The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1875-01-20
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
concluded from first page. ]

sSs - 20 W US UOIuc III nl0Q that q ~
attempt by the Governor to use tn,
ponce force OF that State at this tim,
would have undoubtedly precipitatet
bloody conflict with the Whit,
League. as it did on the 14th of Sep
TENDER. There is no doubt but til,
presence of the United States troop
on that occasion prevented bloodshet
and the loss of life Both parties ap
pear to have relied upon them as con
SENATORS of the public peace. TIL,
first call was made by the Democrat,
to remove persons obnoxious to then
from the legislative hall, and the Sc
cond was from the Republicans to re-
move persons who had usurped seat.
In the Legislature without legal cert
fcates authorizing..theln to seats, anc
In sufficient numbers 10 change the
majority. Nobody was disturbed By
the military who had legal right al
that time to occupy a seat in the Leg
1slature- That the Democratic minor
lty of the House undertook to seize
its organization by fraud and violence
that In this attempt they trampled un
der foot the law: that ther undertook
to make persons not returned elected
members, so as to create a majority;
that they acted under a preconcerted
plan, and under false pretense intro
duced into the hall men to support
their pretensions, by force if neces.
sary, and that conflict, disorder and
riotous proceedings followed, are facts
which seem to be we'll established,
and l am creditably informed that
these violent proceedings were part
of premeditated plan to have the
House organized in this way, recognize
what has been called the McEnery
Senate, and then to depose Gov. KEEL
logg, and so revolutionize the State
government. Whether it was wrong
for the Governor, at the request Of the
majority OF members returned as elect
ed to the House to use such means as
were in his power to defeat these law
less and revolutionary proceedings, is
perhaps a debatable question, but it
IS quite certain that there would have
been no trouble if those who now
complain of illegal interference had
allowed the House to be organized In a
lawful and regular manner. When
those who inaugurated the disorder
and anarchy disavow such proceed
ings it will be time enough to con-
denim those who by such means as
they had, prevented the success of
their lawless and desperate schemes
aforementioned Sheridan was
requested by me to 60 to Louisiana to
observe and report the situation there,
and if, in his opinion it should be nee
essary, to assume the command, which
he did on the 4th inst, after the legis
lative disturbances had occurred, at 9
o'clock P. NJ, number Of hours after
the disturbances. No party motives
nor prejudices can reasonably be i'm
puted to him, but honestly convinced
by what he has seen and heard there,
he has characterized the leaders of
the White League in severe terms,
and suggested summary modes of pro-
cedure against them, which, though
they cannot be adopted, would, if le-
gal, soon put an end to the troubles
and disorder in that State. General
Sheridan was looking at facts. and
possibly not thinking of proceedings
which would be the only proper ones
to pursue in time of peace, SO much as
Of the utterly lawless condition of So
ciety surrounding him at the time of
his dispatch, and of what would prove
a sure remedy. He never proposed to
do an illegal act nor expressed de-
termination to proceed beyond what
the law in the future might authorize
for the punishment of the atrocities
which have been committed, and the
commission of which, cannot be sue
cessfully denied. It is deplorahle
fact that political crimes and murders
have been committed i'll Louisiana
which have gone UNPUBLISHED and which
have been justified or apologized for.
and which must rest as a reproach
upon the State and country long alter
the present generation has passed
away. I have no desire to have Uni
ted States troops Interfere in the do
nestle concerns OF Louisiana or any
other State. On the 9th of December
last Governor kellogg telegraphed to
me his apprehensions that the White
League intended to make another at
tack. Upon the same day made the
following answer. since which no
has been sent to him:
Your dispatch of this date is just re-
ceived. 1t is exceedingly unpalatable
to use troops in anticipation of dan
ger Let the State authorities be
right, and then proceed with their
duties without apprehension Of dan
ger. If they are then molested, the |
question will be determined whether |
the United States is able to maintain |
law and order within Its limits or not.
have deplored the necessity which |
seemed. under the constitution and |
laws. to necessitate such interference |
I have always refused, except where |
it seemed to be my imperative duty, to |
act In such manner by the cOnstltu
ton and laws of the United States. |
have repeatedly and earnestly entreat- |
ed the people of the South to live to- |
gether In peace and obey the laws, |
and 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 |
regret, however, to say that this state
of things does not exist, nor does its |
existence seem to be desired. In |
some localities, and as to those it may |
be proper for me to say that to the |
extent that Congress has conferred |
power on me to prevent 1t, neither |
Ku Klux Klans, White Leagues, nor
any other association using arms and |
violence to execute their unlawful |
can be permitted in that |
way to govern any part OF thus coun-
try. Nor can [ see with Indifference
Union men or Republicans ostracised, |
prosecuted and murdered on account /
of their opinions, as they now are N
some localities I have here ore |
urged the case of Louisiana upon the
attention of Congress, and l can not !
but think its inaction has produced
great evil.
To summarize: In September last
an armed, organized body of men in
the support of candidates who had
been put in nomination for the Offices