The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-03-02
them at the polls on the Sd OF December,
1874. The people then elected to the lower
house of their legislature

them at the polls on the Sd OF December,
1874. The people then elected to the lower
house of their legislature
A MAJORITY OF CONSERVATIVE MEMBERS.
A portion OF the conservative members
thus elected were refused their certificates.
This is an act of great injustice to individuals
and of the greatest danger to the
state and free government, and ought
to be Immediately corrected by
any power competent to correct it.
The resolution recommending the recogni-
ton of Gov. Kellogg is baset upon the gen.
eral impression, not upon evidence. On
this point no testimony was taken either
by the committee or any part oft. KEEL
logg may, or may not, have been elected in
1872, but there is no evidence to show the
fact, or if there be 1t has been neither sought
nor found by this committee.
Messrs. Foster and Phelps think that
conservative and radical circles, inclines on
the whole to justify Kellogg's and Penn's
claims, and as Kellogg is and has been act
ing governor of louisiana for the past two
years, to deny his right and 10 install an
other in his place after this lapse of time
might involve incalculable mischief to the
loyal political interests OF the state. To
avoid the mischief and confusion of change
majority of the citizens of louisiana seem
willing to accept
As A COMPROMISE
Kellogg's recognition, and the restoration
to the conservatives of the control of the
lower house. For these reasons Messrs.
Foster and Phelps do not wish to oppose the
recommendation that the administration of
Gov. Kellogg be recognized. Neither in view
ofthe fact that they know nothing of the
merits of the case, as judged by competent
evidence, do they wish to be understood as
urging it. They only wish to record their
agreement with those OF their associates who
believe that such compromise might be
making a termination of the difficulties,
certain in Louisiana, be on the whole less
intolerable that the present situation of
that distressed people. But to any resoln-
ton recognizing Kellogg Messrs. Potter and
! Marshall are utterly opposed. They find
nothing to justify the belief that kellogg
was elected. That he seized the government
! by the aid of federal troops, through a void
and fraudulent order which prevented the
counting and return of votes, should be a
standing presumption against him. When
the people outraged by the abuses of his
government had successfully regained
the Office he had usurped, he
was again reseated by federal power
through the forms of law by which he had
intrenched himself. He once more sought
to nullify the choice OF toe people at the late
election, and to that end called in the federal
troops to break up the meeting of the legis-
lature. For congress to recognize an
usurpatiou, so gross and so oppressive, is.
they think, to establish precedent by
which, under pretexts that can readily be
found, any state government may be over
thrown. the will of the people nullifi' d, fraud
and violedce made permanent, and republi-
| can forms perverted to destroy liberty.
In their Judgment all that is needed in
Louisiana is to withdraw the federal troops
and leave the people of that state 10 govern
themselves.
! CHAs. FOSTER,
WILLIAM WALTER PHELPS,
CLARKsoN ~. POTTER,
SAMUEL $. MARSHALL.