The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-01-19

refusal 81 TO do, or in any case thew vote
the radical ticket, to refuse to employ them
q. the expiration OF their term OF service"
On the same day another large body of per-
sons published the following 1--WE, the I'M
! dersigned, merchants of the CITY of Shreye-
port, owing TO the great importance of Civ
lng gooo and honest government to the
state, 90 agree and pledge ourselves not TO
auNence any supplies or money TO any
planter during the coming year who will
give employment or rent lands TO laborers
VINO vote the radical ticket in the coming
eIection:" L have no information of the
proceedlngs OF the returning board for the
SAID election, which NAV not be found
In the report which has been published.
! but IL is matter of public information that
a great part of the time taken to canvass the
votes was consumed By the arguments of
lawyers, several of whom represented
each party before the board. /
nave no evidence that the proceedings of
this board were not in accordance with the
law under which they acteu. Whether in
excluding from their count certain returns
they were right or wrong is question that
depends upon the evidence they had before
them. But it Is very clear that the law gives
them the power, ii they choose TO exer-
else ii, of deciding that way and prima
J iacie the persons whom they returned
! as elected are entitled to the Offices
/ Tor which they were candidates. Respecting
, the alleged interference by the military with
| the organization of the legislature of Louis-
/ Jana, on the 4th instant have no KNOWLEDGE
! or information which has not been received
! Dy me sincs that time and published. Ny
FIRST IMPORTATION
was from the papers of the morning of the
9TH of January. 1 did not know that any
such thing was anticipated, and no orders
and no suggestions were ever given to any
military officer in that state upon that sub
ject prior to the occurrence. 1 am
well aware that any military in |
reference by the officers or troops
of The United States with the organization !
oil state legislature or any of its proceed !
ings, or with any civil department of the |
government, Is repugnant TO our ideas of
government. L can conceive Of no case, |
not involving rebellion or insurrec-
ton, where such interference by authority of |
the general government ought 10 be per ,
mitted or can be justified. Bat there are cir. |
eumstances connected with the legislative |
imbroglio in louisiana which seem
tc exempt the military from any inten- |
tional wrong in that matter. !
knowing that they had been placed ma |
Louisiana to prevent domestic violence and
to aid in suppressine violence. The revoIu- |
ton was apparently in existence, though il |
is believed really abandoned and the cry Of
federal usurpation and tyranny in Louis |
lana was renewed with redoubled energy.
The troops had been sent to the state under !
the Tequisition OF the governor. as dis. !
turbances seemed imminent They
were allowed to remain there 70
render the executive such aid a
might become necessary to enforce the laws
OF The state under fears of continued trouble.
hich seemed inevitable the moment the
federal support should be withdrawn. |
Prlor 70 and with view to the late election |
III Louisiana, the white men had associated |
themselves together In armed bodies called |
White Leagues, and at the same time threats |
were made in tue journals OF the state that |
the election should be carried against the |
republicans at all hazards, which very nat |
uraily greatly alarmed the colored vo- |
tiers. BY section of the act OF February /
q, 1871, 1t is made the duty of United States I
maIshsls and their deputies to be at the /
p0ils where votes are cast for representatives. /
IN congress, TO keep order and to prevent
any violations of the sO-called enforcement !
acts and other otfenses against the laws of
the United States. Upon the requisition Of
THE MARSHAL OF LOUISIANA,
and in view OF the armed organizations and
The portentious circumstances, caused de-
tachments of troops to be stationed in
various localities in the state to aid him in
she performance of his official duties in
the enforcement of the state laws The off,
GERS and troops of the United States NAV
wei have supposed that it was their duty TO
acs When called upon by the government
for that purpose. Each branch of a legisla-
tive assem- bly, is the judge of the election
and qualifications of its own members but
il mob of unauthorized persons seize and
mold the legislative hall in a tumultuous
anu rlotous manner, and so prevent any or
ganizltion by those legally returned as
elected, it might become the duty of the state
executive to interpose, ifrequested by ma
lority OF the members elect to suppress the
disturbance, and enable the persons
elected to organize the House. Any exer-
else OF this power would be justifiahe
under th6most extraordinary circumstances, |
and 1t would then be the duty of the Cover |
nor 70 cal upon the constabulary, or, if nee
essary, the military of the state. But with j
to Louisiana, il is to be borne in !
mind that any attempt by the governor to |
use the police force of that state at this time
would have undoubtedly precipitsted a i
bloody conflict with the White League as IL I
ala on the 18th of September. There is no c
doubt but the presence of the United States /
troops on that occasion prevented bloodshed I
and the loss of life. Both parties appear I
to have relied upon them as conservators I
OF the public peace. The call was made by I
the democrats to remove persons obnoxious I
TO them from the legislative hall, and the v
second was from the republicans to remove e
persons who had nsurped seats in the legis- (
lature without legal certificates authorizing [
them to take seats, and in q sufficient num- C
veI W cnange Ine majority. Nobody was
disturbed by the military who had a legal t
right at that time to occupy seat in the p
legislature. That the democratic minority I
Of the House undertook 70 seize its organi- q
zstion by fraud and violence; that in this at Z,
tempt they trampled law under foot; that g
they undertook to make persons not re- I
turned as elected members, SO as to create a r
that they acted under precon- v
certed plan, and under false pre- q
fences, and introduced into the ball n
men - support their preiensions by force, if b
necessary, and that conflict, disorder and G
rio Gus proceedings followed, are facts Q
which seem to be well established. And / h
an credibly informed that these violent pro- Il
,eedings were part CT premeditaied plan q
20 have the House organized in this way to Il
recognize what has been called the McEnery G.
Senate, then to depose Gov. Kellogg, and so t