The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1875-01-21
Rigging DENUNOIAfIOX OF THE KLU
KLUX, HHITK LEAGUES, DC.
A Complete ana aasterIy Document.

The following message of President
Grant, on the Louisiana rebellion,
was read before both houses of Con-
gress yesterday
To the Senate Of the United States
have the honor to make the fol-
! lowing answer to q Senate resolution
of the eighth instant, asking for in
formation as to any interference by
any military officer or any part OF the
army of the United States with the
organization or proceedings Of the
General Assembly of the State of
louisiana, or either branch thereof,
and also inquiring in regard to the
existence of armed organizations in
that State hostile to the government
thereof, and intent on overwhelming
such government by force. 10 say
that klawless men, turbulence and
bloodshedl have characterized the
political affairs of that State since it
organization under the reconstruction
acts is only to repeat what has become
we'll known as part OF its unhappy
history. But it may be proper here
to refer to the election of 1868, by
which the Republican vote of the
State, through fraud and violence,
was reduced TO a few thousands, and
the bloody riots of 1856 and 1868, to
show that the disorders there are not
due TO any recent causes or to any
late action of the Federal authorities.
Preparatory to the election of 1872 a
shameful and undisguised conspiracy
was formed to carry that election
against the Republicans without re-
gard to law or right, and to that end
the most glaring frauds and forgery
were committed in the returns, after
many colored citizens had been de-
MED registration and others deferred
by fear from casting their ballots
when the time came for final can
vass of the votes. In view of the
foregoing facts William B. Kellogg,
the Republican candidate for Cover
nor, brought suit upon the equity side
Of the United States Circuit Court for
Louisiana against WarmOth and
others, who had obtained possession
OF the returns of the election, repre-
senting that several thousand voters
OF the State had been deprived of the
elective franchise on account Of their
color, and praying that steps might
be taken to have their votes counted,
and for general relief. To enable the
court to inquire,as to the truth of these
allegations a temporary restraining
order was issued against the defend
ant, which was at once wholly disre-
garded and treated with contempt by
those to whom il was directed. These
proceedings have been widely de-
nounced as an unwarrantable inter-
ference by the federal judiciary with
the election of State officers, but it is
to be remembered that 10y the Fif-
| teenth Amendment to the Constitu.
ton of the United States the political
] equality of the colored citizens is Sc
cured, and under the second section
Of that amendment, providing that
Congress shall have power to enforce
its provisions by appropriate legisla-
ton, an act was passed on the 3lst of
May, 1870, and amended in III, the
object of which was to prevent the
denial or abridgment of suffrage to the
| citizens on account of race, color or
previous condition of servitude, and
il has been held by all the federal
judges before whom the question has
| arisen, including Justice Strong, of
the Supreme Court, that the protec,
ton afforded by this amendment and
these acts extend to State as well as
to other elections. That it is the duty
of the Federal Courts to enforce the
provisions of the Constitution of The
United States and the laws passed in
pursuance thereof, is too clear for con-
trOversy. Section fifteen of said act,
after numerous provisions therein to
prevent az evasion of the Fifteenth
Amendment, provides that the juris-
diction of the Circuit Court of the
/ United States shall extend to all cases
in law or equity arising under the
| provisions of said act, and of the act
amendatory thereof. Congress seems
| to have contemplated an equitable as
well as legal proceeding TO prevent
the denial of suffrage to cOlOred citi-
zens, and it may be safely asserted
that if Kellogg's bill in the above
named case does not present a case
| for the equitable interpOsition of the
| court, that no such case can arise un-
| der the act. That the courts of the
United States have the right 20 inter-
fere in various ways with State elec-
| tions, so as TO maintain political
equality and rights therein, irrespec-
| tive of race or color, IS comparatively
| new, and to some it seems to be a
startling idea; but it results as clear
( Iy from the Fifteenth Amendment of
| the constitution and the acts that
| have been passed to enforce that
amendment, as the abrOgation of
/ State laws uphOlding slavery results
] from the thirteenth amendment to
the Constitution. While the jurisdie-
| ton of the court in the case of KeI-
iogg VS.. Warmoth and others is clear
4 to nv mind, il seems that some Of the
orders made by the judge in that and
the kindred case of Antoine were i'll.
legal, but while they ere so held and
considered, it is not to be forgotten
that the mandates of his court had
been contemptuOusly defied, and Ethat
they were made while wild scenes of
anarchy were sweeping away all re-
straint of law and order. Doubtless
the iudges of this court made grave
mistakes. But the law allows the
Chancellor great latitude, not only in
furnishing those contemning his Or
ders and injunctions, but in prevent
ing the contamination of the wrong
which he has judieially forbidden.
Whatever may be said or thought OF
these matters it was only made known
to me that the process of the United
States Court was resisted, aud as said
acts specially provide for the use OF
the army and navy when necessary
to Eenforcs judicial process arising
hereunder, I considered it my duty
to see that such process was executed.
According to the judgment of the
court, resulting from these proceed
ings through various controversies and
complications, State administration
was organized with William p. Kel-
logg a. Governor, which, in the dis
charge of my duty under article 4, Sec
tion 4, of the Constitution, I have rec