The Republican journal., 1875-01-21
Louisiana Affairs.

ton concerning the condition Of affairs in
Louisiana 1t is long and tedious docu-
nent, bearing the marks OF the authorship
of Attorney General Williams 1t goes
back to 1866, and recites a long list of
frauds which it says have been perpetrated
against the republican party. The kel-
logg election matter and subsequent pro-
| ceedngs before Judge Durrell, are sought
to be justified by the 18th amendment,
and the power Of L. S. Courts to sustain
the same The message says
That the courts of the United States have the
| right to interfere in various ways with state
| elections, as to maintain political equality
| and rights therein, irrespective OF race or color
| is comparatvelv new and to some seems to be
| a startling idea but it results as clearly from
the fifteenth amendment to the constitution ana
! the acts that have been passed to enforce that
amendment, rs the abrogation OF state laws up
/ holding slavery results from the thlfieehth
| amendment to the constitution.
While the jurisdiction of the court i'll the
/ ease of Kellogg vs.. Yarmouth and others, is
| clear to my mind. it seems that some OF the Or
| ders made hy the judge i'll that and the Kindred
case OF Antoine were ltiegai; out WnlG l.let
| are so held and considered, it Is not to be for
! gotten the mandates of his courts had been con-
| temptuousIy deied, and that they were made
| while Wild scenes OF anarchy were sweeping
| away all restraint of law and order Doubtle>s
the Judge o! this court made grave mistakes, but
the law allows the chancellor great latitude, not
| only i'll Furnishing those who contemn his Or
ders and injunctions, but in preventing the con-
| summation of the wrong which he has Judlclai-
| Iy forbidden. Whatever may be said or thought
| of these matters, II was only made known 10
me that the process of the United States court
| was resisted, and rs said act especially provides
| for the use of the army and naVy.-When nee
| eSsary to enforce a Judicial process arising
thereunder,-I considered it my duty to see that
such process was executed ACCORDING 10 inc
judgment Of the court.
| Resulting from these proceedings through
various controversies and complications a state
! administration was organized with " liiiim l..
| Kellogg as Governor, whom in the discharge OF
| my duty under section 4, act 4. OF the constltu-
| ton, | have recognized as the Governor OF the
| state. 1t has been bitterly and persistently
| alleged that Kellogg was not elected. Whether
| he was or not is not altogether certain. Nor Is
| it any more certain that his competitor, McEn-
cry, was chosen. The election was gigantic
| fraud, and there are no reliable returns OF its
| results. Kellogg obtained possession OF the Of
| flee and in my opinion has more right to it than
| his competitors.
| Then follows an argument III favor OF
Kellogg-a sort Of stump speech declaring
his right to be Governor. The persecu-
tons OF colored people are then set forth,
and the recital of several fights and mas
sacres, including those at Coltax and Cou-
siatta. Also the history of the withdraw
al Of troops from the state, to promote
peace followed by the attempt Of Lieut..
Gov Penn to hold the state government,
alter having taken possession Of it. Under
the head Of oppression Of the negroes the
following "electioneering lodges" ashley
are called in the north, are related
Eighty persons signed and published the fol-
lowing at Shreveport:
We. the undersigned merchants of the city Of
| Shreveport, in obedience to request Of the
Shreveport campaign club, agree TO use every
| endeavor to get employees to vote the peoples
ticket at the ensuing election, and III the event
| of their refusal to do, or III case they vote
the radical ticket, to refuse to employ them ut
the expiration OF their present contracts.
which they used the following language:
We, the Undersigned merchants OF the city of
| Shreveport, alive to the importance of securing
| good and honest government Of the state, do
agree and pledge ourselves not to advance any
! supplies or money to our planters the coming
year who give employment or rent land to Ia
borers who vote the radical ticket in the COM
ing election.
The message goes over the events of the
organization Of the Legislature in the pres
eat month, and says
l have deplored the necessity which seemed
| to make it my duty under the constitution and
! laws to direct such interference. | have always
refused except where it seemed to be any i'm
perative duty to act in such manner under 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
! tranquility everywhere prevail, and thereby re-
| move all necessity for the presence of troops
| among them. | regret however, to say that
| the state Of things does not exist noa does its
| existence seem to be desired in some localities
| AS to these ii may be proper for me to say that
| TO the extent that Congress has conferred power
| on me to prevent it, neither Ku kluX Klans.
| White Leagues, nor any other association using
| arms and violence TO execute their unlawful
| purposes can be permitted in that way to gov
| ern any part Of this country, nor can | see with
| indifference Union men Or Republicans ostra-
| clsed. prosecuted and murdered, on account of
| their opinions as they now are in some locali-
| ties
| lhaye heretofore urged the case of Louisiana
| upon the attention of Congress, and cannot
| but think that its inaction has produced great
evil.
| Is not pleasant one to them, that the army IS
| not composed of lawyers capable of Judging at
| moments notice of just how far they can 90
| IN the maintenance of law and order, and that
| II Was impossible to give specific instructions
! providing for all possible contingencies that
| might arise. The troops were bound to act up
| on the judgment of the commanding officer upon
| each sudden contingency that arose. or wait in
structions which could only reach them after
| the threatened wrongs had been committed,
which they We're called on TO prevent.
| 1t should be recollected, too, that upon my
recognition OF the Kellogg government report
| Ell the fact with the grounds Of recognition to
| Congress- and asked that body to take action on
! the matter, otherwise l should regard their
| silence as ar acquiescence in my course. No
| action has b zen taken by that body, and have
| maintained the position then marked out If
| error has been committed by the army in these
| matters, it has always been on the side of pre-
| serYatlOn OF good order, the maintenance OF
| law and the protection Of life. Their bearing
| reflects credit upon the soldiers and if wrong
| has resulted, the blame is with the turbulent
elements surrounding them.
| 1 now earnestly ask that such action be taken
| by Congress so rs to make my dulles perfectly
| clear in dealing with the affairs of Louisiana
| giving assurance at the same time that whatever
| may be done by that body in the premises will
be executed according to the spirit and letter of
| the law, without fear or favor.
| Herewith transmit copies of documents con-
| tanning more specific information rs to subject
| matter Of the resolution. L. S GRANT
! Executive Mansion, Jan. 10, 1875.
| THE COMMITTEES REPORT.
Closely following the Presidents special
message, came the report OF the House
committee that visited Lousana-or ra-
Their the Subcommittee of three that were
detailed to do so. They tell a different
story from the message. although they are
republicans 1t in fact fully sustains the
conservatives in all that they claim They
say
| The election embraced but one state officer.
| The chief struggle was over the election of MEM
bers of the state legislature and parish officers,
and in these elections local and personal CON
sideratons, as well as national and state policies
| entered. The returns by the Commissioners
Of elections compiled and forwarded by the
supervisors of registration, gave the Conserva-
| a of txya, ,tx-n cf