The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1875-02-04
REPORTS OF MILITARY OFFICERS
CONCERNING LOUISIANA
The LaW-Abiding Spirit Of the People.
The Troubles Caused BY the Mismanage-
ment OF the State Officials.
Gen. Sherman's Significant Endorsement.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26.-The President
sent to the Senate to-day, IN further response
to the resolution of inquiry, another large
mass of manuscript copies of the correspon-
dence relative to the disorders in Louisiana.
The correspondence dates back to October
"a 1874, and begins with various cipher tel
egrrms sent by General Emory TO the War
Department, in which he expresses strong
disapprobation of Major Merrilrs action in
making affidavits against citizens of Shreye-
port, under which they we're arrested for al
legged yiolatious of the enforcement act
General Emory informed Major Merrill that
be considered that his personal appearance
as prosecutor was departure from the es-
| tablished rules of the service and mIschley-
Gus in its tendency. Merrill thereupOn ex-
plained that his action was due TO the fact
| that no citizen could have made these afii-
davits except at the risk of his life, and sub
mits siIyldry voluminous reports, detailing
| the lawless condition of affairs in the Red
| River region. These reports being all before
| the department, Adjutant-General Town
send telegraphed to Merrill, December II,
| 1874 through the headquarters of the army,
| that the department considered his action
| justified by the circumstances. Among the
papers Is the report of Lieutenant-Colonel,
Henry A. Morrow, who was detailed by Gen.
| Emory to make thorough examination OF
the condition Of affairs in Red River county.
He saws that 80 far as it relates to the United
States, there is not the slightest disposition
TO oppose General Grant, but the opposition
to the State government Is determined and
| expressed and will manifest itself in open
| violence whenever and wherever it asserts
itself This dissatisfaction and discomfort
affect all departments Of business, and the
whole aspect of the country has a look OF
poverty and neglect The law has fallen
: into disregard and disrepute, and the judges
are openly charged with corruption. The
United States deputy marshals have used
United States soldiers III cases where there
: was no necessity for them, and in some par
l ishes have discharged their duties III an UNI
| necessary harsh, if not cruel, manner. Col
Morrow gives the following as his deep-seat-
! ed conviction. 1eThe present State govern
ment cannot maintain itself in power sin
gle hour without the protection Of Fed
eral troops; and even with this protection
they Will not be able to collect taxes and
perform the functions Of the government
} The State government has not the confidence
: or respect OF any portion OF the community
Further on he says that off the people are to
be beieyed-and | do believe them-there il
very sincere desire to live quietly under
the protection of the constitution of the
United States and enjoy the blessings o.
the national government, but there is ne
Disgusting the fact that the protection af
forded by the Federal administration to the
, government of the present State executive
is cause Of bitter, personal and pOlitica
feeling in the breasts of nineteen-twentieths
of the white inhabitants of the State" Ii
forwarding this report December 9th, Gen
Emory says For nearly two years, The
condition of affairs has been very precarious
] and the State government has constantly
f shown itself unable to cope with the diff
9 eulties of the situation in which it il
placed. This state of things is daily grow
/, ing worse, and / commend the subject Il
serious consideration. The mission of thu
army to keep the peace without the powel
: of removing causes which disturb it has
t / think, been carried as far as practicable
D and l therefore respectfully recommend
? that, if it can be done, the powers of the
f military commander be greatly increased
or that some other measure be resoBted Il
to obtain the desired end"
Gen. Sherman makes the following en-
4 dorsement
: HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
l ST. LOUIS, Jan. 4, 1875.
This paper is most respectfully forwarded
: to the Secretary of War, with the request
7 that he submit it for the personal perusa
r of the President. ! know of no officer o
: Colonel Morrow's rank who is better quail
fed to speak and write of matters like these
and his opinions are entitled to great con
sideration. l profess to have some knOwl
) edge of the people of that section, boil
white and black, from long residence
5 among them during the war and severa
2 visits since but l shall not intrude my opin
ion in the confusion in which the subject il
now enveloped,
w. I. SHERMAN,