The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1875-01-22

4 AAAlA-A3-
, persons elected 70 organiZe the
J homse. An exercise Of that power
would be justifiable under the most
extraordinary circumstances, and il
J would then be the duty of the gov
ternor to call upon the constabuIary,
or if necessary, the military force OF
the state. But with reference Ia
Louisiana it is to be borne in mind
that any attempt by the governor to
use the police force OF that state al
this time, would undoubtedly have
lprecipiiated a bloody conflict with
the white league, as IL did Gu the
fourteenth of September There is
no doubt bus tie .preseDee of the
United States Troops on that occa-
sion prevented bloodshed and tie
loss OF iiir. Both parties appear IN
have reliedsups,a them as ccnserva-
ltors of the public peace. The first
call was made BY ahe, Democrats TO
remove persons obnoxious TO then,
from the Legislature, and the second
was from the Republicans 10 re-
move persons who had usurped
seats in the Legislature without GER
tificates authorizing them to seats,
and in sufficient numbers to change
the majority. Nobody Was disturb
ed by the military, who had a legal
right at that. time to occupy a seat
in the leg islature. That the demo-
cratic minority undertook to seize
its organization by fraud and vio-
lence, and in this attempt they
trampled under foot the law; that
they undertook to make persons not
returned members to create q ma
jority: that they acted under q pre-
concerted plan and under false pre-
lenses introduced into the hall met
to support their pretensions by
force, if necessary; and that con-
fict, disorder and riotous proceed
| ings followed, are facts that seem to
be wellIestablished and am cred
IDLY informed that these violent
proceedings were q part of pre-
meditated plan to have the house or
ganiZed in this way to recognize
what has been called the McEnery
senate, then 10 depose Gov. Kell-
ogg and SO revolutionize the state
government. Whether it was wrong
for the governor, at the request of
majority of members returned as
elected TO the house, TO use such
measures as were in his power to
defeat these lawless and revolution
ary proceedings is, perhaps, u de-
batable question. But it is quite
certain that there would have been
no trouble if those who now COM
plain of legal interference had al
lowed the house to be organized in
a lawful manner.
When those who inaugurated the
disorder, which was anarchy, disa-
VOW such proceedings, 1t will be
time enough to condemn those who,
by such means as they had, prevent
ed the success of their lawIess and
desperate schemes.
LIEUT.. GEN. SHERIDAN
was requested by me to 60 to Lou
isiana and observe and report the
situation there and, if lin his opin-
ion) necessary, to assume the COM
mand, which he did on the 4th inst,
after the legislative disturbances
had occurred Cat 8 p. M, a number
of hours after the disturbance). No
party motive or prejudice can rea-
sonsbly be imputed to him. He
was honestly convinced by what he
had seen and heard there, and has
characterized the leaders of the
white league in severe terms and
suggested measures of procedure
against them which, though they
cannot be adopted, would, if legiti-
mate, put an end to the troubles and
disorders in that state. Gen. Sheri-
dan was looking at facts, and, posi-
bly,, not thinking of proceedings
which would be the only proper
ones to pursue in times of peace,
thought more of the utterly law
less condition of the society sur
rounding him at the time of the dis |
patch and what would prove p sure
remedy. He never proposed TO do |
an illegal act, nor expressed a de- |
termination to proceed beyond |
what the law in the future might |
authorize for the punishment of the |
atrocities which have been commit
ted, and the commission of which
cannot be denied. 1t is a reasona-
BILE fact that
POLITICAL CRIMES
and murder have been committed in
Louisiana which have gone unpun-
ished, and which have been justified
or apologiZed for, and which must
country long after the present gen.
desire to have United States troops
interfere in the domestic concerns
of Louisiana or any ether state.
On the 9th day of December last
Gov. Kellogg telegraphed to me
his apprehensions that the White
League intended to make another
attack. On the same day / made
the following answer, since which
no communication has been sent to
him:
"Your dispatch of this date just
received. 1t is exceedingly unpala-
table to use troops in anticipation
of danger. Let the state authorities
be right and then proceed with
their duties without apprehension
Of danger. If they are then modest
ed, the question will he determined
whether the United States is able to
maintain law and order within its
limits or not"
/ haYe deplored the necessity
which seemed to make il my duty
under the constitution and laws to
necessitate such interference. L
have always refrained, except where
it seemed my imperative duty, 10
act in such manner as is required by
the constitution and laws of the
United States. / have repeatedly
and earnestly entreated the people
Of the south TO
LIVE TOGETHER IN PEACE
and obey the laws, and nothing
would give me greater pleasure
than to see reconciliation and tran
guilty everywhere prevail, thereby
all necessity for the pres
ence of troops among them. l re-
greet, however, 10 say that this state
Of things does not exist nor does it's
existence seem to be desired in To-
and as TO those, it may be
proper for me TO say that to the ex-
tent that congress has conferred
power on me to prevent it, neither
kuklux klsn nor any other associa-
ion using arms or violence to exc
cute their unlawful purposes, can
be permitted in that way to govern
my part of this country: nor can
zee, with indifference union men or
on ACCOUNT OF THEIR
I