The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-01-21

! 18th Judicial District Of the State, or
their way to Court, were shot from
their horses by men in ambush, on the
9Th of October, 1873, and the wife o.
| the former in communication to tbs
| Department of Justice, tells piteous
| tale of the prosecutions of her husband
| because he was Union man; of efforts
I made to seize those who had committed
a crime which, to use her language, left
| two widows and nine children desti
tute.
To say that the murder of negro,
and white Republican, is not considered
a crime in Louisiana would probably be
unjust to great part of the people,
but it is truth a number Of such mur.
ders have been committed and no one has
been punished therefor and manifestly
add to them the spirit of hatred, and
that violence is stronger than the law.
Representations are made to me that
the presence of troops in Louisiana was
unnecessary and l relied on the people
that there was danger of public dis.
turbance if they were taken away.
Consequently early in last summer the
troops were withdrawn from the State.
with the exception of small garrison
at the New Orleans barracks. 1t was
stated that comparative state Of quiet
had supervened and political excitement
as to Louisiana affairs seemed to be dy-
ing; but the November election was ap-
preaching, and it was necessary, for
party purposes, that the flames should
be relighted. Accordingly, on the 18th
Of September, D. Penn, claiming he was
elected Governor in 1872, issued an in
hamatory proclamation calling upon
the militia Of the State to assemble and
drive out the usurpers, as he designated
the officers of the State. The White
Leae uers, armed and ready for the con-
hict, promptly responded. On the same
day the Governor made a formal
requisition upon me in pursuance of the
act of 1895, and section 4, article of
the Constitution, to aid in suppressing
domestic violence. On the next day
issued my proclamation commanding
the insurgents to dispense within five
days from the date thereof, but before
the proclamation was published in New
Orleans the organic d and armed forces
recognizing = usurping government
had taken possession of the State
house and temporarily subverted the
government. Twenty or more people
were killed, including number of the
police Of the CITY. The streets of the
city were stained with blood. All that
was desired in the way of excitement
had been accomplished.
The following are specimens Of the
means used to intimidate Republican
voters. On the 14th of October, eighty
persols signed and published the fol-
lowing at Shreveport: We, :he under
signed merchants of the city of Shreve-
port, in obedience to request Of the
Shreveport Campaign Club, agree to
use every endeavor to get eur employ
ccs to vote the Peoples ticket at the
nsuing election, and in the event Of
their refusal SO to do, or in case they
vote the Radical ticket, to refuse to
employ them at the expiration of their
present contracts.
On the same day another large body
of persons published in the same place,
in paper, in which they used the fol-
10 ring language:
I'VE, the undersigned, merchants OF
the city Of Shreveport, alive to the
great Importance ofsecuring good and
honest government to the State, dc
agree and pledge ourselves not to ad'
vance any supplies or money to any
planter, nor to any parties the coming
year who will give employ mcnt or rent
lands to laborers who vote the Radical
ticket in the coming election.
have no information Of the proceed
ings of ii returning board for said
election which may not be found in its
report which has been published, but it
is matter Of public information that
a great part of the time takeu to can
vass the votes was consumed by the ar
guments of lawyers, several of whom
represented each party before the
board. | have no evidence that the
proceedings Of this board were not in
accordance with the law under which
they acted. Whether in excludin,
from their court certain returns. they
were right or wrong is a
question. that depends on the evidence
they had before them. but it is very
clear that the law gives them the power.
If they choose TO exercise II. to decide
it that way. and prima fdcis, the per
sons whom they return as elected are
entitled to the offices for which they
were candidates.
Respecting the alleged interior
ence by the military with
the organization of the Legislature
of Louisiana on the 4th inst, have no
knowledge or information which has
not been received by me since that time
and published. My first information
was from the newspapers of the morn.
ing Of the 5th Of January. | did not know
that any such thing was anticipated
and no orders. no suggestions were ever
given to any military officer in that
State upon that subject prior to the oc.
currence.
| am we'll aware that any military
interference by the officers or troops oil
the United States with the organiza
ton of . State Legislature. or any Of its
proceedings, or with any department OF
the government is repugnant to our
ideas of government. l can conceive
no case not involving rebellion or in.
surrection, where such interference. BY
authority of the general government,
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