The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-01-27

: that the presence of troops in Louisi
ana was unnecessary aud irritating
30 the people, and that there was nC
danger of public disturbance if they
were taken away. Consequently
early in last summer the troops were
all Withdrawn from tie STATE, with
the exception Of a small garrison al
the New Orleans barracks. 1t was
claimed that a comparative state ol
quiet had supervened political ex'
citement as to Louisiana affairs seem.
ed to be dying out, but the NOvem-
ber election was approaching, and il
was necessary for party purposes that
the flame should be rekindled. Ac-
cordingly, on the l4th Of September,
/ D. Penn claimed that be was elected
Lieutenant Governor in 1872, issued
an infammatOry proclamation, call
ing upon the militia of the State TO
arm, assemble, and drive from power
the usurpers, as be designated the
officers Of The State. The White
Leagues, armed aud ready for the
conflict; promptly responded. On
the same day the Governor made a
formal requisition upon me, pursuant
to the act of 1895, and section 4tb.
article 4th, of the Constitution, to aid
in suppressing domestic violence.
! On the following day | Issued my
proclamation, commanding the insur-
gents to dispcrse within five days
from the date thereof But before
the proclamation was published in
New Orleans the organized and
armed forces recognizing a usurping
Governor had taken forcible posses
sion of the State House, and tempo
rariIy subverted 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 excitement was
accomplished, and, in view of the
steps taken to repress it, the revolu-
ton was apparently, though, it is be-
lieved, not really abandoned, and the
cry of Federal usurpation and tyran-
nv in Louisiana was renewed with
redo. bled energy. Troops had been
sent to the State under this requisi-
ton Of the Governor, and as other
disturbances seemed imminent, they
were allowed TO remain th, re, to rem
der the Executive such aid as might
become necessary to enforce the laws
Of the State and repress the coutin-
ued violence which seemed inevita-
BILE the moment Federal support
should be Withdrawn Prior to, and
wi. q view to the late election in
Louisiana, white men associated
themselves together 10 armed bodies,
called White Leagues, and at the
same time threats were made in the
Democratic journals of the State that
the election should be carried against
the Republicans at all hazards,
which very naturally alarmed the
colored voters.
By section eight of the act of
February 2S, 1871, it is made the du-
ty of the United States Marshals and
their deputies at the polls, where
votes are cast for representatives in
Congress, to keep the peace and pre-
vent any violations of the so-oalled
enforcement ects and other offences
against the laws of the United
States, and upon q requisitiod of the
Marshal of Louisiana, and in view
of said armed organizations and 9TH
er circumstances, | caused detach-
ments of troops to be stationed in va
rious localities in the State, to aid
him in the performance Of bis official
duties. That there was Intimidation |
of Republican voters at the election,
Notwithstanding these promises, ad-
mits of no doubt.
The following are specimens Of the
means used: On the fourteenth OF |
October eighty persons signed and
published the following at Shreve-
port; I'VE the undersigned, mer-
chants Of Shreveport, in obedience to
request of the Shreveport cam
paign club, agree to use every en-
deavor to get our employees to vote
the peoples ticket, at the ensuing
election, and in the event of their re-
fusal so TO do, or ID case they vote
the radical ticket, to refuse to employ |
them at the expiration Of their pres
ent contracts"
On the same day another large
body of persons published in the
same place a paper in which they
used the following language
We the undersigned merchants
of the city of Shreveport, alive to
the great importance of securing
good and honest government to the
State, do agree and pledge ourselves
not to advance any supplies or mon
ey to any planter. the coming year,
who will give employment or rent
lands to labCrers who vote the radi-
cal ticket in the coming election"
| have no information o. the pro-
ceedings of the Returning Board for
said election, which may not be
founG in its report, which has been
published, but it is q matter Of pub
lie information, that a great part oil
the time taken to canvass the votes,
was consumed by the arguments OF
lawy ers, several Of whom representeci
each party, before the board.
| have no evidence that the pro-
ceedings Of this board are not in ac-
cordance with the law under which
they acted. Whether, in excluding
from the court certain returns they
were right or wrong is a question
that depends upon the evidence they
had before them but it is very clear
that the law gives them the power,
if they choose to exercise it, Of de-
eiding that way, and prima facie the
persons whom they return as elected
are entitled to the Offices for which
they were candidates.
Respecting the alleged interference
by the military with the organization
Of the Legislature of Louisiana, on
the 4th inst, / have no knowledge or
information which has not been re-
ceived by me since that time, and
published My first information was
from the papers Of the morning ofthe
5th of January. | did not know that
any snch thing was anfieinafeG. and