The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-01-21


Light ON Louisiana Affairs.
The President, in answer to the Senate resolu
tion adopted the 9Th. asking for information il
regard to the recent proceedings in Louisiana
| responded in q special message on the 18th, al
abstract Of which is here given
| To say that lawlesenees, turbulence and blood
shed have characterized the political affairs Of
Louisiana since it's organization under the Recon
sruction acts the President says, is only to repeat
happy history. He briefly reviews the leading
events Of the past few years, the election
Of 1868, and the bloody riots preceding
and following that event; the shameful
and undisguised conspiracy to carry the election
Of 1879 against the Republicans; the glaring
| frauds and forgeries committed in. the returns
| the suit brought by Gov. Kellogg in the United
States Circuit Court; the decision of that court
| in Mr.. Kellogg's favor, and his subsequent as
sumption Of the Office Of Governor. The Presi-
have the right to interfere with State elections
and rights therein, s irrespective Of race
startling idea, but it results clearly from the
| Fifteenth amendment and the acts to enforce
| that amendment as the abrogation Of State laws
amendment. The jurisdiction Of the court being
clear, it's judgment was properly executed. He
had in the discharge Of his duty under Sec OF
kellogg q as mot
he was elected, and il was equally uncertain that
McEnery was elected; Kellogg obtained posses
once
| right to it than his competitor
Assuming the correctness OF the report
made by the Senate Committee on Pnvi-
leges and Elections to the effect that to recognize
the McEnery Government would he recognizing a
government based on fraud, In defiance of the
wishes and intentions OF the voters OF the State
| report which seems to have been generally ac-
cepted by the country at the time 1t was made
the great crime in Louisiana is that is holding
| the office of Governor who was cheated out Of
10000 votes, against another whose title to the
I~~<ac t. hr-n IAanr a.f{1
wishes and intentions of the voters OF the State.
The President then referred to the butchery OF
| citizens at Colfax, which be characterized as an
affair which, in bloodthirstiness and barbarity,
was hardly surpassed by any acts Of savage war
| fare The facts the President says are admit
ted. To hold the people of Louisiana responsi-
a lamentable fact that insuperable obstructions
have been thrown in the way Of pun
ishing these mnrderers, and the so-called
s
and dcspotism'' the attempt of United States
officers to bring them to justice. No way could
be found In this boasted land of civilization and
Christianity to punish the perpetrators Of this
bloody and monstrous crime. Not unlike in its
leading features was the Coushatta massacre.
No one has been punished, and the "Conserva.
boldly justified the crime The President relates
additional outrages to which more or less promi-
nence has been given in the public press.
In consequence of representations made to him
that the presence Of troops in Louisiana was un-
necessary, and that there would be no disturb
ance if they were removed, he had withdrawn all
exception Of a small garrison at New Orleans. On
the ;4th Of September ID. B. Penn, who claimed
that he had been elected Lieutenant Governor in
1872, issued an infammatory proclamation, call
ing upon the militia of the State to arm, assemble
and drive out the ..usurpers," as he designated
the officers Of the State. The White Leaguers,
sponded. On the same day the Governor
made a formal requisition upon him in
pursuance of the act of 1895, and Sec. 4
Ct the Constitution to aid I'D In H.. suPpress,ng
his proclamation, commanding the insurgents to
disperse within five days from the date thereof,
but before the proclamation was published in
New Orleans, the organizeu and armed forces re-
organizing, usurplng government had taken
forcible possession Of the Stated House and tenn
porarily subyerted the Government Twenty or
more people were killed, including number OF
the police Of the city.
The President insists that there was great in
timidation exercised at the recent election,
and instances the agreement of the mer-
chants Of Shreveport as demonstrating the
fact. He also refers at considerable length
to the efforts made to control the election and so
Of their friends and the defeat of the Republi-
cans. By Sec. of the act Of Feb. q, 1871, it is
made the duty of the United States Marshals and
their deputies at the polls where votes are cast
for Representatives in Congress to keep the
peace and prevent any violations Of the so-called
Enforcement act and other Offenses against the
laws of the United States and upon a requisition
of the Marshal of Louisiana, and in view of said
armed organization and other pOrtentOus circum
STAGES, he caused detachments of troops to be
stationed in various localities in the State to aid
him in the performance Of his official duties.
In regard to the alleged interference Of the mil
itary with the organization Of the Legislature Of
Louisiana ON the 4th, he had no information
time n and md published. @ lis rst Information atom was
received from the papers Of the morning Of the
5th Of January. he did not know that any such
thing was anticipated, and no orders, no sugges-
tions, were ever given to any military officer in
thar State upon the subject prior to the occur
renee. He was well aware that any military
interference by the officers or troops of the United
islature or any of its proceedings, or with any
civil department of the Government is repug-
Rant to our ideas of government He could con-
ceive of no case not involving rebellion in
surrection where such interference by the author
ity of the General Government ought to be permit
ted or can be justified; but there are circum-
stances connected ; 3 with The the late legisia,
the military from any Intentional wrong In that
matter, knowing that they had been placed in
Louisiana to prevent domestic violence, and to
ly, though it is believed not really, abandoned,
and the cry of "FederalnsurpatiOn" and "tyran-
ny in Louisiana was renewed with redOutled
energy. Troops had been sent to the State under
the requisitiOn OF the Governor, and as other
disturbances seemed imminent they were al
lowed to remain there to render the Executive
such aid as might become necessary to enforce
violence which seemed inevitable at the moment
when the Federal support should be Withdrawn.
He had no Information Of the proceedings Of
the Returning Board for the late election which
may not be found in it's report, which has been
published, but tits matter Of public information
that great parts the time taken to canvass the
several sever of whom .sspresented each party before
the Board. He had no evidence that the pro-
ceedings Of this Board were not in accordance