The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-01-14
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
THE TROUBLES IN LOUISIANA.
Louisiana-Message Of the President of
The United States.
WAsHlHGToN, Jan. 10


ions in thai state hostile to the government
hereof and intent on oycrurning such
government by force. TO say that lawless-
ness, turbulence and bloodshcd have char-
,ctcrized the political affairs of that state
since its reorganization under the recon
acts is only TO repeat what
has become we'll known rs part OF lis I'M
happy history. But ii may he proper hero
10 refer TO the election OF 1863, by which
the republican vote Of the state through
FRAUD AID VIOLENCE.
was reduced to few thousands. aud the
bloody riots of 1866 and 1868, to show that
the disorders there are not due to any re-
cent causes or TO any late action OF the fed
cral authorities. preparatory to the cleo
ton of 1872. A shameful and undisguised
was formed 90 carry that
state against the republicans, without any
regard 10 law or rights, and to that en the
most slaring frauds and lorgelics were
committed in the returns, after mary col
orcd citizens had been denied registration.
and others deferred by fear from casting
their ballots When the time came for q
final canvass of the votes, in view OF the
foregoing Facts. VIM. p. Kellogg, the re-
publican candidate for governor, brought
suit upon the equity side OF the nilcd states
court for Louisiana, and against Warmolh
and others. who had obtained possession of
the returns of tho election, representing
that several Thousand voters of the state
had been deprived OF the elective franchise
on account of their color, and praying that
steps might be taken in have said vote
couutoA. ana for a general count.
THE LAW DEFINED.
To email. the court to inquire as 10 the
truth of these allegations temporary re.
strainng order was issued against the de
PENDANTS, which was at once wholly disrc.
garded and treated with contempt by those
to whom it was directed. These proceed
ings have been widely denounced as an TN
warrantnble interference by the federal iu
dietary with the election of State officers
But ii is to be remembered that by the hr
tcenth amendment to the constitution oi
the nitcd States the political equality 0'
colOrcd citizens is secured, and unde ia,
second section of that amendment, proyid
ing that congress shall have power to en-
force its provisions by appropriate legisla
ton, an act was passed on The 31st of Nav
1870. and amended in 1871, the object o
which was to prevent the denial or abridg
mont of suffrage 10 citizens on account q
race, color or previous condition of scryi
tudc, and it has been held hy all the fede
raj judges before whom Ibis question h0
arisen, including Justice Strong al the su
prcme court, that the protection AFFORDED
by this amendment and these acts extend
to state as well as to other elections Tina
1t is the duty of the federal courts TO On
force the provisions of the conslilu
ton OF the United States and the law
passed IN pursuance thereof Is to-
clear for controversy. Section 10 OF said act
after numerous provisions therein to pre-
vent an evasion Of the fifteenth amend
mcnt provides that the jurisdiction Of tn
circuit court of the United States shall cX
tend to all cases IN law or equity alisin
under the provisions of sad nc, and of III
act amendatory thereof.
TIE RULE or EQUITY.
Congress seems 10 have contemplate
equitable as well as legal proceedings 4
prevent the denial of suffrage 10 c0ioIe
citizens, and ii may be safely asserted tha
ii kellogg 3 bill in the above named cas-
did not present ease for the cquitabl
interpOsition of the court, that no sue
case can arise under the act. That til
courts of the |. :. have the right to intel
fcre in various ways with the state cleo
tons, so as to. maintain political equalit
and rights therein, irrespective OF race c
color, is comparatively new, and to som
seems 20 be Il startling idea, but it Jesuit
as clearly from the fifteenth amendment o
the constitution and the acts that have bee
passed to enforce that amendment as I'll
abrogation OF state laws, unfolding slay
cry, results from the thirteenth amen,
| mcnt to the constitution.
THE COURTS DEFlED.
While the jurisdiction Of the court in iii
case Of Kellogg VS.. Warmoth and others
| clear to my mind, il seems that some q
the orders made by the judge in that an
the kindred case of Antoine were illegal
but while they are so held and consider &c
| il is not to be forgotten that tie mandat
Of his court had been contcmptuously d,
| fed, and they were made while wild scene
Of anarchy were sweeping away al! +,
slraint of law and order. Doubtless Ii
| Judge Of this court made grave ..mistakc
but the law allows the chancellor great H.
itude. not only in Furnishing those WI
contcmn his orders and in functions, but
| preventing the contamination of WIZ
| which he has iudicialy forbidden. vi
|
tiers, il was only made known to me TN
process OF the United States court was r.
sisted, and as said acts specially proyit
for the army and navy when necessary I
enforce judicial process arising thereundc
decided it my duty to see such proce
was executed according to the Judgment ,
the court resulting from these proceeding
Through various controversies and compl
! p2uto ,1,A ,;s.,. ~,
lied with
wM. r. KELLOGG AS GOVERNOR,
which in the discharge of my duty, unl
section 4, article of the constitution,
have recognized as the government of Il
state. 1t has been bitterly and persistent
alleged that Kellogg was not clecie
Whether he WIS or not, is not ultogeth
certain, nor is II any more certain that h
competitor, McEnery, was chosen. III
election was a gigantic fraud, and the
are no reliable returns OF Its rosllt. Ike
logg obtained possession of the office, al
in my opinion has more right TO il than II
competitor. On the Goth of Februar
1873, the committee on privileges and Gle
tons of the senate made report, in whiC
they say they were satisfied by tcslimor
that the manipulation of the election m
chlnery by Warmoth and others was oqui
alent to 20, 900 votes, and they add that
recognize the McEnery government won
be recognizing a government based upC
fraud. in defiance of the wishes and inie
ton of the voters of the state Assumil
the correctness of the statements in III
report, and they seem to have been gene
ally accepted by the country.
THE GREAT CRIME IN LOUISIANA
about which SO much has been said. is tn
one is holding the office of governor wi
was cheated out of 10000 votes again
another whose title to the Office is undoul
cdly based on fraud, and in defiance of d
wishes and intentions of the voters of 4
state. Misinformed, and misjudging MS
the nature and extent of this report. h
supporters of McEncry proceeded to d
place by force, in some counties of /
state, the appolntees of Gov. Kellogg; an
on the 18th of April, in an effort OF III
kind, q butchery of citizens was comm
ted at ColfaX which in bloodthirstiness Al
barbarity is hardly surpassed by any act
savage warfare. To put tins matter |
yond controversy, quote from the char