The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1875-01-21

a' 'he .lnie OF his despatch and what |
would prove sure remedy He never
proposed to do an illegal act, nor express
ed determination to proceed beyond
what law in the future might authorize
for the punishment of the atrocities which
have been committed, and the commission
OF which cannot be denied. 1t is de-
plorable fact that
POLITICAL CRIMES AND MURDER
have been committed in Louisiana which
went unpunished, and which have been
justified or apologized for, and which
must rest as a reproach on the State and
country long after the present generation
has passed away.
have no desire to have United States
troops interfere in the domestic concerns
OF Louisiana or any other State On the
9th of December last, Gov. Kellogg tele-
graphed to me his apprehension that the
White League intended another attack.
Upon the same day | made the following
answer, and since which time no communi-
cation has been sent him: "Your despatch
of to-day was just received. 1t is exceed
ingly unpalatable to use troops in antici-
patton of danger Let the State authori-
ties be right and then proceed with their
duties without apprehension of danger.
1t they are then molested the question
will then be determined whether the Uni
ted States is able to maintain law and or
der within its limits or not" / have de-
plored the necessity which seemed to
make it my duty under the constitution
and laws to nece ssitate such interferences.
| have always refused, except where it
seemed my imperative duty to act in such
manner under the constitution and laws
of the U. S. / have earnestly and re-
peatedly entreated the people of the
South to live together in peace and obey
the laws, and nothing would give me
greater pleasure than to see reconciliation
and tr.Yquility everywhere prevail and
thereby remove all necessity for the pres
ence of troops among them. l regret,
however, to say that this state of things
does not exist, nor does its existence seem
to be desired in some localities; and as
to those, it may be proper for me to say
that, to the extent Congress has conferred
power on me to prevent it, Ku Klux
Klans, White Leagues, or any other asso-
citation using arms and violence to execute
their unlawful purposes can be permitted
in that way to govern any part Of this
country. Nor can | see with indifference
union men or Republicans ostracised, per-
secuted, and murdered on
ACCOUNT OF THEIR OPINIONS,
as they are now are in some localities. /
have heretofore urged the case Of Louisi
ana upon the attention of Congress, and
| cannot but think that its inaction has
prejudiced the great evil To summarize:
In September last, an armed organized
body of men in the support of candidates
who had been put in nomination for the
offices of Governor and Lieut.. Governor
at the November elections of 1872, and
who had been declared not elected by the
board of canvassers recognized by all, and
the courts to which the question had been
submitted undertook to overthrow and
subvert the State governments that had
been recognized by me in accordance with
previous precedents. 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 Gov
ernor, it is scarcely to be doubted that he
would have been killed in the State
house before he had been driven to the
custom house. A call was made in ac-
cordance with 4th section of the 4th arti-
Gle of the constitution of the u. s. for
the aid of the general government to sup
press domestic violence. Under these
circumstances and in accordance with my
sworn duties, my proclamation of the 18th
of September, 1874, was issued. This
served to reinstate Gov. Kellogg to his
position nominally, but it crnnot be claim
ed that the insurgents have surrendered
to the State authorities the arms belong
ing to the State, or that they have in any
sense disarmed. On the contrary it is
known that the same armed organization
that existed on the 14th of September,
1874, in opposition to the recognized
State government, still retains its organi-
zation, equipment and commanders, and
can be called out at any hour to resist the
State government. Under these circum-
stances the same military force has been
continued in Louisiana, as was sent under
the first call, and under the same general
instructions. repeat that the task as
sumed by the troops is not pleasant
one; that the army is not composed of
lawyers capable of judging at moments
notice just how far they can go in the
maintenance of law and order, and that it
was impossible to give specific instructions
providing for all possible contingencies
that might arise The troops were bound
to act upon the
JUDGMENT:. :.oF coMMATDIya OFFICERS,
on each sudden contingency tl;t arose, or
wait instructions which couii only reach
them after the threatened wrongs had
been committed which they wcrs alled on
to prevent. 1t should be recoll sd, too,
that upon my recognition of the Kellogg
government, reported the fact, with the
grounds of recognition, to Congress, and
asked that body to take action in the mat
otherwise should regard their 81
lence as acquiesiye in my course. No
action has been taken by that body, and
l have maintained the position declared.
But if error has been committed by the
army in these matters, it has been on the
side of the preservation of good order,
the maintenance of law and the protec-
ton of life. Their bearing reflects credit
upon the soldiers, and if wrong has re-
suited, the blame is with the turbulent
elements surrounding them. now earn
estly ask that such action be taken by
Congress as to leave my duties clear in
dealing with the affairs of Louisiana, Civ
ing assurance at the same time that what
ever may be done by that body in the
premises will be executed according to
the spirit and letter of the law, and with
out fear or favor. / herewith transmit
copies Of the documents containing more
specific information as to the subject mat
ter of the resolution.
(Signed) U. S. GRANT,
Executive Mansion, January Is, 1875.
SENATOR JOHN A. LOGAN ON LOUISI.
! ANA.
He Warns up the Rebel Gordon.