The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1875-01-21

hensisES That the White League in
tended 10 make another attack. %
on the same day I made the follow
iEg answer, since which no communi-
caiiOn has been sent t. him:
Your di~patch of this date Just re-
ceived. IL is exceedingly unpaiatable
To use troops ia sntieipatinn Of d4u-
lg-r. Let the State authorities be
right, and then proceed with their du-
ties without apprehension OF danger.
Il they are tGen mOle=ted, the ques-
tom will be determined whether the
/ Uuitad states is able TO II sjntzin law
aud or1sr within its limits or not. /
have deplDred the necessity which
seemed TO make it my duty under
the constitution and laws to make
such interference. have always re-
fused, except where it seemed to be
my imperative duty to act in such a
manner under the constitution and
laws of the United States. have
repeatedly and earnestly entreated
the people of the South to live togeth-
er in peace and obey the laws, and
nothing would give me greater pleas
ure than to see reconciliation and
I tranquility everywhere prevail, and
1 LuELGOI AECEEolNI AOA
| troops among them. Iregret, hOweV-
er, to say tnat this state Of things
does not exist, nor does its existence
seem to be desired in localities, and
as to those it may be proper for me to
say that to the extent that Congress
has conferred power on me to prevent
it, neither Ku Klux, White Leagues
nor any other association using arms
aud Vjztqncs. TO execute their SaalaEr- :
fuI purpose can be permitted in that
way to govern any part OF this coun-
try, nor can see with indifference
Union men or Republicans ostFacised,
prosecuted and murdered on account
of their opinions as they now are in
some localities. l have heretofore
urged the case of Louisiana upon the
attention of Congress, and / cannot
but think its iEactiOn has produced
great evil. To summarize In Sep
tember last an armed organized body
of men, in the support of candidates
who had been put in nomination for
the offices Governor and Lieutenant
Governor, at the November election
in 1872, and who had been declared
noe elected by the Board of Canvas
sers, recognized by ali the courts to
which the question had been submit
ted, undertook 10 subvert and over
throw the State government that had
been recognized by me in accordance
with previous precedents. The reeOg-
nized Governor was driven from the
State House. and but for his fading
shelter in the United States Gus
tom House in the capital of
Of rryhfnf1 hn NTo
Governor, it is scarcely to be dOub-
ted that he would have been killed.
From the State House, before he had
been driven to the Custom House, q
call WAS made to accord with the
fourth section of the fourth article Of
the Constitution of the United States
for the aid of the General Government
to suppress domestic violence. Un-
der those circumstances, and in ae-
cordance with my sworn duties, my
proclamation OF the 18th of September
was issued. This served to Teinstete
Governor Kellogg to his position NOM
inally, but il cannot now be claimed
that the insurgents have to this day
surrendered to tine State authorities
the arms belonging to the State, or
that they have in any sense disarmed.
On the contrary il is known that the
same armed organization that existed
on the 14th of September, 1874, in OPP
position to the recognized State Gov
ernment stillTetain their organization,
equipments and commanders, and
can be called out at any hour to resist
the State Government. Under these
circumstances the same military force
has been continued in Louisiana, as
was sent under the first call aud un'
der the same general instruction. l
repeat that the task assumed by the
troops is not pleasant one to them,
that the army is not composed of law
yers capable of judging at moments
notice of 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 their command
ing officers upon each sudden contin-
gency that arose or wait instructions
which could only reach them after the
threatened wrongs had been commit
ted which they we're called on to pre-
vent. It should be recollected too,
that upon my recognition of the Kel-
logg government / reported the fact,
with the grounds of the recognition to
Congress, and asked that body to take
action in the matter ; otherwise l
should regard their silence as acquies-
cence in my course. No action has
been taken by that body, and have
maintained the position marked out.
II error has been committed by the az
my in these matters, it has always
been on the side of preservation of
good order, the maintenance of law,
and the protection of life. Their bear
ing reflects credit upon the soldiers,
and, If wrong has resulted, the blame
is with the turbulent elements sur
rounding them. now earnestly ask
that such action be taken by Congress
as to leave my duties perfectly clear
in dealing with the affairs of Louisi-
ana, giving assurance st the same
time that Whatever may be done by
that body in the premises will be ex-
ecuted according to the spirit and let
ter of law without fear or favor. /
herewith transmit copies of dOcu-
ments, containing more specific in
formation as TO the subject matter of
the resolution
CSigned, U. 5. GRANT,
Executive Mansion, Jan. 13, 1873.