The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1875-01-08
NEW ORLEANS PRESS COMMENTS.


tracts from the city papers, in their
leading articles upon The last outrage
upon selfgovernment, satisfied that
our readers are anxious to know what
view is taken of affairs by the leading
papers at the Capital:
[From the Picayune of the 5th]
s.There is no situation known to the
law, or contemplated by the law, that
iustifics military interference in the
organization of a legislative body Inc
pretext that there were members pres
ent. and acting, who were not entitled
to the seats, has norelevancy to the ques-
tion. BY express constitutional pro-
vision. legislative bodies are the judges
of the elections and qualifications OF
their own members. No courts OF law,
no executive power, no other authority
whatever has the right to question their
decisions. Yet an officer of the United
States, followed by a file of soldiers
enters the hall of the Louisiana House
of Representatives and forcibly elects
such members as are designated to him
bv a subordinate of Executive Depart
ment of the State Government.
uUnder the constitution::and laws of
the United States the President is
bound to finnish forces to suppress insur-
rection, or repel invasion on the call OF
the Governor when the Legislature is
not in session. No one ever dreamed
l,< ~ hi tn,
ploy the army for the purpose of organ
ization of a State Legislature. In this
case there was no emergency such as
law contcmplates, and no call was
made upon him through the channel
which the law points out. There was
no instruction, no invasion. The
General Assembly was in session, and
| had not asked him to interfere. Simply,
there was an organization of the House
which was not agreeable to Kellogg,
and upon <ellogg's requisition he sent
his forces to drag from their seats the
members whom Kellogg asserted not
to be properly chosen, and to constitute
an organization under his directions.
s"Chcre is no escape from this state
mcnt of the the facts. Gen. DE TrObri-
to obey Gov. Kellogs's orders, and Kel'
ordered him to break up the organiza-
ton of the House. With this order ne
complied. And yet we challenge any
one to show that there is shudow of
authority for sucl, Il use of the military
| r s,, I.,,,
upon the Federal statute-book. IL is
most violent, the most illegal, the most
shameless act yet perpetrated by an
Administration whose history is Il
record of violence, ilicgaiity and shame
lcssness unparalleled in the history Of
any free governmental
| tFron the Republican, 5lh.l
"Having slept Off the excitement of
yesterdays proceedings in the Icgisla-
turc, the Democrats may perhaps be
willing to see wherein they erred and
to what cause to attribute their tiiscom-
future. Before twelve o'clock yesterday
the Republicans were almost ready to
conccdc the election of Mr.. Wilt to the
spcakership. The Returning Board
had left the House Il tic between the
two parties, and one of the Republicans
had been kidnapped and spirited away
for the admitted purpose of breaking
the Republican line. The Republicans
went into the State House determined
to have fair test of strength and be
governed by the result, whatever it
might be. The plan of tho Democrats,
however, seemed to be Il very different
onc-one that, considering the cstab
lished reputation of their leader, Mr..
| Wilt, for honesty and fairness, was
most unexpected. BY an accident the
Democrats found themselves i'll caucus
with three members absent. This gave
the Republicans two majority, and, on
a full vote, the organization. Then it
seems to have been determined to ac-
complish by Il cotY, d'etot what an
honest display of voting strength would
not do for them. OF the illegal and
:II>.:,,1 avccution IF this MAN. full