The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1875-01-21
TIE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
SYNOPSIS


have the honor TO make the follow.
ing answer TO a Senate resolution Of
the 4tli inst, asking for information a
to any interference by military Off.
GERS, or any part of the army of the
United States, with the organization
or proceedings of the General Assem-.
bly, Of the state of Louisiana, or either
branch thereof, aud also inquiring III
regard TO the question of armed or.
CARNATIONS in that section hostile Il
the Government thereof, and intent on
overfurBing such government 10y
force.
Preparatory to the election OF 1872 a
shameless aud undissuised conspirac.
was formed to carry that election
against the Republicans. without re-
gard to law aud order. and to that end
the most glaring frauds and forgeries
were committed in the returns. Many
colored citizens had been denied reg.
istration, and others were deferred by
fear, from casting their ballots. When
the time came for formal canvass OF
the votes, in view of the foregoing
facts, William p. Kellogg, the Repub-
Iican candidate for Governor, institut-
cd suit upon the equity of the case.
in the United States Circuit Court for
Louiaiana, against Warmoth and 9th.
ers. who had obtained possession OF
| the returns of the election. To enable
the court to inquire as TO the truth oi
these allegations. temporary restrain
ing order was issued against the de-
| PENDANTS; which was at once disregard
ed and treated with contempt by
those TO whom il was directed.
That it is the duty of the Federal
courts TO enforce the provisions of the
Constitution of the United States, and
the laws passed in pursuance thereof,
is too clear for controversy. Section
fifteen of said act, after numerous pro-
visions therein to prevent an evasion
of the fifteenth amendment, provides
that the jurisdiction of the Circuit
Court of the United States shall cx-
tend to all cases, in law or equity, ar
Using under the provisions of said act,
and OF the amendment Thereof. Con-
grcss seemed to have contemplated
equitable as well as legal proceedings
to prevent the denial of suffrage to
colorcd citizens, and it may be safely
asserted that ii Kellogg's bill in the
above general case did not present a
case for the equitable interposition of
the court, that no such case can arise
under the act. That the courts Of the
United States have the right to inter-
ferc in various ways with State cleo.
tons, SO as to maintain political equal
ity and rights therein, irrespective of
race or color, is comparatively new,
and, TO some, seems to be startling
idea. But it results as clearly from
the fifteenth amendment Of the Consti-
tuition, aud the acts that have been
passed to enforce that amendment, as
the abrogation of state laws upholding
slavery results from the thirteenth
amendment to the Constitution.
Whatever may be SAID or thought
on these matters. it was not only
known to me that process Of the Unit
ed States Court was resisted, and as
said acts special provide for the use
of the army and navy when necessary
to enforce a judicial process arising
hereunder, | considered is my duty
10 see that such process was executed
according to the judgement of the
court. Resulting from these proceed
iugs, through various controversies
and complications. the stale admins
traiion was organized with, VIM.
Z. Kellogg as Governor, which, in the
discharge of my duty under section
/ four, article ioar OF the Constitution,
4 have recognized as the government
of the State. lt has been bitterly aud
persisten,ly alleged that Kellogg was
lot elected. Whether he was or not is
..ot altogether certain. Nor is il any
more certain that his competitor.
| MeEnery, was chosen. The election
was a gigantic fraud, and there is no re-
| liable return of the result. Kellogg
obtained possession OF the office. and in
my opinion, has more right to it than
his competitor. Misinformed, the sup
porlcrs OF McEnery proceeded to dis
place, By force in some parts of the
States the appOintees OF Gov. Kellogg,
ami on the 18th of April, in an effort
of hat kind, butchery of citizens
was committed nj Collax which in
bloodthirstiness and barbarity, is hard
| IL surpassed by any actors Of savage
warfare To put the matter beyond
controversy lquote from the charge OF
Nudge Woods, of the United States
I Circuit Court. tn the jury in the case
|
aud others in New Orleans, in March,
1874. lie said: in the case on trial
there are many facts not in controyer-
sy. proceed TO state some of them,
ia presence and hearing of counsel on
both sides, and if l state any fact OF
the matter that is disputed, they can
correct me-"
The Judge says: '.Most Of those
who were killed were taken prisoners.
Fifteen or sixteen of the blacks had
lifted the boards and taken refuge un-
| der the floor Of the court house. They
were all captured, About thirty-sey-
cn men were taken prisoners. The
number is not definitely fixed. They
were left under guard until dark,
when they were led out and shot.
Most of the men were shot TO death.
A few were wounded, and by pretend
ing to be dead, were afterwards, du-
ring the night, able to make their es-
| cape. Among them was the Levi Nell
son named in the indictment. The
dead bodies of the negroes killed in
this affair were left unburied TIL Tues
day, April 18th, when they were bur-
! led by deputy Marshal aud an officer
OF the militia from New Orleans.
These persons found fifty-nine dead
bodies. The only white men injured,
from the beginning of these troubles
TO the close. were Hadnot and Harris.
To hold the people of Louisiana gen.
orally responsible for these atrocities
would not be just, but il is a lamenta-
BILE fact that insufierable distractions
were thrown in the way of Furnishing
these murderers and the so-called Con-
servative papers OF the state not only
justified the massacre. but denounced
as federal tyranny and despotism'
the attempt of the United States OFF,
GERS to bring them to justice. Fierce
denunciations ring through the coun-
try about ofiice-holding and election
matters IN Louisiana, while every one
OF the Culfax miscreauts go unwhip-
ped of Justice. and no way can be
| found. ia this boosted land OF ciyiliza-
| ton aud Christianity, 10 punish the
perpetrators for their bloody and
monstrous crime.
! Not unlike this was the massacre in
August last. Several northern young
men of capital and enterprise had
started The little and flourishing town
OF Coushai,a. Some of them were
Republicans and office holders under
kellogg They were. therefore, doom
ed TO death. Six of them were seized
aud carried away from their homes.
and murdered in cold blood. No one
has been punished, aud the Conserva-