Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-01-22


To cay ythstthe mutder Of a negro or a whit
sna %oSId ptoBSbiS Sc IN W. 70 Tslat paft
the people, but IL Is true thata great number
such murders have been committed and nc. on
has been punished therefor, aud II IL manifest
true thai The spirit Of hatred and violence there
stronger than law III u Ef
Representations were made TO me that the pres
ence OF troopsm Louisiann was unnecessary, an
that there was no danger Of public disturbance
they were taken away. Consequently, earl
last, last summer ,Ss the troops taroops - were withdraw
a small garrison at New Orleans barracks, II wa
stated that comparative state Of quiet had 81
4 Peryened; thst the poiiticai excitement as I
Louisiana affairs seemed to be dying out; but tn
November election was approaching and Il wa
fnecessary for partypugposes that the harne et0ui
nerellehted; Aceordingly, on the i4th Of Scr
entaoyernor d isss issSSdd % AZ HSSaSS iaanaser sse
State 70 arm assemble and drive oet DC SsISp
The White Leaguers, armed and read,
On the same day the Governor made
ofthc act OF ffia5, and Sec. of the Constitution
to aid In suppressing domestic violence. On thu
nest ne day I Lifted mt pruclemetloa eOmmandinl
the date Thereof. but before the proclamation
| was published in New Orleans the organized auC
armed forces, reorganizing usurping Govern
/
House and temporarily subvhrted the govern
9s5I sa twenty or M moES people yGTe X Killed y
sire OF the city we're stained with blood. al
that was desired in the way Of excitement hat
| been accomplished
Prior to and with view to the late election in
| Louisiana, white men associated themselves to
| gether in armed bodies called White Leagues y
and at the same time threats were made In the
| Democratic journals Of the State that the elec.
tion should be carried against the Republicans Of
az hazards, which very naturally greatly alarmed
sss sse c9aS1cd @or voters, voters BY Sec. qf M the
ty Of United states ts Marshais ' and u" their pf
| deputies at the polls where votes cast for
Representatives in Congress, to keep the peace
and prevent any violations Of the so.caed En-.
fQrcement act and other offenses against the laws
of the United States, and upon requsition of the
Marshal OF Louisiana, and in view OF said armed
organization and other pOrtentous circumstances,
caused detachments OF troops to be sta
TONED in various localities In the State 10 aid him
In the performance Of his official duties
and the enforcement OF the State laws. The
officers and troops Of the United States may well
have suppdsed that II was their duty to act when
called upon by the Government for the pufpdsG.
That there was intimidation Of the Republican
voters at the election, notwithstanding this pre-
caution, admits Of no doubt. The following are
specimens OF the means used: On the I4th OF Oc-
toher eighty persons' signed and published the
merchants Of The city Of Shreveport In obedience
20 n request OF the shreveport Campaign Club,
agree TO use, every endeavor to get our employees
=
ton, and in the event OF their refusal
so to do, or In case they vote the Radical
ticket. 10 refuse TO employ them at the expiration
Of their present contracts" On the same day an
other large body OF persons published in the same
place paper IN which they used the following
language: We, the undersigned merchants Of the
city OF Shreveport, alive to the great Importance
Of securing good and honest Government 10 the
state, do agree and pledge ourselves not TO ad-
vance any supplies or money 20 any planters the
coming wear who win dve Employment OF rent
labOrQre Radical N
the coming election "
have no Information of the proceedings of the
Returning Board for the said election which may
not be found in its report which has been pub
llshed, butt Is a matter of public information
that great part Of the time taken to canvass the
votes was cotsut1ed by the Arguments oflewyers,
several Of whom represented each party before
the Board. I have no evidence that the proceed
lnss Of this Board were not in.aceordance with
the law under which they acted. Whether In
excluding from their count certain returns they
were right or wrong is a question that depends
upon the evidence they had before them but IL
Is very clear that the law gives them the power, il
they chose to exercise IL, TO decide that way. and
pTf1td taefe, the persons whom they return as
selected are entitled TO the offices FOR which they
were candidates. O. as
sRespecting the alleged interference by tine mil
itary with the organization OF the Legislature Of
Louisiana on the 4th inst, have no knowledge
OF Information which has not been received by
me since that time and published. My first in
formation was from the papers OF the morning OF
the 5th Of January. did not know thatany such
thlDS Wae anticipated. ana no ORDERS, shHtses-
tions, were ever given 70 any military officer in
that State upon tine subject prior to the occur
renee. am wen aware that any military inter
ference by the officers or troops of the United
ture or any Of its proceedings, or with any civil
department of the Government. is repugnant TO
our ideas OF government | can conceive Of no
case not Involving rebellion instruction where
such interference by the authority OF the General
Government ought TO be permitted or can be JUS
titled but there are circumstances connected with
ht. laf Dizln ya m
seem 10 exempt the military from any in
tentional wrong in that matter, know
Ing nrsyent amese RoePce and tn
aid in repressing II. The revolution was ap-
parently though ~ Il believed not really, apan
doned, and lhe ery qi eaclai , ana
doubled energy. Troops had been sent TO the
State under the requisition OF the Governor, and
as other disturbances seemed imminent they
ecutive such aid rs might become necessary TO
enforce the laws of the state and repress the con-
tinued violence which seemed inevitable at the
moment when the Federal support should be
withdrawn.
