Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1875-01-15

election was held there, and the people {
Of the North were led to believe that the
rights of ali classes and par
lies would be respected, and thereby an
honest expression of the will of The people
be reached. Both parties appeared to be
anxious to accomplish this end. The cleo
ton officers were fairly divided, and an ap-
peal made by both parties for the mainte-
nance OF order. After the election was
held, the returning board declared 4 maJo-
ritv of the returns at variance with the re-
ouirement of the laws. This led 10 strife
of a serious nature, and the tele9rams an
nounced apprehensions of an alarming cha
racter when the Legislature should meet .
According To the report of the returning
board. the House of Representatives was
close. with two Of a Republican majority.
The conservative committee denied this,
and claimed Democratic majority. Ap-
pretending danger of bloodshed, General
Sheridan was sent TO New Orleans to view
the situation, and report to the Govern
ment. which report will be found in ano-
ther part of this paper. and which is fully
corroborated by the Legislative Committee.
When the Legislature met, by some pecu-
liar hocus pocus, the minority seized the
organization, silenced the old clerk OF last
scar. who, according to the laws of that
State was performing his official duty, and
prevented his acting; installed a Speaker
of their own, and swore in enough ct their
own contestant claimants 10 make quo
rum. This, ofcourse, created disorderand
turmoil, and the Republicans left the Hall.
At this iuncture, a resolution was passed
by the Conservatives TO call in Gen. DE
Trobriand. and the United States troops
were ordered oy the Speaker TO suppress
the tumult in the lobbies. The Repubii-
cans appealed TO the General in command
sheridan, for protection, when an order
was issued to restore the old clerk to his
post: to have the official roll called, ana
the men not on it, ousted. The conserya-
tives then marched out in 4 body, and re-
mained out. Now, the question arises, was
it encumbent upon the majority party TO
ouietly submit TO such frauGulent proceed
incsl Policy might have suggested
submission to lavlessncss, but it was GER
:ainly their right and their duty, as sworn
officers, 10 seek the means OF enforcing
their own rights and those Of their consti-
tuents-a legal organization ofthe body to
.,.L;ol tbo,. sworn elected
The course pursued by tie Conservatives,
A s.White League'' organization, Tor the
past wear or two, will convince all
that assassination and wholesale murder
must succumb to law and order, even if 1t
requires the interference Of the General
Government. Had il not been for the pre-
sence Of General Sheridan the atrocities OF
.he 14lh Of September last would have been
reDeated. If Sheridan could legally pro
ceed according TO his views, there would be
peace in Louisiana, or some disluyal dis
contents would receive their just dues. But
il is not unlikely his ardoT will be cooked BY
instructions from Washington. If, how.
eyeP the Administration has made up iis
inina 10 sustain The Kellogg administra-
lion, and stand by tie action Of the Return
inc Board ia lbe matter OF the organiza-
lion Of the Legislature. there will be no i'm
proYement in The condition Of affairs by
adopting undecisive measures.
The theory that the conquered Con'ede-
ra.e States should be dealt with a. ''sOye-
reign States was a great mistake. Military
necessities have been arising ever since the
Conquest. .constraining The use Of the strong
arm Of tie nation, without delicate susce2-
tibilities of the States that were bayoneted
into the Union. The conquered States
could not be trusted TO tie exclusive iuris-
diction of those who had beea IN rebellion.
Ii was logic of the war and the demand Of
common sense that the negroes should
have the right Of suiIIage. Here we Lave
overwhelmed rebels and the citizen Of Airi-
ean descent, asiOunded with bis sudden ci-
ril Importance, huddled together and ox-
.ected to supply tie material for States"
EyidenuF such States viii need looking
after a mach simpler method of govern
ing the conquered section would have been
in military departments and UHder martial
law. As this policy was not taken. The
whole Of the rebels should have been cn
franchised at ihe moment the right to vote
sas gigen "a the negroes. = The old cry,
Universal amnesty, impartial suffrage"
had the fullness Of political wisdom in it.
But we have not had in she conquered
States either military rule or civil sagaciiy.
The Democratic remedy for his is to
tara tie factions in Louisiana loose upon
each other, aud let the question Of govern
mcnt be determined by force Of arms-bya
war OF murder. and assassination, and Of
determination. That is the only remedy
shey have proposed. The President of tie
United states, under bis oath, must main
iain the peace, and TO do this must employ
the military. This, however, does not de-
termine the question a, stake. 1t only
postpones that settlement, and, in the
meantime, the whole country is dividing
into heated and excited partisans Of the
contendiBg factions.
Ifthe Democracy desire 10 put the mill
tary proceedings in Louisiana before the
country upon the ground that something
improper has been done TO sovereign
state, We may say TO them in al' serious
ness, though in the language Of levi!y,
that is too thin The old twaddie about
sovereign States is simply offensive. Any
sacred sovereignty, superior to American
nationality, that Louisiana possessed, WAS
taken out of her when she was forced, at
the pOiat Of the bayonet, out Of the Sou
ihern Confedepcy and into the american
Union. If there is an outrage committed
IN Louisiana. il is not because q sovereign
state has been tTamp.ed in the dust bnt
because the Kellogg fraud has been sus-
iained. and the White Leaguers who made
war on the 18th Of September are, in our
Judgment, responsible for that. IL il had
MT i,scn for the demonstration on that