New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-02-13
sELF.GOveRNMENT In LOUISIANA.


sELF.GOveRNMENT In LOUISIANA
Speech of Hon. j. X. West, Of Louisiana
in the Senate OF the United State,
Monday. February 4, 1875.
The Senate having under consideration
the resolution submitted by Mr.. Schurz O.
the eighth of January, directing the Com
mittee on the judiciary to inquire wha
people OF the State of Louisiana thei
rights of self government under the consti
tuition, Mr.. West said:
Mr.. President-Having already had one
though q brief, opportunity of addressing
the Senate on the pending question, OF
which occasion pointed out how the laws
and the constitution of Louisiana had been
violated in the pretended organization
made under Mr.. Wilt on the fourth OF
last month, feel some hesitation in again
claiming the attention Of the Senate, and
must plead as an apology for SO doing that
4 consider there are yet some features in
the case that have not been examined and
which it will be well to scrutinize. The
views that shall express to-day will there
fore have at least the merit of novelty, and
though l shall not be able altogether to
avoid travelling in some of tho sufficiently
We'll trodden paths OF others who have
preceded me, yet l can promise not to
weary those who will honor me with their
attention, unnecessarily to the positions
that shall assume.
propose to show from some of the pages
OF the recent but apparently forgotten his.
tory Of Louisiana. that had it been de-
signed Sy the United States authorities to
overthrow constitutional government in
that State and to establish military despot-
ism in its place, there have been other and
earlier opportunities of doing 20. After l
have spread that page before you, shall
proceed to an examination Of report Of a
recent superficial inquiry into the affairs of
Louisiana, and shall endeavor to show that
document which is freely quoted by our
opponents in this chamber as completely
cODfounding the views of Republicans here,
and as conyincingly unanswerabie, is simply
copy of Democratic White League brief
that deals with propositions at variance
with its own facts, and presents conclusions
without evidence to sustain them.
MIR. President, it is an axiom that "history
repeats itself" Events that are transpiring
IN Louisiana today, and that have trans
pred in the past month, are not repetition
VI history, but rather a continuation OF an
unbr0ken chronicle OF outrage and of wrong
ever since that State was admitted to the
Union under reconstruction. l would ask
the Senate to 60 back with me to an Incl
dent that occurred prior to the admlnistra-
ton OF tho present chief executive, in which
the military authority was interposed under
somewhat similar circumstances to those of |
the recent action that has been so elabo- |
rately discussed here.
In 1868 one universal ecero of violence,
murder and killing prevailed throughout !
that state to such an extent that the State |
authorities deemed themselves powerless to
suppress those disorders, and the Governor
OF the State appealed under the constitu-
ZION to the federal government for its inter-
position. | read from the testimony taken
IN the Louisiana contested cases in 1868. in
which the Governor of that State-a Gov
ern0r whose title has never been questioned
ana who met no opposition to his authority
In consequence of any illegality or Insult
cheney of tihe-that Governor, l say, ad-
dressed to the military representative of
the United States in New Orleans this re-
quest:
"GENERAL-The evidence is conclusive
that the civil authorities in the parishes of
orleans, Jefferson and st. Bernard are I'M
able 10 preserve order and protect the lives
anu property OF the people.
Inc act OF Congress prohibiting the or
ganizatlon OF militia In this State strips me
OF an power to sustain them in the discharge
OF their duties, and am compelled To an
peal to you to take charge of the peace of
these parishes and use your forces to that
end.
III you respond favorably to my request,
will at once order the sheriffs and notice !
forces to report to you for orders.
Very respectfully, yonr obedient servant, |
H. &. WARMOTH,
Governor of Louisiana
The General commanding, concluding
very properly that such an appeal should
be made to the chief executive. transmitted ,
that appeal to Washington, and was replied
TO as tollowe: ,
WAR DEPARTMENT |
Washington, October %, 1855. |
Brexet Msier General L. H. Rosseau, Commanding
Department of Louisiana, New Orleans:
Your dispatch of the twenty-sixth. for /,
Tarding a message from the Governor of
louisiana, and asking instructions, has
,een received. You are authorized and .
expected 10 take such action as NAV DO ,
necessary to preserve the peace and good
rider and to protect the lives and property
4 citizens. -,
M. SCHOFIELD.
Secretary OF War.
General Rosseau, who was then in com
land, on the twenty-eighth day of October, t
s6S. issued this proclamation 10 the citi- '
ems OF New Orleans: II
HEAporARfERs DEPARTMENT OF LOUISIANA, | I
Estates of Louisiana and Arkansas,, | l
New Orleans, Louisiana, October 2S, 1906 | I
!, the People Of Louisiana: I
Fellow citizens-I have received instruc- I
Ons from the authorities at Washington
take such action as may be necessary to il
.eserve peace and good order. and to pro- '
ct the lives and property of citizens. t
So far the requisition, upon the President p
the United - lOS and the action of those a
authority under him was entirely legiti- g
ate. But the military commander saw a
oper to take certain action which Is as II
mpletely violation OF the law IN the o
90 20 We have had illustrated 70 US mere a. a.
snv Aotion in the more recent case. 1t te
mia seem that that military commander
ouId have acted in compensation with the p'
"a auth rities; hut he absolutely moved .,
rectlv and without recognising those an, :.
nritisa ma reorxouised the police board Z. ~
the city Of Nov Orlesns. - the tssot 70 ~ ~