Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1875-01-20

accordance with the law under which they
acted. Whether in excluding from their
counts or returns they were right or wrong
is 4 question that depends upon the evil
2ence thy had before them; but it is very
clear that the law gives them the power,
if t. y choose to exercise it, of deciding
that ,iway. and prima facie the persons
whom they return rs elected are entitled
to the offices for which they were
candidates. Respecting the alleged in
reference by The military with the organ
iZation of the legislature of Louisiana. on
the 4th inst. | have no knowledge or i'll
formal on which has not been received by
me since that time, and Published. My
first information was from the papers of
the morning of the 9th of january. | did
not know thlt any such thing was
anticipated, and no orders nor suggestions
were ever given to any military officer in
that state upon that subject prior to the
occurrence am we'll aware that any
military interference by the officers or
troops of the United States with the
organization of Il state legislature. or any
of its proceedings, OF with any civil depart
mcnt of the government Is rcpugnant to
our ideas of government. l can conceive
of no case not involving rebellion or
resurrection where such interference by
anthority of the general government ought
to lie permitted or can be justified; but
there are circumstances connected with
/ lhe late legislative imbroglio in louisiana
which seem to exempt the military from
any Intentional wrong in the matter,
knowing that they had been placed in
/ Louisiana to prevent domestic violence
and aid in REFRESHING it. The revolution
was apparently, though, it is believed, not
really abandoned. and the cry of federal
u>urpation and tyranny in Louisiana WIS
renewed with rcdoubltd energy. Troops
had been sent to the state under this
rc1Uisition of the governor, and rs other
disturbance seemed imminent, they We're
allowed to remain there to render the
executive such aid rs might become
necessary to enforce the laws of the state.
and rtlress continued violence which
seemed inevitable the moment federal
support should be withdrawn. Prior to
and with a view to the late election in
/ Louisiana, white men associated themselves
tu@cthtr in armed bodies, called White
! Leagues and at the same time threats were
made in the democratic Journals of the
state that the election should be carried
against the republicans ut all hazards,
which very naturally greatly alarmed the
cuorcd voters. BY section s, act of Feb
ruary -, 1871, it is made the duty of
nitcd States marshal> and deputies at the
polls where votes are east for representa-
lives in Congress to keep the peace and
prevent any violation Of the so-called
enforcement art, and other otlenscS against
the laws Of the United States; and upon
the rcqui~itun of the marshal of Louisiana,
.
and other rortentious circumstance, |
caused ,!ctachment- of troops to be station
ed in various localities in tie state to aid
him in the performance of his official
duties and the enforcement of the state
law. Officers and troops of the United
States may well have supposed it WIS
their duty TO act when called upon hv the
governor for that purpose. Each branch
of Il legislative assembly is the judge of
the election and qualification of its own
members; bat if Il mob or Il body of un-
authorized persons seize and hold Il legis
ltiNc h;ll in a tumultuous and riotou,
manner. and 30 prevent any organization
by those legally returned us elected, it
ght become the dutv of the state cNccu-
i've to n;erpo>e if requested by L majority
u: III :...-l!..-"' el"c: I" sr;.n"@ss di>tur,-
ancc. and enable the persons elected to
organize the house. Any exercise of this
power would only be iu>tiiiablc under the
most extraordinary circumstances, and it
would then be the duty of the government
TO clll upon the con~tabul.rv. or if neces-
~lv military force of the state. But with
Reference IU Louisiana il j. To be borne in
mind tllat any attempt 10y The governor lo
u~e llIr police force of that state ut this
time would hlve undoubtedly prrcilitatcd
a.. I.loodv conflict with the White League
Il, it did on the iih of September. Their,
is no doubt but the presence of Jnitct
states troops upon that occasion prcvcntc,
Ill, u,!~hrd and loss of life. Both parties
appear to have relied upon them as con
>riNntors of the public peace. HE tirs
,.aIl WAS mt,t hv democrats to remove
persons obnoxious to them from the lrois
ativc hall. and the second from repuhli
cans To remove persons WHO h;lI u>urpe,
seats IN the lc~i- laturc without lrya
certificates authorizing them to seats. an,
in sufficient number TO change n ajorilv
Nobody was disturbed by the miltar,
who ha,l a lc~al lyht ut that time to oc
,rlrv Il seat in the legislature. That tn,
! Democratic minority undertook to seize it
organization by fraud and violence; th,
in tiii> attempt they tr;tmplcd under foo
law: that they undertook to make person
not rcturncd ~ elected members 50 rs t,
create a majority; that they acted under
.preroLcerttd plan. and under false pre-
#t,ncrS. introduced INTO the hail 4 body o
: m, II to support their prctrn>ions. by force
if -c-sarV. and that conf ct, disorder an,
rioto,~ proceedings followed. are facts tla
! seem To- be we'll established. And | an
u cieA.tahlv informed that these violent pro
:. cecd;n@S We're q part of a prcmcditatc,
plan to have the house organized in thi
way. I, cognize what has been called tn
y, McE,mcry >cnate then TO dcposc Gov. kel
: Iog".rnd 80 revoluionize the state govern
or Whether it was wrong for gov
eminent at request of Il majority of mem
brrS. returned as elected to the house, t
rise to such means rs Were in his power t
= defeat these law les and revolutionary pro
: cecdng~ is perhaps a dehatable question
! hnt it is quite certain that there woul,
I, have leen no trouble if those who nov
IT, complain Of illegal interference had al
l lowed the house TO be organized in Lawful
and regular manner When these who in
: aunulate disorder and anarchy disavoy
= such proceedings it will be time enous
:. to condemn those who by such means !,
:, lhcv have, prevent the success of thei
:, lavlrss and desperate schemes. Lieut.
:. Gen. Sheridan was requested by me to g
. to Louisiana to observe and report the sit
: uaton there, and if in his opinion neccs
- Sarv, to assume command, which he did O.
II the 4th inst, after the legislative disturb
: anccS had occurred. at 8 o'clock =. NJ,
. number of hours after the disturbance
# No party motives OF prcjudices can rea
4 sonahly be imputed to him. but honesty
" concerning what he has seen and hear
6 there He has characterized the leaders
- the white leagues in severe terms, an
!, suggested summary modes Of procedur
-, against them, which through they cannt
-. DC adopted would if legal, soon put a
y. end to the troubles and disorders in tn
- state Gen Sheridan was looking at fac
y, and possibly not thinking of the proceed
ings which would e only proper ones t
pursue in Il time Of peace. He thougl
Of more of the utterly lawless condition