The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1875-01-22

pia's ticket ut tho ensuing election. and IN the
event of their refusal TO do 40, or i'll case they
vote the Radical ticket, 20 refuse 70 employ
them 81 tho expiration Of their present con-
tracts On the same day another large body
OF persons published, III the same place, u
paper in which they used the following
language: We. the undersigned. merchants
OF the CITY Of shreveport. alive to the great
Importance OF securing a good and honest
government 20 the !; ate. DO agree and pledge
ourselves not 10 advance any supplies or
money to any planters the coming veal, who
will give employment or rent lands to labor
ers who vote the Radical ticket in the coming
election
| have no information of the proceedings
of thu Returning Board for the sad election
which NAV not be found in its report. which
hns been published. but it is a matter Of pub
lie thai 4 great part Of the time
taken to canvass the votes was consumed by
the Arguments Of lawyers, several Of whom
represented each PATTY before the board. l
have no evidence that the proceedings OF this
board were not III accordance with the law I'M
Ger which they acted. Whether, n excluding
from their account certain %retur,.s, they were
right or wrong, is q question that depends
u5on the evidence they had before them but
il il very clear that tie law gives them the
power. il thew chose to exercise il, TO decide
that way, and prima flcie, The person. whom
they return as selected are entitled to the
offices for which they were candidates.
Respecting the alleged interference by the
military with the organization of the LeSlsta-
ture of Louisiana on the 4th INST, L nave no
knowledge or information which has not been
received hv me since that time and published.
NV first information was from the papers of
the morning of the 9th of January. IdidnOt
know that any suci thing was anticipated, and
no orders, 10 suggestions, were ever given to
any military officer i'll that State upon the sub
iect prior to the occurrence. / am we'll aware
that any military interference by the officers
or troops OF the United States with the organ
ization Of ! State Legislature or any OF Its
proceedings. or with any civil department Of
the government is r%epugnant to our ideaso
government. | can conceive of no case,
not involving rebellion or lnsurrection,
where such interference b. the al-
th.ritv Of the general government ouSht to
be permitted or can be justified but there
are circumstances connected with the late
legislature IElhroglio il Louisiana which
seem 70 exempt the military from any inten-
.,onal wrong in That matter, knowing that
tney had been placed in Louisiana to prevent
domestic violence. and u aid i'll rcpressiDg it.
The revolution was apparently. though it Il
believed rot really, abandoned, and the cry OF
Federal UsUrpatiOn : and tyranny Ill Lou
iSiana" WAS renewed with re1Oub!ed energy.
Troops had been aeHt to tho State under the
reauisit:on of the Governor. and as other
disturbances seenla2 inllulrept, they were
allowed to remain there, to renoer the Exec
utive such aid az might become necessary to
enforce the laws % the State and repress
the continued violence which seemed inev!ta-
bic at the moment when Tie Federal support
should be withdrawn.
Each branch Of q Legislative assembly is the
Judge of tho election and tire qualifications
Of ltS own members, Lut il N mob or Il body
of unauthorized persons seize and hold the
legislative hall IL a tunlultuons and rIotOuS
manner, AMI 80 prevent any organization by
those le- ally returned ~ elected, 1t might be-
cOne the cury Of tie State Executive - In
trypO.e, # requested by a majority OF the
membere-alect, to suppress the disturbance
and enable tIe PERSONS eiec,"d to organize
the House. Ally exercise # ti!is power
| would be in scjtia1lc under most extraordinary
circumstances, AMI il world then be the duty
Of tho Governor 10 cal upon the con~tabu-
! Iarv. or. If necessary. the military force OF
tie State: Dut with reference 10 Louisiana, 1t
is 10 be borne in mind that any attempt by
mo Governor to Use the police force Of thar
State at this time would have undoubtedly
precipitated = 5l0Cdv conflict with the White
Leggue. Al it did Oil the ilth of September.
There is 10 doubt that the presence OF tie
United States troops on that occasion pre-
! vented b!Oodshgd and the loss OF life. 10th
| parties appear 70 haya relied nVon them a5
c inscrvators OF the public peace.
The first call was made by the Democrats.
| ~ rpmOva persons obnoxious to them from
the Legislative hall. and the second WAS from
the Republicans. 20 remove persons Who hal
| usurped seats il the Legislature without le-
gal certificates authorizing them to seats,
| and in sufficient number to change the ma
| ioiitv. NoboGy was disturbed by the military
Who had q legal right ut that time to occupy
q seat III the Legislature. That the Demo
| cratic minority Of the House undertook TO
seize it's organization by fraud and violence {;
that in this attempt they tramp'ed Under loot
the law, in that they acted undo a precon-
certed plan, and under false pretenses intro
| duced iuto the hall men to support their
| pretensions by force, if necessary, and
that the conflict. disorder and r!otous
| n,ncoe1i-os following are facts.
| seems to be we!l-estabIished, and L
am credihlv informed that these violent pro-
ceedings were a part of q premeditated plan
to have the House organized III this way to
recognize what has been called the HcEnery
Senate, then to depose Governor Kellogg, ana
so reyolutiU2ize the State government.
Whether It was wrong for the Governor, at
the request of a majority of the member r.
turned as elected III the House, to use such
! means as were i'll his power TO de1eat these
laWless and revolutionary proceedings, II per-
haps a debatable question bu. 1t Is quite
certain that there would have been no trouble
if those who now complain OF Illegal interior
ence had allowed the House to he organized
in a lawful and regular manner. When those
who inaugurate disorder and anarchy disayow
| such proceedings, 1t VII. be time enough to
condemn those who. by such means as they
have. prevented the success of their lawiess
and desperate schemes.
Lieut.-Gen. Sheridan vas requested by me
to go to Louisiana to otnerve and report the
situation there, and, if NJ his opinion neces'
sary, to assume the when ne qua
ON the l.h inst, after tie Legislative disturb
ances had occurred, at c O'Clock in the even
lug. a nurnber of hours af:er the disturbance
40 party motives nor Prejudices can resson
ably be imputed to him, but, honestly con
virced by what he has seen and heard there
he has characterized the leaders of the White
League III severe terms and suSgesIe'
wooden ns r-orpd1rA ao2lnst them