The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1875-01-16

vs. ne mlilsft viii, tle ofernNaiidt
NJ the leglslalumof fNuisianp, ~ ibo
6tli instant, ! havo ho knowledao NJ
information which hns not becn ~.
celyed ny ne flncc that ilno and pub.
llshed. My nrsi information was ff0tn
the papers NJ tile morning NJ january
6ti. ldid not know llnt any such thlng
was anticipated aud no orders or sug-
geslions were ever given Ia any mill
tary officer In that state upon tho sub.
ect prior 10 the occurrence. am well
aware that any military interference
by the officers or troops of the United
| States In the organization of the late
legislature or any Of It's proceedings or
with the civil department Of the gov
ernment In repugnant to our Ideas OF
government. eau conceive of no
case not involving rebellion or lnsur-
rection where such interference by the
authority OF the general government
ought to be permitted or can he justi-
fed, but there ale circumstances con-
nected with the legislative embroglio
In Louisiana which seems to exempt
the military from any intentional
wrong In that matter, knowing that
they had been placed In Louisiana to
prevent domestic violence and aid in
the enforcement Of the state laws.
Lieutenant General Sheridan was
requested by me to go to Louisiana to
observe and report the situation there,
and If in his opinion it was necessary
for him to assume command, which
he did on the 4th instant, after the
legislative disturbance had occurred,
Mt nine o'clock p. M, number Of
hours after the disturbance. No party
motives or prejudice eau reasonably be
imputed to him, but honestly convinced
by what he had heard and seen there
he has characterized the leaders of the
white league in severe terms, and sug-
gested summary modes of procedure
uSdlLlsI tiicII, WHiChs thouEh thSy S"h
not be adopted, would, if legal, soon
put an end to the troubles and dlsor-
ders in that state.
General Sheridan was looking at facts,
and possibly not thinking of the pro.
ceedings which would be the only
proper ones to pursue in time of peace,
but thought more of the utterly law
less condition of the society surround
ing him at the time at his dispatch and
of what would prove Is sure remedy.
He never proposed to do All Illegal act
nor expressed n determination 10 pro-
coed beyond the law for the punish
ment of the atrocities which have
been committed and the commissions
of which cannot be successfully denied.
1t is Il deplorable fact that political
crimes and murders have been COM
mitted in Louisiana which have gone
unpunished,a and that such crimes have
been justified will cast reproach on
the state and country long after the
present generation has passed away.
| have no desire to have the United
States troops interfere in the domestic
concerns of Louisiona or any other
state. -...
In the month of December last Gov
ernor Kellogg telegraphed to me his
apprehensions that the white league in
tended to make another attack upon
the state, to which, on the same day, /
made the following answer since
which no communication has been
sent to him:
"Your dispatch of this date is just
received, 1t is exceedingly impolitic
to use United States troops in anticipa-
ton of danger. Let the state authors
ties be right, then proceed with their
,iuties without apprehension of danger.
If they are then molested the requisi-
ton will be considered, whether the
| United States Is unable to maintain
law and order within bounds or not"
Ihave deplored the necessity which
seemed to make it my duty under the
constitution and laws to direct such in
reference, have always refused, ex-
cept where 1t seemed to be my impera-
tive duty to act otherwise than asthe
constitution and laws of the country
direct.
have repeatedly and earnestly en-
treated the people of the south to live
together in peace and obey the laws,
and that nothing would give me greater
pleasure than to see reconciliation and
tranquility everywhere prevail, and
thereby remove all necessity for the
presence OF troops among them. l re-
gret, however, to say that this state of
things does not exist, nor does its ex-
istence seem to be desired in some To-
caIities, and II may be proper for me to
say that, to the extent that congress
has conferred power upon me to pre-
vent 1t, neither kuklux klans, white
lesguers, nor any other association,
using arms and violence to execute
their unlawful purposes, can be per-
mitted in that way to govern any part
of this country, nor can l see with in
difference Union men or republicans
ostracised, prosecuted or murdered on
account of their opinions as they now
are In some localities. have hereto
fore urged the case of Governor KEEL
logg to his position nominally, but it
cannot be claimed that the insurgents
have, to this day, surrendered to the
state authorities the arms belonging
to the state or that they have, in any
| sense, disarmed. r-"
On the contrary, 1t is known that
the same organization that existed on
the 4th Of September, 1874, in opposi-
sition to the recognized state govern
ment, still retain their organization,
equipments and commanders and can
be called out at any hour to resist the
state government. Under these cir
cumstances the same military force
has been continued in Louisiana, as
xyas sant fhare under the first call and