Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-01-20
VOL. 7O.-3562. NO. IA.


troops were ali withdrawn from the state. withthe
exception Of small garrison at the New Orleans
barracks. II was claimed that q comuaratiye
state Of quiet had superenod. Political excite
ment as 10 Louisiana Affairs, seemed TO be diving
out but The November election was approaching
and II was necessary for party purposes that tic
flame should he rckindled Accordingly, en- tic
lith Of September y. Penn, claiming that he was
clected Lieutenant Governor IN 1872, issued an in
iammatory proclamation calling upon the militia
Of the state TO arm, assemble, and drive from
power the usurpers, as he designated the officers
OF the state
sUrrHKssiNG DOMESTIC Rons
The white leagues, armed and ready ior the
conflict, promptly responded On the same tay
the Governor made formal rcquistion upon me-
pursuant to the act of l75, and section l. article
of the constitution 20 aid In supprcssnr domestic
violence. ON the next day issued my proclania-
ton commanding the insurgents 10 dispcrsc within
five days from the date thereof but before the
proclamation was published in New Orleans the
urgiuized and armed forces, recognizing "a usul1-
ing Governor had taken forcible possession OF lie
state house, and temporarily subyeltod the gov
eminent Twenty or more people were killed
including q number Of the police Of the CITY The
streets Of the city were stained with blood All
that was desired In the way of excitement lad
been accomplished And in view Of the sters
taken TO repress H. the revolution was apparently
though, II is believed, not really, abandoned and
the cry Of federal usnrpati0n aud tyranny was re-
ncwCd with redoublod energy 1ruous had beon
sent 10 the state under this Gcqu,iton of the noy
crnor, aud ss other disturbances seemed imminent
they were allowed TO remain there TO render the
executive such aid as might become necessary 90
enforce the laws Of the state and repress the CON
tinued violence which seemed inevitable the mo-
ment federal support should be Withdrawn
Prior 10, and with q view to the late election In
louisiana white men associated themselves To-
gethcr IN armed bodies, called White Leagues "
and at the same time threats were made in ihe
democratic journals Of the state that the election
should be carried against the Republicans at an
hazards, which very naturally greatly alarmed
the colurcd voters.
By section s Of the act Of February %. 1871. Z
Is made the duty Of nitcd States marshas and
their deputies at the polls where votes are cast for
representatives. Of Congress TO keep the peace
and prevent any violations Of the so-callcd en-
iorcement acts. and other Oilenses against the
laws Of the United States; and upon a reqnistion
Of the marshal Of Louisiana and in view Of said
armed organizations and other portentous crcun-
stances, ! caused detachments Of troops TO be
stationed In various localities In the state to aid
him in the performance Of his official duties
mat there was intimidation Of Republican voters
nj the election, notwithstanding these precautions
admits ofn doubt The following are specimens:
On the fourteenth Of October, eighty persons
signed aud published the following at Shreveport:
We, the undersigned, merchants Of the city
Of Shreveport, in obedience 10 a request of the
Shre> oport Campaign Club, agree to use every en-
deayor to get our employees to vote the peoples
ticket az the ensuing election, and IN the event OF
their refusal so 20 do or in they vote the rad
ration OF their present contracts"
On the same day another large body Of persons
published in the same place paper in which they
used the following language.
We the undersigned, merchants Of the city
Of shreveport alive to the great importance Of
securing good and honest government to the state
do agree and pledge ourselves not 10 advance any
supplies or money 70 any planter the coming year
Who will give employment or rent lands to la
hoTer who vote the radical ticket in the coming
election
rowEHs OF rIIE nErURNING BOARD.
