The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-12

otcpucu II. Ouup CndIcS ~. lURerSOu
A. NJ. Browne, Edward l.. Paris.
William H. Ety. lIoratio N. rwombly,
James ii. Skldmore Thomas X. Fisher,
Gen. Herman Uh. ID. - RitterOand,
j. Mclean Nash, L. TilestOn Bryce.
James Al. Ball. Gen. Louis T. Barney,
Burton n. Harrison, Theron g. Strong.
John j. Thomason, Colonel L. Ii. BARTLETT
ID. K. Casserly, Horati0 j. Brewer,
Augustus w. Reynolds, Ernest G. Stedman,
James p: Lowrey, Emmett X. OcOtt
Adolph L. Sanger, JONI Adrian Bush.
julius j. Lyons Hugh L. Cole,
Il. Granam Haight, j. Raymond Reynolds.
The Vice President and Secretary having been
approved by the meeting Mr.. simon Stern then
read the following
RESOLUTIONS.
Whereas 1t Is a fundamental principle Of parlia-
mentary law, underlying all free representative
institutions, and which our national and state
constitutions embody and enforce, that u sover-
elgn Legislature s the sole judge OF the qualinca-
tions OF Its members aud that even judicial In ter
ference is not tolerated with that nigh and all
important privilege; and
Whereas there Is nothing In the laws Of the
United States nor In the constitution and laws
OF the State OF louisiana which in the least ex.
ceprs the legislative body OF that State from the
operation Of this ancient natural anu undoubted
principle Of government; and
Whereas caution and foresight In the exercise OF
federal interference with the concerns OF the
States lately In rebellion are made doubly desira.
BILE at this moment by the fact that nearly half the
voters OF that region persons only now recelv-
Ing their first lessons in politics. and who as yet
possess no familiarity with the dangers to which
constitutional government is exposed. with the
means by which 1t Is maint and defended,
and no knowledge OF the sacrifices by which past
generations have created 1t. and who, as a matter
Of fact, look on the federal adminisu alton as
their best friend and most Trustworthy political
Instructor; therefore
Resolved, That, IN the opinion OF this meeting,
any use OF the federal authority which teaches
these newly made voters TO believe that political
problems can be solved by arbitrary processes or
displays OF physical force better or more readily
than by labor, patience ana Cancellation is an
offence against the national safety and welfare
which calls for the severest condemnation.
Whereas all intimidation OF Legislature, and
especially that form OF intimidation which consists
In military interference with It's organization or
debates, or In the display OF military force in or
about the place OF meeting, is sure eventually to
convert representation into farce. by making the
Legislature IN greater or less degree the creature
or servant OF the Executive; therefore
Resolved. THAT we cannot too warmly express
our dlsapprobation OF the part which the military
forces OF the United States have been allowed
more than once to play In the organization OF the
Legislature OF the State OF Louisiana.
Whereas on the first OF these occasions, in 1872,
the federal troops took possession OF the State
House In New Orleans, and permitted no person to
enter the Legislative Chambers except those
p0in ted out to the sentlnes by the United States
marshal the occurrence was rightly considered by
the whole country scandal and disorder OF the
gravest kind but nevertheless 1t took place un.
der cover OF order OF United States court It was
felt by many that the oflcals engaged In 1t might
honestly plead ignorance or the enormity OF the
TRANSACTION In spite OF the fact that the order IN
question was on Its ace to use the language OF
the committee Of the United states Senate which
examined II, 'most reprehenslbe, erroneous In
point OF law and wholly void for want Of jurtsdic
ton :" and
Whereas this occurrence and the discussion 1t
called forth cannot have left the administration
Its officers In the dark as to the serious nature OF
the objections to the military interference OF the
federal authorities with the machinery OF State
governments; therefore
Resolved, That we have heard with surprise
and alarm that the State House OF Louisiana
was taken possession Of and garrisoned by q
FEDERAL brigade prior to the meeting OF the Legis-
lature on the 4th day OF January last; that the
members had 10 make their way, under examina.
ton, to their places through lines OF armed sentl-
nes, and then proceed to the discharge OF their
duties inside, under the eye OF a military COM
mander not subject to their authority and
holding the very building In which they
sat as fortified post; that when dis
putes subsequently arose between the two
parties into winch the Legislature Is divided over
the organization OF the House oil Representatives,
this olicer took upon himself to answer the ap.
peal OF one SIDE and assume the duties OF the Ser
geant-at-Arms and OF the police by depressing a
disturbance within the building; and that when
subsequently minority OF the House, oeing dis
satisfied with the vote or with the mOQe OF taking
1t, or with the qualifications Of some Of
those who participated In It, refused
to seek the settlement OF the controversy by the
ordinary and long established methods OF parlia-
menrary law, but appealed to the Governor Of the
State to interfere with the proceedings, the troops
OF the United States, at the Governors unlawful
request or command. entered the legislative hall,
and then and there settled by force the purely
parliamentary question OF the qualification OF
several persons present Tor seats In the House by
expelling them violently from the building
Whereas no occurrence OF this kind mas been
recorded in the history OF free government with.
out being stigmatized. and rightly stgmatzed, an
act OF revolutionary violence, and though owing
to the peculiar condition OF the Southern States
and to the multiplicity OF our State Legislatures, 1t
may seem an event Of less moment IN Louisiana In
our day than 1t has seemed In other places and at
other times, 1t assumes o character Of the utmost
gravity when we remember that II It be permits
sible in Louisiana, whether 1t shall take place or
not in New YORK or Massachusetts becomes q
question, not OF legal right but OF Executive dis
erection; therefore
Resolved, That for this reason. above all, we
emphatically protest against IL. and declare
our solemn conviction that It were better
that legislative bodies should be forbidden to meet
az all than TO be forbidden TO meet under their
own rules aud surrounded by their own onicers
because nothing Is more dangerous or demoraliz-
lug than arbitrary rule yelled Dy constitutional
forms; and that the citizens OF New York, without
distinction OF party, here assembled, appeal to
their fellow citizens OF the whole country to unite
with them In this protest; and
whereas the recent despatch OF the Lieutenant
General OF the Army, addressed to the Secretary
OF War, suggesting that Congress should pass an
AZ TIM tho preside NJ abould iasue a prOclama-