Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-03-27

at present existing in the State OF Louisiana.
MOnssrOus UsurpatfOn.
"That there is no State government at
! present existing in the State Of louisiana
Hence immediate action is to be had. The
state has reached that point in which she
shows her incapacity, her want Of capabili-
ty to govern herself and, as the committee
/ ably argue, It must be very extreme case
FOR even Congress and the President to-
/ getber 10 act in reference to State govern
ment. ] should think in a great ease of
| emergency, when The State was in anarchy.
when all was confusion and disorder, there
might possibly arise a condition Of affairs
in which the Governments Of the United
States, 'the United States" according to
the forms Of law and the Constitution.
might pass a law for the rescue Of a COM
munity like that from anarchy and disor-
der; but the case should be extreme and
the Interference should be well considered
before Il was done. But how is it in this
case? The President Of the United States
assumes to take command Of the State and
assign these peOI lie a governor. What does
he say himself on this point? Let us put
what he says with what the committee say.
/ He says in his message sent to the Senate.
as my friend from Maryland (Mr. Whyte1
read the other day, but read it again in
this connection:
1t has been bitterly and ipersistently alleged
i that Kellogg was not elected. Whether he was
or not is not altogether certain, nor Is it any
more certain that his competitor, McEnerv, was
chosen. The election was q gigantic fraud and
there are no rellaole returns OF its result.
A MOnsfrOus UsurpatIon.
Here are two men who have been con-
/ NnreHfaor f~rs al -
State, neither Of them enti led to it, and in
that contest there has been a most "gigantic
fraud' practiced, in the language Of the
President, thereby preciuding and disqual-
flying either for holding the Office, but the
President finds usurper in power, and he
takes it upon himself to make the Govern
ment Of the United States a party to bis
usurpatiOn. If this course is 20 be prac-
ticed, and the Federal Government is to be
made party to every one who is an aspi-
rant for the Office Of Governor or for a seat
in Legislature, if it stands here ready and
willing to make itself a party to any con-
testant for power in a State, L say we have
inaugurated a state Of things that will re-
suit in the overthrow Of the States which
compose this Union. In that case the ex-
istence Of the State governments would de-
pend entirely on the interference Of the
Federal Government. The contest would
be which would be the stronger party sue
cessful in the State, and then, it being sue
cessful, it is made incumbent on the party in
power here to maintain and preserve it as a
State in such shape, dependent on the bayO-
net and dependent on thesWOrd. In this case
this able committee in their report made by
these distinguished men, all united and
agreeing in politics, four in number, say
there was no government there, and they
reported bill for the United States 70 pro
vide for the difficulty and not to authorize
Gen. Grant to take possession Of Louisiana
and make himself the supporter Of one Of
the parties there.
Is not this mOnstrOus in a free govern |
ment? The time has been in this country,
and since my recollection, when had an act |
Of usurpatiOn been perpetrated aud prac-
ticed like this it would have produced a |
shock throughout the nation. The nation /
would have been shaken from one extreme to |
the other, and would have been ready to have !
hurled from power the perpetratOr Of such /
an act. But now we see things differently. /
We see men exercise powers not author
lied by the organic law Of the land. They /
have gotten outside of the instrument al
together, and they are acting in a way that
will bring this Government to an end or
change its character so that its ancient
features and its familiar structure will all
be lost. What mJre do we find9 In look
ing to Gen Grants message, he says:
sent Gen. Sheridan there.
As though it were a matter Of cognizance
for him to look over the country! Then,
when we come to the report Of the Secre-
AIRY Of War, we find a very strange letter,
with ali due respect TO the Secretary Of
WaT-I am merely refeTingtO him as such;
be wrote the following letter to Gen. Shea
dan:
wAE DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON CITY,
Dec. p, 1sT4-Gen. p. H Sheridan, Chicago,
H.; General: The President sent for me- this
morning, and desires me 20 say % YOU that he
wishes you 20 visit the States Of Louisiana and
Mississippi, and especially New Orleans, in
and Nlcksburg and jackson, in lis I
lsSippi, and ascertain Tor yourself, and for his I
the general condition Of matters in
hose localities. You need not confne your
-ist 70 the States Of Louisiana and Mississippi, |
md may extend your trip to other States, Ala
)ama, etc
That means all States
f you see proper; nor need you confne your
-isit, in the states Of Louisiana and Mississippi,
o the places named. What the President de-
Tres is 20 ascertain the true condition Of affairs,
nd 70 receive such suggestions from yOu as YOU |
may deem advisable and judiciOus.
So much for that. The concluding part
# the letter OF the Secretary Of War is in
he following language:
Of course, YOU can take with YOU such gentle
men Of your star as you wish, and it is best that
ne trip should appear 70 be one as much OF
leasure a. Of business, for the fact OF your mere
resence in the localities referred 70, VIII have
{ is presumed, a beneficial effect.
Yes, it is TO be a trip of pleasure, of
sisure, to lGOk at the condition Of the
Ountry, with a retinue Of officers, with the
sword and regalia that pertain to
he military, They are to display them
elves through the country and let the peO-
lie, the sovereigus, the working, producing
,eOple Of the country, see in what gigantic
tyle and magnificent splendOr the repre-
OF Gen. Grant appear in that re-
ion Of country 1t is to be trip of pleas
re and display, and be thinks it would /
ave a beneficial effect The Secretary
Irther says:
The President thin Ks. and SO do L, that a trip
Outh might be agreeable to you, and that you !
night be able to obtain good deal Of informa-
on on the subject about which we desire to
earn.
Il might be agreeable to him, with a staff
{ officers, TO visit the country, to display |
imself before the people and get such in
IS hewants, and suppose man {
facture public opinion if he could, and re-
Ort to the President He thinks it would
ave a beneficial influence upon the re
ion of the country to see General Sheridan,
he representative of the President Of the
Tnited States, displaying himself through ,
hose States ..
What is still more remarkable, if l can
urn to it, is a telegram dated New Orleans,
an. 4. know we have had some special !
leading in the case. The disturbance
nd interruption Of the Legislature took
lace on that day, and they make special
lea that the general did not command I'M
I about five hours afierwAd. But he I
ONE forward and takes the responsibility,
e is there all the time although this was /.
one before he nOminally took command.
lie shows great willingness to take the re- !
while it would have exOnerated
lese men from any liability: a
General Order No. 1,-9pm.l
Under instructions from the President Of the .
nited states, communicated through the Ad-
;tant General of the Army, the undersigned q.
sreby assumes control Of the Departmental the
ulf, consisting Of the States Of Louisiana and
Mississippi and the Gulf posts as far eastward !
! and embracing Fort jefferson and !
ey West, Florida, including the forts in j