The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-01-14
VALLEY VIRGINIAN,
Staunton. Virginia,
- N':sSDAY. JANUARY j. 1873.
xEE CASE AS IT STANDS.

Louisiana affair, which has so unnecessary arou-
.e the fiercest partizan passions and thrown the
country into teipestuouS fever. Ill the |
whole matter down, and there is nothing in it |
sojustly excite the apprehensions OF the pee-
pie, or that approaches an assault upon Repnb- |
lica! institutions. The passions of the parti
cans in that State were so nfiamad-the pros
pect Of bloody conflict so immnent-tliat the
Intervention of the military was simply Il ner
s,' to the people, rather than an assault upon
shat IS called State Sovereignty. Inasmuch,
too, as the aid OF the military to preserve the
peace and prevent bloodshe |, was first asked
by the Democratic Speaker OF the House, So
called, and given, and subsequently by the Re-
publican Governor. and given, we are unable
TO see tn, force Of the assertion that this al
legged infringement of the civil law and viola
ton OF State sovereignty, was chargeable to
the Republicans. The military was there to
preserve the peace and prevent bloodsl:ed and
nsurder. This they did, cffectually, without
drawinga sabre or bHrstinga cap. The two
factions were ready to fly at each others
Threats, with drawn knives and cooked pistols.
The military interviewed to prevent conflict
and thereby save human life, and chat is all
that there is OF it.
we 90 not intend to discuss this matter at
this time as fully as probably we should do, fer
two reasons: First. the want of space, to-day,
and second. the reasons and facts in possession
OF the President are not before us at this wri-
ting.
1t will be we'll eneugh however. to rcmeln-
Der, in considering this affair, that there was
sour years war in the United States--scction ar
rayed against section i'll armed conflict. The
result was the emancipation of the slaves, their
fnvestiture with citizenship and the ballot, and
q consequent revolution in the social, industri-
al and political systems of the South. The Leg
i<latures and the people of the Southern States
accepted the three amendments to the Consti-
tuition recognizing these facts, and Congress
passed laws to enforce the conditions contain
ed therein. 1t seems to be a difficult matter
for the people OF the South to realize. in their
full import, these determinations. The negro
and the 'carpet-bagger' have as much legal
right to vote in the Southern States. subject to
the local law relating to- suffrage, as the native
s:hte man. They have as much right to their
right to vote the Republican ticket and uphold
the government, as the native white man has
to support the Democratic ticket and oppose
the government, and their molestation in the
exercise Of this right is as obnoxious to The
laws as if they were to the ''manner born.''
1t is failure to appreciate these facts that
has brought about the unsettled and turbulent
state Of affairs tllat exists in the extreme South
which originated the White League in the
cotton States, whose avowed object is to contro!
che elections and preserve to themselves the
management OF the legislative and executive
departments o. those States, without scrupling
at the agencies employed to accomplish this
object.
1t is perfectly natural for the native whites
to desire this result, and if they could effect it
without practically nuliIying the laws, and
denying individual right. guarded and guarau-
seed by these laws, it would be we'll and proper.
But this they have not done. 1t needs no ar
gument to demonstrate that in many localities
in the South system of violence and in
stimulation, inhibited and condemned by the
1aws- has been practicetl, resulting, not rsnfre
qlently, i'm bloody contest and heartless muir
tJerers- It is the Presidents sworn duty to see
Ehat the laws are enforced, and when cogni-
zant of their violation. he would be guilty Of
perjury dill he not enforce them.
The Kellogg government in louisiana. has
Been recognized by the Judiciary OF tlfut
Stxte snI of the United States, by Congress and
the President. 1t is not necessary or peril
ncnt to go behiad this fact aad argue the right
or wrong OF it, 1t is the de facto government
OF I.euisian, and the de iure, so Ear as we know
It is true tic opponents OF Kellogg deny this
and claim that MeEnery was elected Cover
nor i'll 1872. 1t is no. for us to determine the
Justice OF this claim. We can only look at the
ease as it legally Stands. En- September this
government w;rs overturned by violent MEANS
and McEnery declared the rghtful governor BY
5he reyoutionists. The legal Governor, KEEL
1ogss, called upon the President, under the
forms OF the fundamental and statute law, to
assist laia in maintaining his authority in LOU
tsiana- The President had no alternative but
TO cotspl5 with this formal demand. He did
so, by issuing his proclamation commanding
the insurgentsfe dfspcrse within five days. to
which, hey gave really response, and com2ar
'ative quiet WAS restored
On the I'll OF November last, s1r election was
held iis that State for Congress alMl the legisa-
trwe- The Democrats claimed to hove carried
the legislative body. The Republicans denied
that tlR legal vote would show that to be the
fact. The RETURNS had to- be callvasscb by the.
Returning Board, the result declared, and the
certificates OF election given to those found to
he elected For nearly twe'nsoatttas that Board
MAS iia sef s5on, hearing the evidence adduced by
both parties, and 6,;sly concluded tlseir work
by announcing tlrt % majority of tln members
elect were republicans. Ti,e democrats Pro
fsosaleed this the resTas Of fraud, lMb declared
their purpose not to subnris to- it. The 4tls Of
january was the tizac fixed by Iaw for the leg
i>lst,ue to assemble slai organize. A rWmlber
Of seats were contested anti an appeal was
sent oat by che M;Elery party foT of the all
contestants to be present promptly OLD tfae d "
set for the meeting OF the Legislature. Tire
body convened. Under the law Of Louisiana,
it is the duty of the clerk Of the ola legislature,
to esganlze tlNs new, aud continue his fune-
Mons sltsl his successor is elected The list OF
delegates electesf or to- whexaa certificates are
given by the Retarnilas Boars. is furnished the