The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-01-14
LET Us HAVE PEACE"
GRANT REVIEWS THE
s,ry.rsaN IN LOUISIANA.
THE CHANCES FOR A NEW STATE
ELECTION, &c.
,By telegraph 10 the Dislatch.J
president Grants Message Oh Lonis'-
ana Affairs.

cont
day:
IL the Senate Of The United States: have
NE honor to make The following answer toa
senate resolution Of the S1h instant asking
for information as 10 any interference by any
military officer Of any part OF the army OF the
I n,,rd states with the organization or pro-
rsrimg< of The General Assembly OF the
S.q,a Of Louisiana, or either branch thereof,
and aI>J inquirlng in regard 10 the existence
EARNED organic ition> in that State hostile
/, the government thereof. and intent on
oyrrturning such government by force.
To say that iiHlcsSnc>S, turbulence, ana
I'ona>bcd have characterized the political
.Eag, Of that State since its organization
,,rL.y the reconstruction acts is only TO re-
n,,i what has become well known rs Il part
o+,. unhappy history but it may be proper
n refer 10 the election Of 1868. by which the
rrrubucau vote OF the State, through
t-q,sI ana violence. was reduced to few
,r..,.tra>. and the bloody riots Of 1866
,r3 1865. 10 show that the disorders there
49,, uot due 70 any recent causes or to
az ate action Of the Federal authorities.
jg,plratorr to the election Of 1872
,-q,.r.Gl ana undisguised conspiracy was
formed 10 carry that election against the
p..uJtclnS without regard 10 law or right,
and u tgat end the most %laring frauds and
,or.,yir> were committed in the returns
.,,t,- many co'Or,d citizens were denied re-
,,..i-l.iln. ana others deferred by fear from
,-.,tn, their ha lots. When the time came
f.r1 final Caryl>S Of the votes, in view Of
,b, forrrnjuy facts William l.. Kellogg, the
p,ntblIcu candidate for Governor, brought
.,rii mon III" iac'> in the United States Cir
,r,;, court for Louisiana against Warmoth
and Others who had possession Of the re-
turn, OF Ii" election. representing that
several thousand voters of the State had
irrn deprived OF the elective franchise on
irr5un. of their color. and praying that steps
Iui,nt be taken 10 have said votes counted,
and for General relief. To enable the court
H. irotl.rc into The truth of these allegations
= temporary restraining order was issued
arlin>. The Defendants. which was at once
wholly dlsrcgardtd and treated with con-
,rmr. by those 10 whom it was adj
dressed These proceedings have been
widely denounced rs an unWurrantaDle
Interference by the Federal judiciary
with the election of State officers.
BG. i ! "a he remembered that by the tit-
t.,,.th amendment 10 the Constitution OF the
United states tie political equality OF COL
orr.I citH.us j occurred, and under the Sc
caui lection O; that amendment. providing
that Congress shall have power 10 enforce lis
provision, by appropriate iegi,lttion, an act
ws> passed on the 3l>t Of May, 1870. and
am,u.,G in 1871. The object of which was 70
prevent the denial or abridgement OF Sut-
fra" L. citizens on account OF race, color, or
lrvIlJu, condition of scrvitude; and II has
t.,n held by all the judges before whom the
q.e.lon has arisen, including Justice Strong,
q N" Supreme Court, that The protection
aGoG.icd By this amendment and these acts
extends 10 STATE ~ we'll IL other elections.
That Il i, The duty of the Federal courts TO
enforce the PROV Visions OF the Constitution Of
tn United states aud the laws passed in pUr
>uiuc" thereof il too clear for controversy
Section - OF said act, after numerous provi.
sIuu, ;hrlcn 10 prevent an evasion Of the
fifteenth amendment, provides that the Juri>-
Gtn!.on Of the circuit courts Of the United
STATES shal! extend 10 all cases in law or
equity arising under the provisions Of
sad act and OF the acts amcndatory thereof.
Congress seems 10 have contemplated cqui-
table a. well a legal proceedings TO prevent
the denial of suffrage 10 colorcd citizens, and
/, NAV be safely asserted that if kclogg's
bin in the above.namcd case did not present
a case for the equitable iutcrposition Of the
ac,. That the courts OF the United States
have the right 10 interfere in various ways
with safe elections so rs to maintain political
equality and rights therein, irrespective Of
race or color, is comparatively new, and to
.o.n- seems 10 be I startling, idea but it re-
suit, H. clearly from the fifteenth amendment
u the Constitution and the acts that have
been ls,cd to enforce that amendment as
LA. ahrogation Of State laws uphuding sla-
very results from the thirteenth amendment
10 The Constitution. While the jurisdiction
OF the court in the case OF Kellogg against
NagmOth anu others is clear to my MUD, it
s"rn!> that some Of the orders made by the
JUDGE in that and the kindred case of An
tome We're illegal; but while they are so
held aud considered, it is not 10. be forgotten
Tia, The mandates OF his court had been con-
tCnWuousiy detirG land they we're made while
Wild scenes of anarchy were sweeping away
a restraint Of law and order. Doubtless
Tie Judge Of this court made grave mistakes,
Jut The iaW allows the chancellor great latl-
tude not only in Furnishing those who con-
TENN his orders ana lnJunctlons, but IN pre-
venting the commission OF the wrong which
IT, has judIcialy forbidden. Whatever may
b. said or thought Of these matters, it was
Only made known 10 me that the process Of
the United States court was resisted; and as
sIid At >pecially provides for the use Of the
army and navy when necessary to enforce
judicial process arising hereunder y con-
sIl"rcd il my duty TO see that such process
was executed according to the judgment OF
thc court. Resulting from these proceedings,
through various controversies and compiler
ton, the State administration was organized
With William Z. Kellogg as Governor, which,
IN u" discharge OF my duty under section 4,
article !, Oi the Constitution, | have recoS-
Ezrd As the government Of the State. 1t
la> been bitterly and persistenty alleged
&tl Kellogg was not elected. Whether be
vas or not 1t Is not altogether certain, nor is
II any more certain that his competitor INC
tncry) was chosen. The election was q gil
EAnt!c fraud, aud there are no reliable re-
turns Of lis result. Kellogg obtained pos
session Of the office, and, in my opinion, has
more right 10 il than his competitor.
On the 10Th Of February, 1873, the Com
mlltee on Privileges and Elections Of the
senate made report, in which they say they
were satisfied by testimony that the manipu.
ia'lonS OF the election machinery by Warmoth
anu Others was equivalent TO 10000 votes
ana hey add, that 10 recognize the Nc emery
government would be recognizing govern
ment based upon fraud, in defiance of the
wishes and intentions of the voters Of the
SAFE Assuming the correctness of the
statements in this report, and they seem to
nave tecn generally accepted by the country,
Tie great crime III Louisiana, about which so
much has been said, is that one man is hold
L"S The office OF Governor who was cheated
on! Of 10000 votes, against another whose
lille TO the office is undoubtedly based on
lraud, and in defiance of the wishes and in
ttntlons Of the voters OF the State. Misin-