Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1875-01-21

illegal act nor expressed determin,
tion TO proceed beyond what the la,
in future might authorize for the pnr
isbment of the atrocities which hav
been committed, and the commission
OF which cannot successfully be dc
MED. 1t is q deplorable fac: that po
litical crimes and murders have beel
committed in Louisiana which hav,
gone unpunished, and which have beel
justified or apologized for, which mus
rest as q reprOach upon the State ant
country long after the presentgenera
tion has passed away. have no de
sire to have United States troops inter
fere in the domestic concerns OF Louis
lana or any other State.
| On the 9th OF December last Gov
Kellogg telegraphed to me his appre
tensions that the White League in
tended to make another attack upol
che same day. ! made the following
answer, since which no communication
has been sent to him: "Your dispatch
Of this date il just received. 1t is ex.
cccdihgly unpalatable TO use troops In
anticipation Of dangers Let the State
authorities be right and then proceed
to their duties, without apprehension oil
danger. II they are then molested, the
question will be determined whether
the United States is able to maintain
law and order within its limits or not
have deplored the necessity which
Iseemed to make it my duty. under the
Constitution and laws, to necessiate
such Interference. have always re.
fused, except where it seemed to be
my imperative duty to act in such
manner, under the Constitution and
laws Of the United States. l have re-
peatedly and earnestly entreated the
people Of the South to live together in
peace and obey the lave, and nothing
would give me greater pleasure than
to see reconciliation and tranquility
every vi here prevail, and thereby re-
move ali necessity for the presence of
troops among them. l regret, how
ever, to say this state of things
does not exist, nor does its exist
ence seem to be desired in localities,
and as to those 1t may be proper for me
to say to what extent Congress has
conferred power on me 10 prevent it.
Neither Kuklnx Klans, White Lea.
gues, nor any other association using
arms and violence to execute their un-
lawful purposes can be permitted in
that way to govern any part of this
country, nor can / see with indiffer-
ence Union men or Republicans os-
tracised, prosecuted and murdered on
account Of their opinions, as they now
are in some localities. ! have hereto
fore urged the case of Louisiana upon
the attention of Congress, and cannot
but think its insction has produced
great evil. To summarize in Septem-
ber last an armed organized body of
men, in support of candidates who
had been put in nomination for the
offices of Governor and Lieut. Cover.
nor, at the November election in 1872.
and who had been declared not elect
ed by the Board Of canvassers recog-
nized by all the Courts to which the
question had been submitted, under
took to subvert and overthrow the
State Government that had been re.
cognized by me in accordance with
previous precedents: the recognized
Governor was driven from the State
House. and but for his finding shelter
in the U. s. Custom House, in the cap.
ital of the the State of which he was
Governor, it is scarcely TO be doubted
that he would have been killed. From
the State House, before he had been
driven to the Custom House, q call was
madc in accordance with the Consti-
tuition, for aid from the General gov
ernmeDt TO suppress domestic vio-
lence. Under these circumstances,
and in accordance with my swori.
duties, my proclamation Of the lst OF
September, 1874, was issued. This
served 10 reinstate Governor Kellogg
to his position nominaliy, but it can
not be claimed that the insurgents
have TO this day surrendered to the
State an.Losities the arms belonging
sense disarmed. On the contrary, |,
is known that the same organization
that existed on the li,h of Sep.
tember, 1874, in opposition to the
recognized State Government, still
retain their organization, equipments
and commanders, and can be called
out at any hour to resist the State
Government. Under these circum-
stances, the same military force has
been continued in Lonisiana that was
sent under the frat call, and under the
Same general instructions. l repeat,
the task assumed by the troops is not
pleasant one to them that the army
is not composed of lawyers, capable
of judging at moments notice Of just
how far they can 60 in the mainten-
ance OF law and order, and that It was
impossible to give specific instructions
providing for all possible contingen.
cies that might arise. The troops
were bound to act upon the judgment
Of the commanding officer upon each
sudden contingency that arose, or wait
Instructions, which could only reach
them after the threatened wrongs had
been committed, which they were call.
ed on to prevent Itshould be recol-
lected, too, that upon my recognition
Of the Kellogg government reported
the fact, with the grounds Of the recog.
milton, 10 Congress, and asked that
body to take action in the matter, 9th.
erwise I should regard their silence
% IN acquiescencc in my course. No
action has been taken by that body
and I have maintained the position
marked out. II error has been com.
mitted by the army in these matters Il
has always been on the side OF the
preservation OF good order, mainten.
ance OF law and the protection of the
people.
These acts reflect credit upon the
soldiers, and If wrong has resulted,
blame is with the turbulent elements
surrounding them.
now earnestly ask that snch action
be taken by Congress as to leave my
duties perfectly clear in dealing with
affairs in Louisiana, giving assurance
at the same time that whatever may
be done by that body in the premises,
will be executed according to the spirit
AMI letter Of the law, without fear or
favor. herewith transmit copies oi
documents containing more specific
information as to the subject matter OF
the resolution.
(Signed) Y. s. GRANT.
| EXECUTIVE MANSION, Jan. 18th, 1875.