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

I
way Of excitement had been sccom-
plished.
That there was intimidation Of Re
publican voters at the election, admit:
Of no doubt.
/ Respecting the alleged interference
BY the military with the organizatio,
of the Legislature of Louisiana the 4ff
inst, have no knowledge OF informa.
ton which has not been received by
me since that time, and published
Nv first information was from the pa
peers of the morning Of the 9Th OF Jan
nary. I did not know that any ssicl
thing was anticipated. No orders and
no suggestions were given to any mill
tary officer in that state upon thai
subject prior to the occurrence. Lam
well aware that any military interior
ence with the organization OF state
legislature, or any of it's proceedings,
or with any civil department of the
Government, Is repungnant to Oui
ideas of government. / can conceive
of no case, not involving rebellion OF
insurrection, where such interference
by authority of the general govern.
ment, ought to be permitted, or can bt
| justified. But there are circumstanc-
es connected with the legislative im.
broglio in Louisiana which seem 10
exempt the military from any interna-
tional wrong in that matter. Know
ing that they had been placed in Louis.
lana to prevent domestic violence and
aid TO repress it, the revolution was
apparently, though it is believed not
really. abandoned. and the cry of fed
eraI usurpation and tyranny in Louisi-
ana was renewed with redoubled en-
ergy. Troops had been sent. to the
State, under the requisition Of the
Governor. AS other disturbances
seemed imminent they were allowed
to remain there. to render the Execu-
tive such aid as events might show
were necessity to enforce the laws OF
the state and repress the continued vio-
lence which seemeg inevitable the mo-
ment such support should be with
drawn.
In the enforcement of the state laws
the officers and troops of the United
States may well have supposed that II
| was their duty to act when called up
on By the Governor, for that purpose.
| But with reference to Louisiana it is
| to be borne in mind that any attempt
by the Governor to use the public
| force of that state at that time would
undoubtedly have precipitated a
bloody conflict with the White Leugua
as occurred on the 14th Of September.
There is no doubt but that the pres
encc of the United States troops Oh
that occasion prevented bloodshed
and the loss of life. Both parties APP
pear to have relied upon them as con-
servatives of the public peace. The
first call was made by the Democrats
! to remove persons obnoxious TO them
from the Legislature, and the second
was from the Republicans, to remove
persons who had usurped seats in the
Legislature without legal certificates
authorizing them to seats, and in sufti-
cient number to change the majority.
That the Democrat minority Of the
House undertook to seize its Organiza-
ton by fraud and violence that in
this attempt they trampled under foot
the law that they undertook to max
persons, not returned as elected. men,
| bers. SO as TO create majority; that
they acted under q preconcerted plan.
and under false pretenses introduce
ed into the hall men to sup
port their professions by force, if nee
essary; aud that conflict, disorder and
| riotous proceedings followed. are facts
tina, seem TO be well established.
Lieut.. Gen Sheridan was requested
BY me TO 90 to Louisiana TO observe
and report the situation there, and if,
in his opinion necessary, to assume
the command, which he did, on the
4th inst. after the legislative disturb
auces had occurred at nine O'Clock p.
IN. number of hours after the dis
turbance. Noparty motive nor preju-
diccs can reasonable be imputed 10
| him. But honestly convinced by
what he has seen and heard there, he
has characterized the leaders of the
| White Leagues in the sevcrest terms,
and suggested summary modes Of pro-
ceedure against them, which, though
they cannot be adopted, would, if le-
gal, soon put an end to the troubles
and disorder in that state. Gen. Shcr-
idan was looking at facts, and posi-
bly, not thinking of proceedings which
would be only proper ones to pursue
in time of peace, thought more Of the
utterly bad condition of society SUR
| a
patch, and of what would prove a sure
remedy. He never proposed to do an
Illegal act, nor expressed a determine
ton TO proceed beyond what the law
in the future might authorize for the
punishment of the atrocities which
have been committed, and the COM
mission of which cannot be success
fully denied.
| have heretofore urged the case of
Louisiana upon the attention of Con-
gress, and cannot but think its mac
ton has proven a great evil. The task
assumed by the troops is not pleas
ant one to them; the army is not COM
posed Of lawyers capable OF Judging, at
moments notice, just how far they
~can go in the maintenance of law and
order; and it was impossible to give
specific instructions providing for all
possible contingencies that might
arise. The troops were bound to act
upon tho Judgment of commanding Of
ticers, npon each sudden contingency
that arose, or wait instructions which
could only reach them after the wrongs
had been committed which they were
called upon to prevent.
| Be it recOllected, too, that upon my
recognition of the Kellogg government
1 reported the fact, with the grounds
Of the recognition, to Cor gress, and
asked that body TO take action in the
matter, otherwise should regard their
silence as acquiescing in my course.
No action has been taken by that body
and l have maintained the position
marked out.
Ii error has been committed by the
army in those matters, il has always
hcen OH the side of the preservation of
good order, the maintainance Of law,
and the protection of life. Their bear
ing reflects credit upon the soldiers,
and if wrong has resulted, blame the
turbulent elements surrounding them.
Inow earnestly ask that snch action
be taken by Congress as 10 leave my
duties perfectly clear in dealing with
| the affairs of Louisiana, giving assur-
ance, at the same time, that whatever
may be done by that body in the prem
Uses VIII be executed according to the
spirit 'and letter of the law, without
| fear or favor.
| herewith transmit. copies of docu-
ments containing more specific inior-
nation as to the subject matter of the
resolution.
(Sigued) U. S. GRANT.
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.