg, |
nd SO revolutionize the state government |
Tl.xNl Al. |