Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-01-21
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE on LOUIS.
lana AFFAIRS.
To the Senate OF the United States:

| To the Senate OF the United States:
nave the honor to make the following answer
| to Senate resolution OF the sth inst asking
for information ~ to any interference BY any mil.
tary ofdcer or any part Of the army or the niteo
States With the organization or proceedings OF the
General Assembly Of ihe State OF Louisiana. or
either branch thereof and a1ro Inquiring in regard
| TO the existence OF arped organizations In that
| State hostile to the Government thereof, and III
tent on overturning such Government by Iorce.
| To say that lawlessDess, turbulence ana blood
| shed have characterized the political AFFAIRS OF
that State since its organization under the Ke
constructions acts, is only to repeat what mas
| become well known as part of its unhappy his
| tory but II may be proper here TO refer TO the
election Of 1868 by which the Republican vote Of
the state, through fraud and violence, was re.
| duced to o few thousand, aud the bloody riots Of
| 1865 and 1858, to show disorder. There are not
due 10 any recent causes or TO any late action of
the Federal authorites Preparatory to the elec-
acy was formed TO carry that election against the
| Republicans, without regard TO law or right and
TO that end the most glaring frauds and forgeries
were committed IN the returns, after many colored
| citizens had been denied repatriation, and 9th
| deferred by fear from casting their bal
| lots. When the time came for final
| canvass of the votes, in view of the foregoing
facts, William P. Kellogg, the Republican candi-
date for Governor, brought suit upon the equity
side Of the United States Circuit Court for Louis
| lana, and against Warmoth and others who mad
obtained possession Ofthe returns OF the election
representing 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
| az to the truth OF these allegations temporary
| restraining order was issued against the defend
ants, which at once wholly disregardcd and
treated with contempt by those to whom II was
directed.
The proceedings have been widely denounced
az an unwarrantable interference by the Federal
judiciary with the election of State officers, but it
is to be remembered that by the Fifteenth amend
ment to the Constitution OF the United States the
political equality of colored citizens Is secured
ana unuer the second secuen oi tnat hinenuihent
proVoihg lhat congress shAil nave power 10 en-
lo.ce lie prosleiohs ~ apP,pp ,a f tu1 "a
act WAS Passeu on the oist Vi May, Io'o, anu
amehued III ioti, 'hc ooJec1 VI winch "as !" pre-
vent the uehiai vi aprlaeheH, VI lhe suiIase vi
eiti1ehs on account OF race, coor or previous con
dltoh Oh ser'ltude ana IL mas oeeh heia py all the
reueI" suuacs pGiole WHOM 'he question mas
ariren' incluoihg ousuce Strong, vi tie supreme
a a mat an1 , ,nd -
aihehunents anu ,nese as's eA'ehd W Sta'e as
Wen NE " o'hef e'ec'iohs,
That 1t Is the duty OF the Federal courts to en-
force the provisions OF the Constitution Of the
United States, and the laws passed in pursuance
thereof, Is too clear for controversy. Section If
teen OF said act. after numerous provisions therein
to prevent an evasion OF the Fifteenth amend.
ment, provides that the jurisdiction 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 taken prompt and equita
BILE, as we'll AZ legal, proceedingsto prevent the
denial OF suffrage to the colored citizens,
and it may be safely asserted that II
M Kelloggs bill In the above
named does not present case for the
equitable intcrposition OF the court, that no
such case can arise under the act. That the
courts of the United States have the right TO in
terfcro i'll various ways with State elections, so
IA to maintain political equality and rights
therein irrespective OF race or color, Is compare
lively new, and to some II seems TO be start
ling, idea, but 1t results rs clearly from the rit-
teenth amendment OF the Constitution and the
acts that have been passed to enforce that
AZ ~
holding slavery results from the Thirteenth
| amendment of the Constitution. While the