New-York tribune., 1875-01-14
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.



Kellogg They were. therefore, doomed to death SIX
f them were seized and carried from their homes
nd murdered In cold blood. No has been punished
snd the Conservative press OF the State denounced all
efforts to that end. and boldly justified the crime.
Many murders OF like character have been COM
rpitted in individual which cannot
bore be detailed; for example; T. g. Crawford
Judge OF the Parish and the DistrctAttorney OF tne
xIIth Judicial District Of the State, on their way 70
court were shot from their horses by men IN amous
the eth OF October 1873 and the widow OF tue
iu q communication TO the Department OF Jusuce' 80
pteous tale Of the prosecutions OF her 49, -,
cause ne was Union man. and OF the ehor'S "aue "
sereen those who had committed os'i"o ,, "-S-' :,
her own Ian nguage, left two WIDOWS anu NM n''
TO cav that a murder OF n negro or a "hi'e ''''pu
IA not considered a crime in Louisiana, Woulu VooaU'
be unjust 10 great part OF the peOpei put Is true
,ha, o-oat number Of snch murders have been COM
n,tted ana no one has been punished therefor ana
panistly show the spirit of hatred and violence
s stronger than law.
Representations we're made to me that the presence
OF troops Louisiana unnecessary and irritating 10
The people, and that there 10 danger OF pubic ais
turbaDce II they taken away. Consequently, early
last summer the troops were all withdrawn IRON tne
State with the exception of small garrison at NeWOr
leans barracks 1t claimed that comparative sIa'o
quiet had supervened Political excitement as TO Lou
isana affairs seemed to be dying out but the NoVeper
election approaching and IT was necessary ior parry
purposes that the fame should be rekinded Accoru-
ingly the 14th OF September. d. PENN ca'nuS 'n"
elected Lieutenant IN lSI2 issueu an ~
kammstory proclamation. calling upon the mIua Vi
the State TO arm assemble and 10 dve from power inc
usurpers" as he deslgnated the officers OF the SIa'o
The White Leagues armed and ready for the cohnet'
promptly responded. on the same day the Governor
reQuisition upon me, pursuant 10 inc ac'
of 1895 and Section Article OF tue CONSTITUTION 10
aid suppressng domestic violence. On the next DAY
issued my proclamation, commanding the insurgents
TO dsperse within days the date thereof; but be-
fore the proclamation published In HewOreans the
srganiged and armed forces recognizing usurping
Governor had taken forcibe possession of the state
House and temporarily subverted tho Government
Twenty more people we're killed, including number
of the police OF the city. The streets Of the city were
stained with blood All that desired in the way OF
excitement had been accomplished, and in view OF
the steps taken TO repress 1t. the revolution was
apparently though 10 believed not really abandoned,
and cry Federal usurpaon and tyranny was re-
bewed with redoubed Troops had been sent 10
the State under this reQuston of the Governor and
ss other disturbances seemed imminent, they were
allowed TO remain there TO render the Executive euch
aid might become necessary to enforce the
of the State and repress the continued violence
which seemed inevitable the moment Federal support
should be Withdrawn. Prior to and with a
view 20 the late election in Louisians, white men
associated themselves together armed bodies called
White Leagues. and At the time threats were made
the Democratic journals Of the State that the election
should be carried against tue KepuDucduS AT
ards which naturally greatly alarmed the colored
voters By Section OF tho act OF Feb. g. 1871, IL is
made the duty OF United states Marshals and their dep
ute at the polls where votes cast for Representa-
Gyes in Congress keep the peace and prevent any
violations the socaed Enforcement acts, and other
oenses against tho laws OF the United States; and upon
reQuisitiOn OF the Marshal Of Louisiana and In view OF
sad organizations other portentOus circum
staDces, caused detachments Of troops TO
be stationed in various localities In the State
20 aid him In the performance OF his official duties.
That there was intimidation Of Republican voters at
the election notwithstanding these precautions admits
Of doubt. The following are specimens: On the 4th
OF October 80 sgned aud published the following
at Shreveport!
We, the undersigned merchants OF the City Of shreve
port 10 obedience to quest Of the shreveport Jam
paRn Club agree 70 every endeavor to get our em
pOy os vote the Peoples ticket at the ensuing cleo
ton and the event OF their refusal so 10 do. or ~
they the Radical ticket refuse to employ
>them at the expiration Of their present contracts.
ON the Same day another large body of persons pub
hshed, in the same place paper in which they used
the following language:
We the undersigned merchants Of the City Of shreve
port alive TO the great importance OF securing GOOD ana
honest gUyernment state. do agree and pledge
ourselves not 10 advance any supplies or money TO any
planter the coming year VINO will give employment or
rent anos to laOoer no vote the Radical ticket IN the
coming election.
have information of the proceedings of the Re-
turnng Board for said election which may not be found
ter Of public information that great part OF the time
taken the votes consumed by the argu-
meDts Of lawyers, several Of whom represented each
party before the Board. / have evidence that the
proceedings Of this Board were not aeeOrdape9 with
the law under which they acted. Whether
In excluding from their count certain returns
they were right wrong is question that depends
upon the evidence they had before them. But very
the gives them the power IL they choose
70 exercise 1t, of deciding that way, aud ptma dcie
the persons whom they return elected entitled 10
the Offices for which they candidates. Respecting
alleged interference by the military with the organ
LaOn OF the legislature OF Louisiana the ih inst
have no knowledge or information which has not been
received by since that time aud published My first
intmaton from the papers of the morning Of the
9th Of January did not that any such thing was
anticipated, and orders suggestiops we're ever
given to any military officer in that State upon that
subject prior to the 1 well aware that
any military interference by the officers troops Of the
UBited States with the organization OF State Legsa
ture any Of its proceedings with any civil depart
OF the Government is repugnant to ideas Of
government lean conceive OF not involving
beon or insurrecton where such interference by au-
thority OF the General Government ought to be per
mitted or can be justified. Bat there are
circumstances connected with the late legislative i'm
brogo in Louisiana which to exempt the military
from any intentional wrong In the matter knowing that
they had placed in Louisiana TO prevent domestic
violence and aid in the enforcement OF the State
hw.. The officers aud troops Of the United
States may well have supposed that 1t was their
duty TO act when called upon by the Goverrvr
Tor that purpose. Each branch Of the Legislative
Assembly is the judge Of the election and qualifications
ofis 9HA msmbeEr but II a mob q body Of uDautho-
rised pefsOns seize aud hold tho legislative hall in
tumutuOus and y29gs manner and 80 prevent any or
sanzat0 6y those IessY returned IA elected IL might