The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-01-14
ORLEANS BULLETIN, THURSDAY JANUARY IA, 1879

was necessary for party purposes that Il
2 fame should be rekindled.
: Accordingly, on the 14th of Septembe
, D. B. Penn, claiming that he was electe
Lieutenant Governor in 1872, issued an il
} fammatory proclamation calling upon Il
militia of the State to arm, assemble an
} drive from power the usurpers, as he desil
mated the officers Of the State.
) The White Leagues armed and ready fl
} the conflict promptly responded. On tt
} same day the Governor made formal requis
ton upon me, pursuant to act 1895 and SCI
4, art. of the Constitution to aid in SUI
pressing domestic violence.
On the next day issued my proclamatio
commanding the insurgents to dispense will
in five days from the date thereof, but befor
the proclamation was published in New o.
leans, the organized and armed forces, recoe
nizing a usurping Governor, had take
forc1ble possession of the State-House an
temporarily subverted the government. TWEEN
ty or more people we're killed, including
number Of the police of the city.
The streets OF the city were stained wit
blood. All that was desired in the way Q
excitement had been accomplished, and, il
view OF the steps taken to repress it, tn
revolution was apparently, though, it is be
lleved, not really, Abandoned and the cry O
Federal usurpation and tyranny in Louisian
was raised with redoubled energy.
Troops had been sent to the State unde
this requisition of the Governor, and as othe
| disturbances seemed imminent, thew wer,
allowed to remain there to render the execu
tive such aid as might become necessary t.
enforce the laws of the State and repress the
continued violence which seemed inevitable
the moment Federal support should be with
drawn.
Prior to, and with view to the late cleo.
ton in Louisiana, the. white men banded
themselves together in armed bodies called
''Whlte Leagues" and at the same time
threats were made in the Democratic journals
OF the State that the election should be car
ried against the Republicans at all hazards.
which very naturally greatly alarmed the col
ored people.
By Sec. 8, of the Act of February IS, 1871,
it is made the duty of the United States Mar
shals and their deputies at polls where votes
are cast for Representatives in Congress, to
keep the peace and prevent any violation of the
SO called endorsements acts and other offences
against the laws of the United States, and
upon requisition of the Marshal of Louisi-
ana, and in view Of said armed organizations
and other portentious circumstances, 1 caused
attachments OF troops to be stationed in
various localities in the State to aid
him In the performance Of his official duties
That there was intimidation of Republican
voters at the election, notwithstanding these
precautions admits of no doubt.
The following are specimens of the means
used. On the 14th October eighty persons
signed and published the following at Shreve-
port:
1--WE, the undersigned, merchants of the
city OF Shreveport, in obedience to q request
OF the Shreveport campaign club, agree to use
every endeavor to get employees to vote the
peoples ticket at the 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 con-
tracts"
On the same day other large bodies of per.
sons published in the same place paper, in
which they used this language
"We the undersigned merchants of the
city OF Shreveport, alive to the great impor-
lance of securing good and honest govern
nent to the State, do agree and pledge
ourselves not to advance any supplies
u money to any planter the coming year who
will give employment on his lands to laborers
Who vote the Radical ticket in the coming
election.
have no information of the proceedings of
Returning Board for said election, which may
lot be found in its report which has been pub !
ished, but it is a matter of public informtion
hat a great part Of the time taken to canvass
he votes was consumed by the arguments of
awyers, several Of whom represented each
,arty before the board
have no evidence that the proceedings of
his board We're not in accordance with the |
aw under which they acted.
Whether in excluding from their count |
ertain returns they were right or wrong.
5 question that depends upon the |
they had before them, but
is very clear that the law
ives them the power, if they choose to exer-
Use it, of deciding that way, and, prima facie,
be persons whom they return as elected are
ntitled to the offices for which they are can
idates.
Respecting the alleged interference by the
Military with the organization of the Legisla-
IRE of Louisiana on the 4th inst, have no
nowledge or information which has not been
sceived by Inc since that time and published.
~ first Information was from the papers of
lie morning of the 9Th Of January.
did not know that any such thing was
and no orders or suggestions
ere ever given to any military officer in that
tate upon that subject prior to the oc-
lrrence.
l am well aware that any military interfer-
ace of the officers or troops of the United
tates with the organization of State Legis-
Ire or any OF its proceedings, or with any
vii department of the Government, is repug-
ant to our ideas of government. II
l can conceive of no case not involving re- {
elton or instruction, where such inter- {
renee by authority of the General Govern
ent ought to be permitted, or can be justi- {
ed, but there are circumstances con- !
scted with the late legislative imbroglio
Louisiana which seem to exempt the mill |
ry from any intentional wrong IN that mat {
I, knowing that they had been placed in S
ouisiana to prevent domestic violence and |
d in the enforcement of the State laws, the q
fcers of the troops of the United States may |
ell have thought that it was their duty to act G
hen called upon by the Governor for that {
lrpose. IL
Each branch of Legislature is the Judge I
the election and qualifications of its own G
embers; but if mob or body of unauthor- I
ed persons seize and holda Legislative hall in f
and riotous manner, and SO pre- s
mt any organization by those legally re- s
rned as elected, it might become the duty