The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-01-14

9 berS SO as to create . majority; that they &C
ed under preconcerted plan and under falls
pretenses introduced into the hall body {
/ men to support their pretensions by force
: necessary, and that confilcted disorder an
e riotous proceeding followed are facts that seer
! to be we'll established, and I am informed
: that these violent proceedings were part OF
premeditated plan to have the Houses organ
r lied in this way, recognize what has beel
9 called the McEnery Senate, then to depos
: Gov Kellogg and so revolutionize the Stat
Government. Whether it was wrong for tn
: Governor, at the request of the majority Q
the members returned as elected to the Hous
l to use such means az were in his power t.
defeat these lawless and revolutionar
proceedings, is perhaps a deba tsa;.
that there would have been no trouble
those who now complain Of illegal interfer
ence had allowed the House to be organized
in q lawful and regular manner, when thos'
who inaugurate disorder and anarchy dis
avow those who by such means as the,
have prevent the success of their lawles.
: and desperate schemes. Lieutenant Genera
Sheridan was requested by me to go to Louis
lana to observe and report the situation there
and if in his opinion necessary to assume
command, which he did on the ith instant
after the legislative disturbances had oc.
CURED, at 9o'clock P NJ, number of hours
after the disturbances. No party motives mol
prejudices can reasonably be imputed to him,
but honestly convinced by what he has seen
and heard there, he has characterized the
leaders of White Leagues in severe terms, and
suggested summary modes of procedure
against them, which, though they cannot be
adopted, would if legal, soon put an end to
the troubles and disorders in that State.
! Gen. Sheridan was looking at facts and pos
sibly not thinking of proceedings 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 and of what would
prove sure remedy. He never proposed to
do an illegal act, nor expressed determine
ton to proceed beyond what the law in the
future might authorize for the punishment OF
the atrocities which have been committed and
the commission of which cannot be success
fvlly denied.
It is a deplorable fact that political crimes
and murders have been committed in LouIsi-
ana which have gone UNPUBLISHED and such
have been justified or apoligized, which must
rest as a reproach upon the State and country
long after the present generation has passed
away. have no desire to have United States
troops interpose in the domestic con-
Germs of Louisianana or any other State
On 9th of December last Gov. Kellogg
telegraphed to me his apprehensions that
the White Leaguers intended to make
another attack on the State-House, to which,
on the same day, made the following an
swer, since which no communication has been
sent to him 'Your dispatch of this date lust
received 1t is exceedingly unpalatable to
use troops in anticipation Of danger. Let the
State authorities be right, and then proceed
with their duties without apprehension of
danger. If they are then molested, the
requisition will be determined whether the
United States is unable to maintain law and
order within its limits or not
have deplored the necessity which seemed
to make it my duty, under the Constitution
and laws, to direct such interference. I have
always refused, except where it seemed to be |
my imperative duty, to act in such manner |
under the Constitution and laws of the |
country, and have repeatedly and earnestly |
entreated the people OF the South to live to-
gether IN peace and obey the laws, and |
nothing would give me greater pleasure than
to see reconciliation and tranquility every
where prevail, and thereby remove all neces-
slty for the presence of troops among them.
regret, however, to say that this state of
things does not exist, nor does it
seem to be desired in some localities, and. rs
to these 1t may be proper for me to say that
to the extent that Congress has conferred
power upon me to prevent it neither Ku-klux
klans, White Leagues, nor any other associa-
lions using arms and violence to execute
their unlawful purpose can be permitted in
that way to govern any part of this
country, nor can l see with indif-
terence, Union men or Republicans
ostracised, prosecuted and murdered on ac-
count of their opinions, as they now are in
some localities. l have heretofore urged the
case OF Louisiana upon the attention Of Con-
,ress and cannot but think that its inaction
1as produced great evil. To summarize: In
september last an organized body of men in
he support of candidates who had been put in
nomination for the Offices of Governor and
Lieutenant Governor at the November cleo
ION, In 1872, and who had been declared not
elected by the Board of Canvassers, recognize
ID by all the courts to which the question had
'een submitted, undertook to subvert and
'verthrow the State Government that had 5
'een recognized by me in accordance with I
previous precedents.
The recognized Governor was driven from !
he State.Rouse, and but for his finding l
heller in the United States Custom-Hous '
q the capital OF the State of which he was q
Governor, it is scarcely to be doubted that !
e would have been killed From the State 1
louise, before he had been driven to the q
'ustom-House, a gall was made in accord l
AACC Will VIC 1OuItu SGCllOO, CeQLl article of
be Constitution of the United States, for the s
id of the General Government to suppress a
omestic violence. Under these circum- t
tances, and in accordance with nv sworn r
uties, my proclamation of the 18th OF Sep Q
smber, 1874, was issued. Il
This served to re-instate Gov Kellogg to
is position nominally, but it cannot be !,
laimed that the insurgents have to this day =
to the State authorities the arms =
elonging to the State, or that they have in +
ny sense disarmed. On the contrary, it is =
nown that the same armed organization that :,
xisted on the 18th Of September, 1874, in y
pposition to the recognized State Govern =
tent, still retain their organization, equip =
tents and commanders, and can be called -
ut any hour to resist the State Government. =
nder these circumstances, the same military :"
rec has been continued in Louisiana as was "
mt there under the first call and under the g
me general instructions.
7 %bo& 4 |