The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-01-15

that the President admits away the only
plausible ground-and that not tenable In
this case-upon which he could stand. On
the 14th of September last Lieutenant
Governor Penn succeeded In overthrow
ing the Kellogg government, and the lat
ter called upon the President for aid. The
President, thereupon, issued his proclama-
ton commanding the ''insurgents" to dis
perse, and they did disperse. We only
state the facts as known to every one and
as contained in the message. Why then
were troops sent to Louisiana subsequent to
that datep What does the President think
of itp Let his reply to Kellogg, so late as
December 9th, answer. He says: 1T is
exceedingly unpalatablc to use troops In
anticipation of dangers. Let the state
authorities be right, and then proceed
"with their duties without apprehension
"of danger. IF they are then molested,
" the question will be determined whether
"the United States IS able to maintain law
"and order within its limits or not" Why,
then. in heavens name, was not the policy,
thus indicated, followed after September
14th and IN the early days of this month
The President, surely, has issued procloma-
tons enough in reference to southern "out-
RACES" to be familiar with the constitutional
and legal provisions governing the inter
ference of the general government in snch
cases. Indeed, he has repeatedly rected
the substance of these provisions in his
proclamations. He can only "interfere," in
proper cases, after request from the gov
ernor, or legislature when in session, and
after proclamation recurring the "insur-
gents" or the "disturbers," to Gispcrsc in a
given time, and, only upon their refusal to
dspersc, can he use the army to restore
order. His proclamation was obeyed, the
adherents of Penn were dispersed, the KEEL
logg government was restored. but still the
army was reinforced, even, If sit is ex-
ceedingly unpalatablc to use the troops
Gin anticipation of danger" In reference
to the proceedings of January 4th,
the President says he is credtably
informed" that certain things were
| to take place-that is he has been 30 in
formed since, not before, January 4th But
although sit is exceedingly unpalatable to
"use troops in anticipation OF danger"
they were SO used, men claiming to be, and
actually legally elected, members of the
legislature were removed from the hall of
the house, by such troops, and the Presi-
dent says whether it was wrong" so to
use them sis probably debatablc Ques-
ton We conceive that under the Presi-
dents own statement, the legality or con-
stitutionality of the action is not "de-
bateable question" but, on the contrary, it
was arbitrary, unjust, illegal and uncon-
stitutional. We believe, moreover, that
the President so thinks, or else why this
special pleading, this admission of doubt,
this endeavor to shift responsibility, and
this dispatch to Kellogg? With all these
short comings, however, it is much better
message than was expected, and we can
only regret that the President did not live
up to the sentiments of his dispatch of De-
cember 9th, promptly dsavow the acts of
Sheridan, de Trobriand and Kellogg, and.
as promptly, remove the officers who en-
forced these arbitrary and usurping orders.
Until he does this and disavows the Bel.
knap dispatch, he cannot evade all respon-
sibility for the acts of January 4th, or cast
it all on the shoulders of Congress. Con-
gress has sins enough of its own in refer
ence to Louisiana, sins of omission and
commission, without bearing those of the
President, Kellogg and the army officers in
Louisiana.