Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-01-21

ever demanded trial before An officer who even
set UP 3 claim to legally act: but the Register
continued to act ~ Parieh Judge"
These are the facts in this case. l under
stand them to be admitted. To hold the people
Of Louisiana generally responsible for these
atrocities would not be just; but 1t IL lamenla-
BILE fact that indispensable obstrctions were thrown
IN the way Of Furnishing these murderers, ana
the so-caled Conservative" papers Of the State
not only justified the massacre, but denounced
Of the United States officers to bring them TO jus
tice. Fierce denunciations ring through the
country about office-holding and election
he coa1 msereants soes u nrsii Of
Justice, and no way can be found IN THIS
boosted land Of civilization and Christianity TO
punish the perpetrators Of this bloody and mon
strous crime.
last. Several Northern young men OF capital and
enterprise had started the little and hourishing
town OF Coushatta; some Of them were Repnb-
icans and ohice-holders under Kellogg. they
were, therefore. doomed to death. Six OF them
were seized and carried away from their homes
and murdered in cold blood. No one has been
State denounced all efforts 10 that end and boldly
justified the crime.
Many murders Of q like character have been
committed in individual cases. which cannot here
be detailed For example: r. S. Craf'ord, Judge
OF the parish and the District Attorney OF the
Twelfth judicial District OF the State, on their
way to the court were shot from their horses by
men in ambush on the sth OF October 1873 and
the wife Of the former in communication to the
Department Of Justice. tells plteous tale OF the
prosecutions OF her husband because he was
Union man, and OF the efforts made to seize those
who had committed crime which, to use her Ian
guage, "left two widows and nine orphans desc
Late
To say that the murder Of a negro or white
Republican is not considered a crime in Louisiana
would probably be unjust 10 great part OF the
people, but it is true that great number OF such
murders have been committed and no one has
been punished therefor, and II IL manifestiy true
that the spirit Of hatred and violence there s
stronger than law.
Representations were made to me that the pres
ence OF troops in Louisiana was unnecessary, and
that there was no danger OF public disturbance
II they were taken away. Consequently
early last summer the troops were with
drawn from the State, with the exception OF
small garrison at New Orleans barracks. 1t
vas stated that a comparative state OF quiet had
supervencd: that the political excitement as to
Louisiana affairs seemed 10 be dying ont: but the
November election was approaching; ana 1t wa,
necessary for party purposes that the flame should
be relighted. Accordingly, on the l4th of Sep
tembcr D. b Penn. claiming he elected Lieu
tenant-Governor IN 1872, issued an infammatory
proclamation, calling upon the militia OF the state
to arm. assemble and drive out the "usurp-
ers," he designated the officers OF the
State. The White Leaguers. armed and
On the same day the Governor made
formal requsition upon me, in pursuance
of the act of 1895 and Section 4 of the Constitu-
ton, to aid in supprcssing domestic violence.
On the next day issued my proclamation. COM
handing the insurgents to disperse within five
days from the date thereof, but before the proc
lamaton was published in New Orleans the or
ganized and armed forces, recognizing usurp-
ing Government, had taken forcible possession
of the State-House and temporarily subyertcd the
government; Twenty or more people were
killed including number OF the police of the
city. The streets OF the city were stained with
blood. All that was desired in the way of ex-
element had been accomplished
Prior to, and with view to, the late election in
Louisiana. white men associated themselves to-
gether in armed bodies, called /" White Leagues
and at the same time threats made in the
Democratic journals of the State that the election
should be carried against the Republicans at ali
hazards, which very naturally greatly alarmed
the coored voters BY Section s of the
act at Of FEB Is ISL |, is made and the dn
deputies, at the polls where votes are cast for
Representatives in Congress. to keep the peace
and prevent any violations of the so-called En-
iorccment act and other oifenses against the laws
of the United States, and upon requisition OF
the Marshal of Louisiana, and in view OF said
armed organization and other portentous circum-
stances, caused detachmcnts OF troops TO be sta
toned in yarious localities III the State to aid
him in the performance OF his official duties
and the enforcement of the State laws. The
officers and troops OF the United States may well
have supposed that il was their duty to act when
called upon by the Government for the purpose.
That there was intimidation OF the Repu blican
caution, admits Of no doubt. The following are
specimens of the means used: On the 14th OF
October eighty persons signed and published the
following at Shreveport: I'VE, the undersigned
merchants Of the city OF Shreveport, in obedience
to request of the Shreveport Campaign Club
agree to use every endeavor to GET our employees
to vote the Peoples ticket at the ensuing cleo
ton, and in the event of their refusal
so to do, in they vote the Radical
ticket to refuse To employ them at the expiration
OF their present contracts. On the same day
nod Of had
same place, paper in which they used the fol-
lowing language: I'VE, the undersigned, mer-
chants of the city OF Shreveport, alive TO the
great Importance of securing good and honest
government to the State do agree ard pledge our
selves not to advance any supplies or money to
any planters the coming year who Will give en-
ployment or rent. lands TO laborers who vote the
Radical ticket in the coming election
| have no information of the proceedings Of the
Returning Board for tho said election which may
not be found in its report, which has been pub
lished, but IL Is matter of public information
that great part of the time taken TO canvass the
votes was consumed by the arguments of lawyers,
several of whom represented each party before
the Board. | have no evidence that the proceed
ings Of this Board were not in accordance with
the law under which they acted. Whether, in cx-
Guiding from their count certain returns they
right or wrong, is n question that depends upon
the evidence they had before them; but 1t Is very
clear that the law gives them the power if they
chose to exercise il, TO decide that way, and,
prifnd fdcjs, the persons whom they return a. Sc
lected are entitled to the offices for which they
were candidates
Respecting the alleged interference by the mill
tary with the organization OF the Legislature Of
Louisiana on the Alb Inst, | have no knowl.
edge or information which has not been received
by me since that time sud published. Ny hrst IL.
formation was from the papers OF the morning OF
the 5jh of January. did not know that any such
thing WAS anticipated. and no orders. no sugges-
tions, were ever given to any military officer in
that State upon the subject prior the occurrence
! am we'll aware that any military interference
by the officers of troops Of the United
States with the organization of state Legisla-
ture or any of its proceedings with any civil
department OF the Government. Is repusnant TO
oVr ideas Of government. | can conceive Of no
case not involving rebellion or instruction where
III inrf h.lri ~