Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-01-21

had no legal rights to seats in that body.
Third, that fear existed in Sheridan's mind
that in some underlined contingency violence
might happen. With respect to the first and
second of these pretexts, it is decisive answer
that the Louisiana House Of Representatives
had, by the constitution of that State, exclu-
sive judgment as to the rights Of these men,
bers to seats that its judgment is subject to
no review by any judicial authority, still less
to review by the Governor or by any officer of
the United States army that its judgment in
favor Of these members thus partly reviewed
is binding in law and conclusive upon tne
Governor and Lieutenant General Sheridan,
and upon everybody else. In respect to the
third pretext, the fear in the mind of Lieut..
Gen. Sheridan of possible future violence,
when no violence really existed, is not only
no lawful occasion, but even no excuse for in
vasion of the right Of the House of Represen-
tatives of Louisiana to judge for itself OF the
time to seat its own members. Interference
by United States soldiers was not only unlaw-
full, but it was without color of legality; it
was all act of naked physical force in viola
ton of the laws and constitution Of Louisiana
and of the laws and constitution of the Uni
ted States"
Subsequently, in the House branch of the
Legislature, majority of the committee ap-
pointed to draft resolution expressive Of the
sense of the House on Louisiana AFFAIRS made
report utterly deprecating and condemnng
the interference by the military in the organ
ization of the Legislature and the course of
President Grant and the Secretary of War
in relation thereto The minority made a
report which agreed with the majority that
the action which had taken place in Louis
lana deserved a most prompt check, but they
could not agree upon the terms in which the
protest should be made. They therefore sub
mitted series of resolutions expressing their
disapprobation of the action, and setting forth
the duties of the officials in the matter. The
majority report was adopted by strict party
vote.
In his message to the Legislature, Cover
nor Taylor, of Wisconsin, says: "If author
thority exists in any branch of the federal
government for what appears to be assumed
by recent proceedings in the State Of Louisiana
and in the extraordinary proposals of the
Lieutenant-General of the army in his dis
patch from New Orleans, believe the time
has come for all of us to bury partizan spirit
in common effort for the preservation of our
constitutional sovereignty and the inherited
liberties of the American people"
In his message to the Legislature, the Coy
ernor of Georgia refers to the question in the
following terms:
"During the last ten years the general gov
ernment has violated the liberty of the citi-
zens, overturned and created State govern
menls at will, and committed other fragrant
violations of the constitution. The crowning
act in this course of usurpation and wrong is
the attempt to stiAe by the strong arm of mil
itary power the will of the peopeof Louisiana
expressed at the recent election. This grave
wrong has evoked change in public senti-
ment that leads US to look for an early refor.
nation of the policy and practice of the fed
eral government toward the Southern States.
If the policy of irritation should be abandoned
and the people be left to themselves, the two
races would soon establish social and business
relations with each other as their own peace,
happiness and true interest require. In other
words, our people only ask that they be Sc
cured in the great right of local selfgovern.
ment as it once existed in all the States Of the
Union, but which is now enjoyed alone by
the people Of the Northern States. If the
government will but give us home rule, rev.
enue tariff, an honest and economical admin
stration, and a sound circulating medium, we
shall not have long to wait for the return Of
peace and prosperity to all parts of the coun-
try and among all classes of people,"
In the Pennsylvania Legislature, a select
committee of the House of Representatives
reported preamble and resolutions in refer
ence to Louisiana affairs which were passed
by strict party vote-102 democrats to IS
republicans. The preamble recites the cir
cumstances of Sheridans interference with
the Legislature of Louisiana, and the follow
ing are the resolutions:
Resolved, That this House Of Representa-
tives Of Pennsylvania, speaking for her peo-
pie, do solemnly protest against so heinous
an abuse of power as that committed by the
President; we protest against it as prece-
dent which substitutes the will of the execu-
tive and federal bayonets for the functions
of the Legislature in determining the qualif,
cation of members, endangcring personal lib
erty and imperiling free government.
Resolved, That we commend the forbear-
ance exercised by those whose rights were 50
uncoustitutionally violated. We assure them
of the sympathy felt for them by all who are
Jealous of the preservation of the principles
of civil liberty upon which our government is
founded.
From all sections Of the Union the same
voice of condemnation rises, while apologists
for the administration, outside Of Congress,
are few and weak.
EDITORIAL INKLINGS.