Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-03-26

dehed. LEGISLATIVE assemOites nave peeu Cou-
stituted ana destroyed without regard to the
voice OF wishes Of the people. Governors have
been ma de and unmade by The fiat of the Ex
ecutiye Property, liberty. and life no longer
cop6diug in tue protection of the Constitution,
have been held by the frail tenure of the pre-
iudice or caprice of Il military commander. and
now we sre asked to rally and lndorse these
| acts
Still more recently we fnd that he has asked
| for powers and pattloued the Congress to grant
authority which, If conferred would sweep from
existence The most cherished provisions of our
laws and leave us Constitution that would not
be worth the soap of finger. Fortunately for
the country this force bi' failed to become q
law, but the fact remains no less startling and
significant hat the President an1ously desired
to be clothed with these powers, which would
have made him master Of the situation in the
coming presidential election, and enabled him
to control and determine the electoral vote 10
four of the Southern States. Pass this resolu-
ton, and the President Of the United States
NAV very well hereafter assert and exercise the
same powers which have proved so potent 10
Louisiana 10 any other State iu this Union, and
Mead In extenuation and excuse that he has the
authority aud ipdorsation of both Houses OF
| Congress for the act Remember that the
sole pretext on which his action in Louisiana is
based il that it was necessary to preserve the
pubhc peace and protect the State from dOmes-
tic violence. l. there any evidence to sustain
the allegation? have listened and looked in
vain for it. On the contrary, nothing had oc-
CURED in this Case but what had occurred re-
peatedly before in the history Of this country.
! A division of sentiment Oh the part OF the peo-
IpIe as to who was the lcgally-eeuted governor
and Legislature of the State OF Louisiana.
+ 80: 4 81 lI,,.np
may have existed; but there we're no SCENES Of
actual violence, SO far us AIN advised, a, the
time the armed mlnioes of q military President
marched through the halls of the Luulslsna
Legislature aud hurled from their seats men
who claimed to be elected by the people at an
election held in accordance with law, and which
we have the authority ola congressional COM
mittee composed Of republicans in believing
were thus legally elected and entitled to their
seats. The claim Of a usurping governor,
holding his scate by the fat Of Federal judge
whose decision was not had in accordance with
law but 10 direct violation thereof, constituted
the sole ground for this military interference.
I ask you, Mr. President, where is the State
in which the same scene cannot be repeated,
especially ifyou give it the stamp OF your ap-
proval 4? Assuming for the sake of the argu
, ment that there shall ever be an Executive
:
desired 10 concentrate 10 his own hands all the
powers Of the legislative and executive depart
, ments, to become absolute and supreme in his
authority, what would be easier than for such
a person, through his myrmidous and agents
, who were willing to follow out his wishes and
aid him 10 comprising his designs, to simulate
a rebellion in any State, and calling upon the
Executive to sustain their action, substitute MIL
, itary for civil authority. or inaugurate into
power officials VIGOROUSLY rot elected by the
people but such as he knew would carry out his
own purposes aud wishes in defiance of all con-
stitutlou and all Law, thereby wping out Of ex-
istence the constitution of the State itself and
every right and liberty which the people of
that State possess. Nay, MORE sir, We may 60
further; We may assume that at some future
period in The history of this country when
contest has been waged for the executive chair
10 some future presidential election, the fiat Of
the people may have been pronounced for or
against the incumbent of the presidential chair
aud if against him he, anxions to perpetuate
his power, unwilling to surrender the reins Of
that government which be had so long held,
may seize on some pretc1t however trivial, to
enable him to use the same appliances that
were brought TO bear 10 the State of Louisiana
and upon the national theater play the game
which was successfully enacted there?
| know Senators smile in derision at these
suggestions know they scorn any intlmation
of danger coming from that source and view as
the fancy of distempered brain any allegation
! that the laws and institutions of this couotry
are in the slightest danger from any action of
the present Executive do not charge it, but
| do say that the indorsaion of these acts
would pave the way for such usurpations on the
part of this or some future Executive and which
would be fatal to the most cherished institutions
of this country.
1t is not my purpose to weary the Senate,
and have no idea therefore of going into 40
elaborate review OF all the history Of this Lou
isiana case. | shall not parade again before
you the facts which have so often been demon
strated here as existing 10 the history of this
Louisiana matter. | shall not 20 into an ella
boraton or presentation again OF the facts
which prove the egality Of the government
which the President by the aid of his military
power established 10 Louisiana. | shall not
pretend to assert again and again the proofs Of
the usurpation which was practced there by
governor who, under the influence Of the re-
turning board which was unauthorized by the
constitution, declared his mionions alone cd
titled to power. shall not again review
the judicial decisions upon this question.
Able, learned, and distinguished lawyers
have differed as 10 some or the polots
which are involved in this controversy; but
none, so far as | have heard, have ever as
serted on this aoor that under any aspect OF
the question was this Kellogg legislature the
true and constitutionally elected Legislature
of the State Of Louisiana. Why then should
YOU indorse the action of the President recog
nizing as valid and legal governor aud Leg
islalure which have been time aud again de.
termined TO have been illegally placed in
power and never TO have been elected, a gov
crnor who could not show a semblance OF
return which would justify any board in Civ
ing him a commission?
The action of the Executive in sending down
to the State of Louisiana distinguished mill
tary officer must have in it something of pecu-
liar Significance when we recall the fact that he