The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-01-21


curing the good and honest government to the
| State, do agree AMI pledge ourselves not to adj
vance any supplies or money to any planter
the coming year who will give employment or
| rent lands to laborers who vote the Radical
ticket in the coming election" have no i'll
! formation Of the proceedings Of the Returning
| Board for said election which may not be found
| in its report, which has heep published, but it
is \ matter OF public information that a great
part OF tile time taken to canvass the votes was
| consumed by the arguments of lawyers. sever
al of whom represented each party before the
Board. have no evidence that the proceed
| ings OF this Board We're NOT in accordance with
! the law under which they acted. Whether in
excluding from their count certain returns they
were right or wrong is Il question that depends
upon the evidence they had before them !;
but it is very clear that the law gives them
tn. power, if they choose to exercise il,
OF deciding that way, and prima facie the per-
Sons whom they return as elected are entitled
to the Offices to which they were candidates.
Respecting the alleged interference. BY the mil
itary with the organization OF the Legislature
of Louisiana en- the 4th instant, | have no
knowledge or information which has not been
received by me since that time and published.
My first inform ltion was from the papers OF
the morning of the 9Th Of January. l did not
know that any snch thing was anticipated, aud
no orders or suggestions were ever given to any
military officer in that State upon that subject
prior to the occurrence. [ am well aware that
any military Interference by the officers or
troops of the United States with the orgauza-
ton of Il State Legislature or any OF its pro-
ceedings, or with any civil department of the
government, is repngnant to our ideas of gov
ernmcnt. l can conceive OF no case not involv
ing rebellion or Instruction where such INFER
ference by authority OF the General Govern
ment ought to be permitted or can be justified;
but there are circumstances connected with the
late legislative imbroglio in Louisiana WHICH
seem to exempt the military from any internal
wrong in that matter. Knowing that they had
been placed in Louisiana to prevent domestic
violence and aid in the enforcement of the
State laws, officers and troops of the United
States may we'll have supposed that it was their
duty to act when called upon by the Gov
ernor for that purpose. Each branch OF a
legislative assembly is the Judge Of the election
and qualifications Of IFS own members but if a
mob or body Of unauthorized persons seize and
hold the Legislative hall in tumultuolts and
rotolts manner, and so prevent any organize
ton by those legally returned as elected, it
might become the duty Of the State Executive
to interpose, if requested by a majority OF the
members-elect, to suppress the disturbance and
enable the persons elected to organize the
House. Amy exercise of this power would on!y
instances, and it would then be the duty of
the Governor to call upon the constabulary, or,
if necessary the military force OF the State
But with reference to the State OF Louisiana is
to be borne in mind that any attempt by the
Governor to use the police force Of that State
at this time would have undoubtedly percipitat-
ed a bloody conflict with the White League, as
it did on the 18th Of September.
There is no doubt that the presence OF the
United States troops upon that occasion pre-
vented bleodshed and the loss Of life. Both
parties appear to have relied upon them as con-
SENATORS Of the public peace. The first call
was made by the Democrats to remove per-
sons obnoxious to them from the Legislative
hall. aud the second from the Republicans to
remove persons who had usnrpea seats in the
Legislature without legal certificates authors
zing them to take seats, and in sufficient mum
bers to change the majority. Nobody was
disturbed by the military who had Il legal right
at that time to occapya seat i'll the Legislature.
That the Democratic minority OF the House UNI
slertool to seize it's organization through fraud
and violence; that i'll that attempt they tram
pied under foot all law; that they undertook
to seat persons not returned as elected mem
bers SO as to create a majority !; that they ac-
ted under a preconcerted plan, and under false
pretences introduced into the hail body of
men to support their pretensions by force If
necessary; and that conflict, disorder, and ri
seem to be wei! established; and am cretli-
bly, informed that these violent proceedings
were part of permeditated plan to have the
House organized III this way, recognize What
has been called the McEnery Senate, then to
tiepose Gov. Kellogg, and SO revoutionize The
State government. Whether it was wrsng for
the Governor, at the request OF the maj 1rty of
the members returned Us elected to the House,
to use such means were in his power to de-
feat these lawless AID revolutionary proceed
ings is, perhaps, .lebatable question; but it
is quite certain that there would have been no
trouble if those who now complain OF Illegal
interference had allowed the House to be Or
gallizetl in Il lawful and regular manner. Wien
those who inau.urate disorder aud anarchy dis
avow such proceedings it will be time enough
to condemn those who, by such means as they
have, prevent the success OF their laWess ard
desperate schemes
Lieutenart-GcIeral Sheridan was requested by
me to go to Louisiana to observe and report
the situation there. and it in his opinion ne
cessary to assume the command, which he did
on the 4th inst, after the legislative distur-
Dances had occurred-at 8 O'Clock p. m, a
number OF hours after the disturbances. No
party motives nor prejndices can reasonably be
imputed to linn; but, honestly convinced by
what he has seen and heard there. lie has char
acterized the leaders OF the white leagues i'll
severe terms, and suggested summary modes
of procedure against them; which. though
they cannot be adopted, would, if leg |, soon
nut an end to the troubles and disorders in that
State. Cen. Sheridan was looking at facts; and
possibly not thinking of Pr oeacdinas which
would be the only proper ones to pursue in
time of peace, thought more of the utterly
lawless condition OF society surrounding him
at the time Of his dispatch aud OF what would
prove Il sure remedy. lie never proposed to do
an Illegal act, nor expressed determination to
proceed beyond what the law i'll the future
might authorize for the punishment of the
atrocities which have been committed, and the
commission of which cannot be successfully
denied. 1t is a deplorable fact that political
crimes and murders have been committed in
Louisiana which have gone unpuhi he'd, and
| which have been justified or apoogized for,
which must rest as reproach upon the State
and country long after the present generation
has passed away. Ihave no desire to have Uni
ted States Troops interfere in the domestic con-
Germs of Louisiana or any other Sta e.
| On the 9th of December last, Gov. Kellogg
| telegraphe to me his apprehensions that the
| White League intended to make another at
| tack upon the State-House, to which, on the
| same day, made the following answer; since
which no communication has been sent to him:
ssYour dispatch of this date just received. 1t
I is exceedingly unpalatable to use troops in an
| ticpation Of danger. Let the State authori-
ties be right, and then proceed with their du
ties without apprehension of danger Ii they
are then molested the question will then be
d ,termined whether the United States is able
4 I, ~, n nd orflar wit hin ito i,n;tc IN