, 1875-01-14


A GRAVE QUESTION.
There is one phase OF the Louisiana trouble
that has failed to receive the earnest and
prayerful consideration to which it is entitled
ut tho hands Of tho Constitution-aayers.
Whit sentence shall b. passed upon tho
United States soldiers who SO ruthlcssly i'll
yaled the Legislative halfs Of the :" sover-
| eign Stnto of Louisiana ut tho call Of the
pro TEN. Speaker W1Lrz and tho Democratic
members? What right had they to bo igno-
rant Of tho constitutional prohibition Of Fed
| eral interference except under certain condi-
tions ? Did they give the subject the proper
consideration before acting? If not, why
not Here is material for now indignation
meetings and suggestions for new constitu-
tionnl delvorances from Nessrs. Cant
Scuunz and WILLIAM NJ. EvAnTs Let us
briefly restate the case in the most lurid light
that can bo cost upon tho horrible mon
strosity.
Tho successive developments show that
President GRANT did not give any orders for
the use Of the military, that Gen. SHERIDAN
had not assumed command at Now Orleans,
and that Gen. EMoRY, then III command, was
not consulted. The responsibility Of CON-
plying with tho requests Of Speaker W1LTz
md Gov, KELLooa is thus nnrrowed down to
one general officer with shou1der-straps, ono
sergeant with with ehevrons above tho elbow,
two corporals with chevrons below the
elbow, and twelve terrible fellows in Light
blue pants, dark blue coats mud any quantity
Of brass buttons. This is tho fcrocious mob
which has outraged the sovereign State of
Louisiana, trn1nplod upon tho Constitution Of
the United States, lacerated tho hearts of
constitutional patriots, mud jeopardized tho
very existence Of republican form OF govern
ment Now let them 10 called to accountt Let
them answer as best they may the impeach-
ment OF m indignant pcorle! Let them e1-
plain, II they can, how they dared to intimi-
date by thoir forocous presence the suffering
White League of Louisiana! Let them pre-
pore, while there is yet time, some satisfactory
excuse for failing to resort to TINT deliberate
consultation md solemn council demanded
by tho Importance md delioaoy Of the situ-
ation.
This formidable army Of one general officer,
one sergeant, two eorporals, aud twelve pri-
Yates, wera stationed at the doors Of tho
state-House to keep out the mob. While in
the discharge Of their duty as soldiers, they
wcro callod upon by ono Mr. W1LTz, repre-.
sonting himself as Speaker Of the Louisiana
House Of Representatives, md fifty Demo
cratic membors, claiming to be q ma
!. jority by reason Of superior vocal powers In
q pica roce vote, to nuke war upon the Metro.
politan police md other non-oonfol7nists it
! tho lobby. This savage soldiery immedi
ately proceeded to do whRt was asked o1
, | them, aftcr feeble protest On the part o'
| the general officer. Hore was q aagrant VIC
, lation OF tho Constitution here the prcce
, dent pregnant with danger to the lifo Of 70
q publican government. It was nanifestl1
D the duty Of the man in shoulder-straps, th'
man with chevrons above the sleeve, the twt
: men with chevrons below tho sleeve, and tn
o twelve men in light blue pants, dark blu
: coats, and brass buttons to retire, organize
: Council Of War around the company
+ drum, take their authorities out OF thei
= knapsacks, md deliberate ns to thei
duties. They should have called 70
"SroaY on Constitutional Law" I" WooLsE
q on international LAW" JoM1S1s Alilitar
70 Writings, HA11EcH's Comments, 6oorT'
o Tactics, and HAnDEEs Drill, aud thon an
4 there thoy should have sat down to oonsu
10 tation and comparison Of authorities, to de
II ternaine whether they had tho right to obe
+, tho order OF state-Soyereignty Democrat
l. who asked them to put out tho non-conforn
lg lists. Instead Of this, they marched in wit
ls all tho savagery OF their ferocious nature1
q seeking what Republicans they might devou
a. in tho cause Of Wu.rz aud the Democrats.
r. After the shoulder-straps, the chovronI
u. aud tho blue. .coats and brass buttons hu
er dieested sronY, and Woo1sEr, and Jou1N
Of and sooTr, and HA1IGox, and HAnpEE, VIII
H. possibly the assiatanoe Of MCCLELLAN
he military writings and Cusrzn'a e1pes
3, euces in Indian warfare, they migl
n. nossibly have come to the conclusion tn
ts It was their duty to interfere when thoy we
80 ordered 30 to do by tho representatives
ho stata Sovereignty" itself. But, even
be this case, 1t would snanifestly hays been Il
t" duty Of the one general officer, the one *
eeant, the two corporals, and tho twelve t.
", Tible psiyates to retire and 60 over this grou
lit again when Gov. KxLLooo called upon the'
to They should then have gone to their dru
of head aud examined their authorities as afo
said On tie complicated aud delicate qucsti
d: whether, having responded to tho call Of
is Democrats, they had any constitutional ril
nd to respond to the call OF the Republicans
q WIS incumbent on them to decide whetl
ost KELLOGG or W1LTz WAS superior in
be thority, together with all the intnc
shs problems growing ont Of this main questl'
ad- Thls thoy also failsl to do. and vs Aavs N