The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1875-01-29

Q interference by authority of the general gov
a ernment ought to be permitted or can be JUST
9 fed. But there are circumstances connected
/ with the legislative imbro lilo in Louisian,
. which seems to exempt the military from an,
intentional wrong in that matter.
The enforcement of the state laws tht
officers and troops of the United States nav
} well have supposed that it was their duty tC
) act when called upon by the governor for thai
purpose. Each branch of the legislative as.
! sembly is the judge of the election and quall-
hcatlons of its own members, but il mob OF
body of unauthorized persons sieze and
: hold the legislative hall in a tumultuous and
r1otous manner, and SO prevent any orgafi2a-
ton by those legally returned as elected, it
might become the duty of the state executive
to interfere, if requested by majority of the
members elect, to suppress the disturbance
and enable the persons present to organize the
j house. Any exercise of this power would be
/ Justlfiable under most extraordinary cireum-
Stances 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 Louisiana it ia to be
borne in mind that any attempt of the govern
or to use the police force of that state at this
time. would have undoubtedly precipitated q
| bloody conflict with the white league as ii did
ON the l4th OF September. There is no doubt
but that she presence of the United States
| troops on that occasion prevented bloodshed
and the loss of life. Both parties appear to
have relied on them as conservators of the
public peace. The first call was made by the
democrats to remove persons obnoxious to
| them from the legislative hall, and the second
ss WSs iIonl 1 ene fepuoheans, 70 remove persons
WIZ na9 usuEpea seats In tne legislature,
ans mlslous lssal ceIslncaIes sutnorlzlng them TO
seats, ana IN sufficient number to change the
majority. Nobody was disturbed by the EaiIi-
tafy who had legal right at that time 10 &C.
cupy q seat In the legislature. That the demo-
seize it's oroey;1at;o, h go a9 W
that in ths sttayont tbay 4rsnorIad ,.,,o. 80
fha law that fbaIrI I,nd trH,s- r. - - - ~ M
not returned "a aactad y,anobars ~ 70. 81 9oto 10
create n naioritv tbat tha-- go. ss W
preconcerted rIan and ,ndar faIsa
fntrodneed into the hail , ~ a,sot
nretantons bv Tro -
conflict disorder and riotons r,raaa-S-s fS
lowing are facts that seen, r. ba LII eas+oi
lished and am raiblg ;,frT,a5 A. IT,
violent nroceadings ar not ~ sA,,s satoo
tated plan to has te bonse a,;,dd +, ~
way, recognize what has been called itbe
McEnery SENATE than IN Jsnasa fxoS, Ra1l6stas 80
and 40 reyoJntionisa tbe afafa
Whether II was WRONG so, +ba ~ ar
reouest 81 tba maioT7t ~ asS,ohe,. ot
as elected tn the bonsa 10 ,,se o,,oI ,oo,.. -
were in his power e, Isfeat fbasa IarvIess s,,5 "a
revolutionary proeeedings IL narhaTa ! dat,at-
able nuestio1 by,t = ia s,,Sta IT. 49,
n@so DeSn n0 grouDle u tnose VINO Row
the bo,,sa - ~ tnseiIerenSe nad alioVed
ular manner. When tbose Who ina,onrstsad
disorder and anarchv disavaw s,,cb T12ocead-
ings, it will be time eno1gh to condemn fI1esa
who, by such means as thew have vreyant
the success OF their iawiaas and da~na,nts
Tieut Gan s1or;5a,, .,vaa ~,.,,o.t.s
n oo ~ y,;;o.,o 80 aSuSs1eu " ING
sitnation thara 81 - ~ t,; Gnu !epoLs ahe
knore and II IN ms opinion neees-
81 " assume the command, which he did
pa the 4sh INST, after the Legislative distGfb-
INC nc, nSu occurred, az nlne O'Clock p. MI a
lulnDeE ol nours after the disturbances. No
1afsy mosIVe nor preladlces can necessarily be
lnpueso 20 MN, Dut honestly convinced by
snae i,lI Ne nag seen ana heard there, he aas
'liat aceerIzea rne leaders OF the white leagues
Z severe terms, and suggested summary
IoueS ID q Proceoure against them, which. !
uouSn aS snsy cannon pc ADOPTED, Would,l 1t
YEA, sVon put an end 20 tne troubles and dis l
'1asls y snat s5a1e. Zen. sheridan was Look
~ e Aas-s and posslp1y not Lnlnking OF pFo-
seulngs Wnicn eal Wouid oe the only proper oses 4
= = puLsue "a TIME oi peace, and thought more 9
1 80 laN,ess eondlGlon DI society syIr-
. ~ ~ Ill ~ sLle sllae OF ms alspatch and
: motilu pLoss sure remedy he meyer
~ ~ 81 Illegal sct nor expressed
~ Deyono Wnas the law
,a,.t - ~. autnoiI1e TOT the punish
4 80 tI MLlcn nave Deen com
all9 Inc commission OF winch canlsot n
z successIu1y denied. II Is deplorable fsct u
.-s aLla murder nave been
~ Lonlsiaha. Wnich nave gone I'M 9
anu anu Wn!cn m nave been Jnstlhed or q
posoSl1o0 III, 8nicn must res. as reproaph =
Sa. poa .no seaDe ana oountry, long after tne q
nave ne e desire e have United States troops
na Or any other state On the 9th Of O Be- RI r.