Orangeburg times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1872-1875, 1875-01-28
B ORANGEBURG, SOUTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, JANUARY.
aons published in the same place q paper, in
which tIeY used the following 5larpI,nga: q. -


aons published in the Same place paper, in
which they used the following Language:
We, the undersigned, merchants OF tho
city Of Shreveport, alive TO tho great import
| ance OF securing good and honest government
TO the state, do agree and pledge ourselves
mot 70 aasssSs ths Any snppsss OF I
mont or rent lands to laborers who 3voto the,
radical ticket in the coming election
Il have no informadono Of the proceedings OF
the returning board Tor said election, which
may not be found In its report which has boon
published, but it is o mattor Of public infor-
nation that q great part OF tho time taken.to
canvass the votes Tssss consumed by tho argu-
menss OF iawyers several Of whom represented
dence that tho proceedings of this boayd were
not in accordance with the law under which
they acted, Whether, in excluding from their
count certain returns they were right or
wrong, is 9 question that depends upon tho
evidence they had before them, but It Ia yofy
clear that the law gives them tho power IL
they choose to hsxercise It, OF deciding that
way. and ptima faoie. tho persons whom they
foc which they were candidates. ~
Respecting the alleged interference by tho
military with the Organization OF tho legisla-
turo Of Louisiana on tho 4th inst., II Iiavo no
knowledge or information which has not been
received by mo since that Hrne and published.
My first information was from the papers of
tho morning OF tho 9th OF January, I did
not know that any such thing was anticipated,
and no orders and no suggestions wero eyer
given TO any military officers in that state on
that subject prior to tho occurrences. nm
well aware that any military interference by
tho officers Of the United Staies with the or
ganization OF state legelature or any Of it's
proceedings, or with any civil department of
the government, is repugnant to our ideas of
government. l can conceive OF no case not
INVOLVING rebellion or insurrection, whero such
| 10 NJ ft,nr a.
erhment ought to be permitted or can be justi-
fled. But there are circumstances connected.
with the Legislative imbto lilo in Louisiana
which seems to exempt the military from any
intentional wrong in that matter.
The enforcement Of the stato laws, the
officers and troops Of the United States may
well have supposed that 1t wac thoir duty to
act whom called upon by the governor for that
sembly is the Judge OF tho election and quail
ications Of its own members but il q mob or
q body OF unauthorized persons sieze and
hold the Legislative hail In n tumnlfuous and
riotous manner, and 30 prevent any organiza-
ton by those legally returned as elected, 1t
might become the duty of tho state executive
toilnterfere, If requested by q majority OF the
members elect, to euppreas the disturbance
and enable tho persons present to organize tho
house. Any exercise OF this power would .be
justihable under most extraordinary crcum-
stances, and it would then be the duty of the
governor to call upon the constabulary, or, il
ueCOebdry, Llo Iulutary lOTCo OIrttno 6tato.s
But, with reference to Louisiana. it is 20 be
borne in mind that any attempt of tho goverli-
OF to nse tho police force es that at this
bloody conflict with tho white league, rs it did
on the 14th OF September. There is no doubt
but that the presence Of the United States
and the Joss of life. Both parties appear to
have rolled on them as conseryators OF the
public peace. The first call was mado by tho
democrats to remove persons obnoxious to
thcm from tho Legislative hall, and tho second
was from tho republicans, to remove persons
who had usurped seats III the legislature,
without legal certificates authorizing them to
seats, and III sufficient number to change the
majority. Nobody was disturbed by tho mill
tary who had legal right at that time TO oc-
cupy n seat i'll tho legislature. That the demo-
cratic minority OF tho house undertook to
seize it's organization by fraud and malice !;
that i'll this attempt they trampled under foot
tho law; that they undertook to mako persons
not returned as elected membera, 30 as to
create majority; that they acted under u
preconcerted plan, aud under falso pretonscs
introduced into tho hall mon to support their
pretentons by force, If necessary, and that
conflict, disorder and rotous proceedings fol. |
lowing, arc facts that scom to bo we'll cstab
lshed, and am cred,bly informed that these
violent proceedings were part OF IL premod-
tated plan to havo tho house organized in this
way, recognize what has boon called the
McEncry senutc, then to deposo Gov. Kellogg,
and 80 revolutiunize tho state government.
Whether 1t was wrong for tho governor ut tho
request OF tho majority of members returned
AZ elected to tho house, to uso such means M
wero i'll his power to defeat these lawless and
revolutionary proceedings, is perhaps debat-
able question, but it il quito ain that thero
would havc been no trouble if those who n0w
complain of illegal Interference had allowed
tho hu,ise to be organized in u lawful and rog-
ular manner. Whom those who inauGurated
disorder and anarchy disavow such proceed
ings. it will bo titne enough to condemn those
who, by such means rs thoy havo, prevent
tho SUCCESS OF their lawless and desperate
schemes.
Lieut.. Con. Sheridan WAS requested by mo
to 90 to Louisiana to observe and report the
situation there. and, If in his opinion noces
sary, to assume tho command, which he did
on the 4th inst, aitor tho Legislative disturb
anco had occurred, at nino o'clock p. NJ, a
number OF hours after tho disturbances. No
party motive nor prejudicos can necessarily DO
imputed to him. but honestly convinced hy
what he had seen and heard there, he has
characterized tho leaders Of Tho white leagues
in eevore terms, and suggested summary
modes Of procedure against them, which,
though they cannot bo adopted, would, il
legal, soon put al cnd to tho troubles and dis
orders in that state. Gen. Sheridan was look
ing at facts and possibly not thinking Of pro-
coedings which would bo tho only proper ones
to pursue i'll time Of peaco, and thought moro
OF tho utterly lawess condition bf society sur
rounding iim at tho time OF his dispatch, and
OF what wouid piOve sure remedy. He never
proposed to do an Illegal act, nor expressed n
determination to proooed bsy ond what tho law
in tho future might authorize for the punish
mont OF the atrocities Which have been COM
mitted; and tho commission OF which cannot
be successfully donied. 1t is dcplorable fact
that political crimes and murder have beenj
commltted in Louisiana, which havo gone un-
punished, and which havo been justified oil
apolOgiHed for, which must rest AZ u roproacll
upon tho state and country, l,ng after tli{