The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1875-01-22


D mand, which he did on the 4th inst. after
] the Legislative disturbances had occur
D red, at 1 O'Clock p. H., a number Oi
: hours after the disturbances. No party
! motives nor ErejGdices can reasonably
e be imputed to him, but honest convic
ton by what lie has seen and heard
there. He has characterized the leaders
Of the White Leagues in severe terms,
and suggested SUMMARY modes of pro
= ceedure against them, which, though
they can not be adopted, would, if legal,
5 soon put an end to the troubles and dis
/ order in that STATE. Gen Sheridan, look
{ ing at facts, and possibly not thinking
= Of the proceedings which would be the
b only proper ones to pursue in times of
! peace, though more Of the utterly law
less condition Of society surrounding him
at the thus Of his dispatch. and of what
: would prove sure remedy lie never
proposed to do an Illegal act Eor ex-
pressed a determination to proceed be-
i, yOnd what the law, in the future, might
authorize for the punishment of the
5 atrocities which have been committed,
and the commission of which can not be
successfully denied. 1t is a deLlOrable
fac. tIat political crimes and murders
: have been committed in Louisiana.
which have gone urpunished and which
have been justified or apoiogized for,
! which must rest as a reprOach upon the
IS:ate and country long after the present
Il generation has passed away.
i / have no desire to have United States
troops interfere in the domestic concerns
of Louisiana, or any other state. On
the 9th of Dec. last, Governor kellogg
photographed TO me of his apprehensions
that the White League intended to make
another attack Upon the same day
) made the following answer, since which
no communication has been sent TO
I him.
Your dispatch of this date Just re-
ceiyed. 1t is exceedingly impolitic to
use troops in anticipation of danger
Let the State authorities be right and
then proceed with their duties without
apprehension of danger. If they are
then molested, tie question will be de-
determined whether the United States is
able to maintain law and order within
its limits or not"
/ THE PRESIDENTS 5 WISHES, ACTIONS. AND
II PURPOSES.
i l have deplored the necessity which
seemed to make iC my duty under the
i Constitution and laws, to necessitate
such interference. have always refused,
except when it seemed to be my impera-
tive duty, to act in such manner under
\ the Constitution and laws OF the United
States. have repeatedly and earnestly
antreated the people of tie South to live
in peace and observe the laws, and moth
ing would give me greater pleasure than
] to see reconciliation and tranquility ev-
lerywhere prevail, and thereby remove
all necessity of the presence of troops
among them.
/ | regret. however, to say that this
4 state Of t.,;ars does not exist, nor does
It's existence eCym to he desired III local
ilieS. and as to those, it may be proper
for re 10 say that, TO the extent that
Congress las conferred the power on me
to prevent it. neither Ku-kluk klans,
White Leagues, or any other association
using arms and violence to execute their
unlawful purposes, can be permitted in
i that way to govern any part of this
! country; nor can | see with Indifference
i Union men or Republicans ostracised,
prosecuted, and murdered on account Of
their opinions, as they now are in some
localities
| Ihavv heretofore urged the ease of
Z Louisiana Upoa the attention Of Con
2 gres~, and eannot but think its inae-
= tion hasDeen the cause of great evil.
In September last an armed organized
} body of men. in the support of candi
: dates who had been put in nomination
T. for the offices If Governor and Lieuten-
ant Governor at the November election,
, in 1872, and who had been declared not
elected by the Board Of Canvassers, re
= cogniZed by all the courts to which the
p question had been submitted, undertook
; to subvert and overthrow the State
: Government; that had been recognized
by me in accordance with previous pre-
cedents. The recognized Governor was
driven from the State House, and, but
/ for his finding shelter in the United
! States CustOm-house, in the Capital of
the State OF which he was Governor, it is
: scarcely to be doubted but that he would
/ have been killed. From the State House.
before he had been driven to the Gus
tOm-house, call was made, in accor-
1 dance with the 4th Section Of the ".
/ Article Of the Constitution of the United
p States, for the aid of the General Gov
, eminent to suppress domestic violence.
: Under those circumstances, and in ac-
= cordance with Iny sworn duties, my
2 proclamation of the 18th of September,
= 1871, WAS issued. This served to rein
5 state Gov. Kellogg TO his position NOM
{ inally, but IL cannot be claimed that
the insurgents have, TO this day, surren-
| dered to the State authorities the arms
belonging to the State, or that they have
in any sense disanled. On the contrary.
: it is known that the armed organization
that existed on the 18th of September.
, 1874, in opposition to the recognized
. State Government still retain their or
ganization, equipments, and comman-
/, ders, 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
; as was sent under the first call and un-
!; der the same general instructions.
repeat that the task assumed by the
troops is not pleasant one TO them !;
that the army is not composed of law
j yers capable of judging at a moments
notice of Just how far they can go in
tie maintenance of law and order, and
that it was impossible to give specific in
81 AOl til4 HOooAJAc NOi
i tingencies that might arise. the troops
were bound to act upon the Judgment
4 Of the commanding officer, upon each
sudden contingency that arose, or wait
instructions which could only reach
J. them after the threatened wrongs had
I been committed, and which they were
called out to prevent.
4 1t will be recOllected, too, that upon
my recognition of the Kellogg Govern
ment, / reported the fact, with the
grounds of the recognition, to Congress,
and asked that body to take action in
the matter, otherwise l should regard
their silence as as acquiescing in my
i course. No action has been taken by
that body, and / have maintained the
/ position marked out.
] If error has been committed by the
army in these matters, it has always
been on the side of the preservation of
i good order, the maintenance Of Law, and
the protection of life Their bear ng re-
fleets credit upon the soldiers, and if
wrong has resulted. the blame rests with
the turbulent elements surrounding
| them.
i now earnestly ask that such action
| be taken by Congress as to leave my du-
! ties perfectly clear in dealing with the
affairs OF Louisiana, giving assurance, at
j the same time, that whatever may be
done by that body, in the premises, will
be executed according to the spirit and
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