have no information Of the proceedings Of tie
returning board for said election which may not
be found In its report which has been published
but It Is a matter Of public information that a
great part Of the time taken 10 canvass the votes
was consumed by the arguments Of lawyers sew
eral OF whom represented each party before the
board have no evidence that the proceedings
Of this board were not in accordance with the law
under which they acted. Whether Ia excluding
from their count certain returns they were right
or wrong is question that depends upon the eyi-
dence they had before them But It is very clear
that the law gives them the power If they choose
to exercise it, Of deciding that way, and prima
iacie the persons whom1hey return as elected are
entitled to the Offices for which they were candi-
dates
Respecting the alleged interference by the mill
tary with the organization Of the legislature Of
louisiana ON the 4th inst, have no knowledge or
information which has not been received by me
since that time and published. My first inf0rma-
9th Of January. ] did not know that any such
thing was ANTICIPATED, and no orders or sugges-
tons were ever given to any military officer in
that state upon the subject prior TO the occurrence
am well aware that any military interference by
the officers or troops of the United States with the
organization Of a state legislature or any Of its
proceedings, or with any civil department of the
government, is repugnant to our ideas Of govern
ment can conceive Of no case not involving re-
belon or nsurrectiun, where such interference by
authority of the general government ought TO be
permitted or can be justified But there are cir
cumstances connected with the late legislative i'm
bruelio IN Louisiana which seem to EXEMPT the
military from any Intentional wrong in the matter
knowing that they had been placed in Louisiana
10 prevent domestic violence and aid in the en-
tOfcemcnt of the state laws The officers and
troops of the United States may well have sup
posed that 1t was their duty TO act when called
upon by the governor for that purpose Each
branch OF the legislative assembly is the judge Of
the election and qualifications of its own members
but IL a mob or a body of unauthorized persons
seize and hold the legislative hall in tumultuous
and riotuus manner and so prevent any organiza-
tion by those legally returned as elected, it might
become the duty OF the state executive TO inter
pose II requested by majority Of the members
elect to suppress the disturbance and enable the
persons elected to organize the House
MILITARY POWER
ANY exercise Of this power would only be iusti-
fable under most extraordinary circumstances
and it would then be the duty oi the governor To
A
military force OF the state to act But with refer
ence 70 Louisiana it is TO I've borne in mind that
any attempt by the governor to use the police
force Of that state at this time would have nm
doubtedly precipitated bloody conflict with the
white league, as it did ON the 18th 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 al-
pear to have relied upon them as conseryators 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 GER
tiicates entitng them To seats, and in sufficient
numbers 20 change the majority Nobody was
disturbed by the military who had legal right at
that time 10 occupy seat in the legislature That
the democratic minority Of the House undertook
10 seize its organization by fraud and violence:
that n this attempt they trampled under foot law;
that they undertook TO make persons not returned
as elected members, so as to create majority;
that they acted under preconcefted plan and
under false pretences introduced into the hall
body OF men to support their pretentons by force,
If necessary and that conflict disorder and riot
Gus proceedings followed, are facts that seem to
be well established And am credibly informed
that these violent proceedings were part of u
premeditated plan 10 have the House organized in
this way, reorganize what has been called the
McEnery Senate, then to depose Governor Kellogg.
and so revolutonize the state government
Whether It was wrong for the Governor, Mt the
request of a majority of the members returned as
in his power 10 defeat these lawless and reyolu-
tionary proceedings, Is perhaps, y debatable
question but it is quite certain that there would
have been no trouble II those who now complain
of illegal Interference, had allowed the House To
be organized in a lawful and regular manner
When those who inauguTate disorder and anarchy
disavow such proceedings, II will be time enough
TO condemn those who by such means as they
have, prevent the success of their lawless and
desperate schemes. Lieutenant General Sheridan
was requested by me 10 20 10 Louisiana 10 observe
and report the situation there, and II in is
opinion necessary, to assume the command, which
he did ON the 4th inst, after the legislative dis
turbances had occurred, at o'clock at night a
number of hours after the disturbance
No party motives or prejudices can reasonably
be imputed 10 him; but, honestly convinced bv
what he has seen and heard there, he has charac-
terized the leaders OF the " white leagues in Sc
we're terms, and suggested summary modes Of
procedure against them, which, though they can
not be adopted, would If legal, soon put an end
to the troubles and disorders In that state. Gen.
Sheridan was looking at facts, and possibly not
thinking of proceedings which would be the only
proper ones to pursue In time of peace, thought
more Of the utterly lawless condition of society
surrounding him at the time Of his despatch, and
Of what would prove q sure remedy. lie never
proposed 10 do an illegal act, or expressed a do
termination TO proceed beyond what the law i'm
the future might authorize for the punishment of
the atrocities which have been committed. and
the commission Of which cannot be denied
POLITICAL CRIMES AND MURDERS
1t is deplorable fact that political crimes and
murders have been committed in Louisiana which
have gone unpublished, and which have been lust