The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1875-01-21

IN ". ..
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any such thing vas anticipated, md
no orders, no suggestions, were eve.
given to any military officer in tia.
State upon the subject prior to the
occurancs. ] am veil aware that any
military interference by the officers os
troops Of the United States with the
organization Of State Legislature o.
any Of ito proceedings, or with any
civil department Of the government,
is repugnant TO our ideas Of govern.
ment. can conceive Of no case, NOT
involving rebellion or insurrection,
where such interference BY the auth
ority Of the General Govesnmsnt
ought to be permitted or can be jus
tilted; but there are circumstances
connected with the late Legislative
imbroglio in Louisiana which seem 70
exempt the military from any inten-
tionsl wrong in that matter, knowing
that they had been placed in Louis-
lana to prevent domestic violence, and
to aid in REFRESHING it. The revolu-
tion was apparently, though it is BE-
lieved not really, abandoned, and the
cry Of "Federal usurpation" and "tyr-
amy in I.ouisians" was renewed with
redoubled energy. Troops had been
sent to the State under the requisi-
tion Of the Governor, - % other dis
turbances seemed imminent, they
we're allowed to remain there, to rem
der the executive such aid 20 might
become necessary to enforce the laws
of the State and repress the continued
violence which seemed inevitable ct
the moment when the Federal sup
port should he withdrawn.
Each branch Of legislative assem-
bly, 10 the Judge Of the election and
the qualifications of ito own members,
but il mob or = body Of unauthori.
zed persons seize and hold the lsgis.
lative hall in tumultuous and riot
oss manner, and 90 prevent any or
ganization BY those legally returned
- elected, it might become the duty
Of the State Executive TO intespose,
If requested by . majority 81 the
members elect, TO suppress the dis
turbance and enable tho persons elect
ed to organize the House. Any sx-
cruise Of this power would be jussiii-
able under most extraordinary oircum.
stances, and it would then b the
duty Of the Govsrner TO call on the
oonstabulary, or, if necessary, the
military force Of the State; but with
reference to Louisiana, it 10 to be
borne in mind that any attempt BY
the Governor to use the police force Of
that Stste at this time would have
undoubtedly precipitated = bloody
conflict with the White League, .
il did on the l4,h of September
There 10 NO doubt but the presence
Of the United States troops on that
occasion prevented bloodshed and
the loss Of life. Both parties appear
to have relied upon them - conser-
vators of the public peace.
The first call was made by the
Democrats, TO remove persons obnox-
ious to them from the lsgislative hall,
and tho second was from the Rspub-
licans, TO remove persons who had
usurpsd ssats in the Legislature with
out legal certificate authorising them
70 seats, and in sufficient number 70
change the majority. Nobody was
disturbed by the military Who had . le
gal right 1t that time TO occupy = seat
in the Legislature. That the Demo
cratic minority Of the House under-
took to seize its organization BY fraud
and violence; that in this attempt
they trsnpled under foo, The law, in
that they undertook to make persons
not returned - elected members, 90
- to create . majority; that they
acted under preconcertsd plan, and
under false pretenses introduced in.
to the ball men to support their pre-
tensions by force, if necessary, and
that conflict, disorder, and riot
Gus proceedings followed, are facts
which seem to be we'll established,
and ! am credibly informed that these
violent proceedings we're . part of .
premeditated plan to have the House
organized in this way; recognize
what has boen called the McEnery
Senate; then to deposs Governor
Kellogg, and 50 revolutionize the
State government. Whether it was
wrong for the Governor, at the re-
quest of the majority Of the members
returned ~ elected in the House, to
use such means - we're in his power
to defeat these lawless and revolu-
tionary proceedings, is perhaps . de-
bstable question; but it 10 quite GER
tain that there would have been NO
trouble if those who now complain of
illegal interference had allowed the
House to be organized in . lawful
and regular manner. When those
who inaugurate disorder or anarchy
disavow such proceedings, it will be
time enough to condemn those who,
by such means as they have, preven-
ted the success Of their lawless and
desperate schemes.
Lieutenant General Sheridan was
requested by me to 60 to Louisiana
to observe and report the situation
there, and, if in his opinion necessary,
to assume command, which he did on
the 4th instant, after the legislative
disturbances had occurred, ct 9 o.
clock in the evening, . number OF
hours after the disturbance. No par
ty motives nor prejudi ces can reason
ably be imputed to him; but honest.
ly convinced by what he has seen and
heard there, he has characterized the
leades of the White Leagues in So
we're terms and suggested the sum
mary modes of procedure against
them, which, thongh they cannot
be adopted, would, if legal, soon
,>.,A - >,.l A. H. <.c..hl>. - II.