The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1875-01-28

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. Sheridan'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 Merrill's action in
making affidavits against citizens of Shreve-
port, under which they were arrested for al
legged violations of the enforcement act.
General Emory informed Major Merrill that
he considered that his personal appearance
as prosecutor was departure from the es
tablished rules of the service and mischiev
Gus in its tendency Merrill thereupon ex-
planned that his action was due to the fact
that no citizen could have made these affi-
davits except at the risk of his life, and sub
mits sundry 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.
the condition of affairs in Red River county.
He says that so far asst 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 oil 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 in cases where there
was no necessity for them, and in some par
ishes have discharged their duties in an un-
necessary harsh, if not cruel, manner. Col.
Morrow gives the following as his deep-seat-
ed conviction: 'The present State govern
ment cannot maintain itselfin power sim
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 eff the people are to
be believed-and do believe them-there is
a very sincere desire to live quietly under
the protection of the constitution of the
United States, and enjoy the blessings OF
the national government, but there is no
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 political
feeling in the breasts of nineteen-twentieths
of the white inhabitants of the State" In
forwarding this report December 9th, Gen
Emory says: "For nearly two years, the
of off no
and the State government has constantly
shown itself unable to cope with the diff
culties of the situation in which it Ii
placed This state of things is daily grow
ing worse, and [ commend the subject tC
serious consideration. The mission of the
army to keep the peace without the power
of removing causes which disturb it has
| think, been carried as far as practicable
and | therefore respectfully recommend
that, if it can be done, the powers of The
military commander be greatly increased
or that some other measure be resoated t.
to obtain the desired end"
Gen. Sherman makes the following en-
! dOrsement
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
ST. LOUIS, Jan. f. 1875.
This paper is most respectfully forwarded
to the Secretary of War; with the reques
that he submit it for the personal perusa
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. [ profess to have some knowl
edge of the people of that section, boil
white and black, from a long residence
among them during the war and severa
visits since, but [ shall not intrude my opin
ion in the confusion in which the subject i
now enveloped
w. T. SHERMAN, s
General.