The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1875-01-15
The Louisiana Outrage.

The long list of tribulatiOns and in
suits which Louisiana has been made
to suffer by the mailed hand of the
military dcspot who sits enthroned in
{ the White House, eliminated on Mon
day, the 4th instant, by the perpetra-
tion in the State House at New Or
leans of an outrage unequalled in the
past history of this country, ana which
has but few parallels in modern times.
On that day the State Legislature met
and organized by the election Of ex-
Mayor Wilt, of New Orleans, as
Speaker of the House, a chief clerk
and other subordinate officers. They
were all Democrats. This result was
not included in the programme mark
ed out by the villainous Returning
Board nor was it the entertainment
to which Kellogg, the usurping Gov
ernor OF the State, and his corrupt crew
expected to be invited. Gen De Tro-
BRAND, and officer of the United States
army who commanded the troops sta
toned in the vicinity of the State
House, Was Immediately sent for by
Kellogg and received a written order
from him directing that officer to en-
ter the hall Of the House with a mill
tary force and remove every member
from his seat who had not been in
cluded III the list fraudulently manu-
factured by the Returning Board
Gen. De Irobriand executed this or
der with a squad of soldiers, and eject
ed fire conservative members who
were pointed out to him by one Camp
bel, a henchman ofKellogg's Against
this military invasion of the hall Of
the Legislature, Speaker Wilt and
the elected members entered their sol
enn protest and then withdrew i'm
body to another building. As soon
as this was done, the Radicals elected
Michael Hahn Speaker and all the
other officers. 1t is fortunate that no
blood was shed. Resistance to force
OF eighteen hundred troops quartered
in the city would have been madness.
and quiet submission to superior force
was the only alternative.
1t is a sad spectacle to contemplate
such a wanton and shameless exercise
of the military power of the govern
mert in sovereign State in a time Of
profound peace. 1t is fundamental
principle that a State Legislature has
the undOubted and exclusive right of
judging of the election and qualilica-
tions of its own members. 1t is ne
cessary that it should he SO in order
to protect the very existence and lib
critics Of a State. 1t is home s'ule in
its broadest signifcation and its pre-
CO. Of sg,r,I I. Il -
Louisiana as to those of any other
State. If Grant can lawfully nlarch
troops into the House of Representa-
tives of Louisiana and dictate at the
point of the 5ayonet who are and who
are not its members, he can do pre-
cisely the same thing in Pennsylvania,
and having expelled .fce democrats,
as he and his creature Kellogg did in
Louisiana. could elect Bill Mann. Bill
kcmble, or Bob Mackcy United States
Senator. When he can exercise such
power with impunity, he becomes
the meanest and most despica bic of
tyrants and the liberties of the people
are lost beyond the hope Of recovery.
We will then have a government OF
the sword instead of government of
law.
This Louisiana infamy reveals Grant
lam in all its usurpations and lawless-
ness and is fit sequel to his treat
ment OF the. Southern States during
his entire Presidential career. He
has no more just conception of the
rights of a State or the perogatives of
its Legislature than the late Captain
Jack. chief Of the Mo loc Indians
He knows only one law and that is
military force. For civil law and the
guaranteed rights of a Legislature he
has no more respect than as general
he would have for a nlutinv in a regi-
ment, to be quelled by the arrest and
swift conviction by drum-head court
martial Of those who melted it. If
any additional reason were required
why he should be driven from power
amidst the execrations OF the people.
he has furnished il by his high hand
ell and law less conduct in the affairs
Of Louisiana. 1t is the last straw that
Will break the csmel's back