Each branch of Legislative Assembly is the
judge OF the election and the qualifications OF its
own members, but II a mob or body Of nnauthor.
lied persons seize n8d hold the iegfsiattye nail
in tumultuous and riotous manner, and so pre-.
vent any organization by those legally returned
as elected. Il might become the duty of the state
Executive to interpose, II requested by majority
of the members-elect TO suppress the disturb
the House. ANY exercise of this power woudbe JUS
tifabe under most extraordinary circumstances
and II would then be the duty of the Governor
TO call upon the constabulary or, II necessary the
military force of the State; but with reference to
Louisiana, 1t IL to be borne in mind that any at
tempt by the Governor to use the police force OF
that State at this time would have undoubtedly
preciptated bloody conflict with the White
League, as il did on the i4th OF September, There
is no doubt but the presence OF the united states
troops on that occnsion prevented bloodshed and
thn Of1 70 Rof have
relied upon them as conservators OF the pubnc
peace.
The hrst call was made by the Democrats to re-
move persons obnoxious to them From the Legis-
IatiYe hall and the second was from the Republi-
cans 10 remove persons who had usurped seats in
the Legislature without legal certificate authOriz-
ing them to seats and IN saheient number no 70
the military who had legal right at that time 10
occupy seat In the Legislature. That the Dem
ocratie minority 9f the House undertook to sslTe
its organization by fraud and violence; that IN
this attempt they trampled under foot the law, in
that they undertook to mako persons not returnSi
as elected members so as TO create MAORI
ty; that they acted under preconeerted plan, and
under false pretenses introduced in the hall men
70 support their pretensions by force II necessary,
and that the conflict, disorder and uotous pro
ceedings following are facts which seem to be
well-established and am credibly informed that
these violent proceedings were part OF pre-
meditated plan to have the House organized In
this way; recognize what has been called the
McEnery Senate; then to depose Gov.
Kellogg, and so revolutiOnize the State
Government. Whether It was wrong for
the. Governor, at the request of the majority
Of the members returned as elected in the House,
to use such means as were in his power to defeat
these slawless and revolutionary proceedings, Is
perhapea debatable Qnestion, but Il il quito Ger
tain that there would have been no trouble II
those who now complain of illegal interference
had allowed the House to be organized in law.
full and regular manner. When those who in
augurate disorder or anarchy disavow such pro
ceedings, 1t will be time enough 10 condemn
those who, by such means as they have, pre-
vented the success of their lawless and desperate
schemes en- arr - --
Lient-Gen. Sheridan was requested b,
me to 20 to Lonisiana to observe and report tht
situation there, and, II in HIS opinion necessary
to assume the command, which he did, on the 4tt
inst, after the legislative disturbances had oc
Cured, at nine O'Clock In the evening, a.npmbeI
of hours after the disturbance. No party motives
nor ejudiees can reasonably be Imputed 90 him
but, honestly convinced by what he has seen ant
heard there,she has characterized the leaders o
the White Leagues In severe terms and suggested
the summary modes OF procedure against then
which, though they cannot be adopted, would, 1
legal, seon put an end % ths troubles an9 disoEde
In that state. FAEI a ~ t., ~
Gen. sheridan was loohing & at the facts and pos
sibly not thinkiHR Of proceedings which would bI