The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1875-01-22

law I; that they under took to MAKE per-:
sons not returned las elected members
SO as TO create 8 MAORI that they.
acted under. preconcerted plan, and
under false pretenses introduced into
the hall byzmensto support their. pre-.
tensions by force.tif necessary, and ere.
ate disorder and :riotous: proceedings, !:
are facts which seem to be we'll estab.
lished: am credibly informed that
these violent proceedings were q part
Of premeditated plan to have the
house organized in this way, recognize
what has been called tho McEnery SEN:
ate, then depose Gov. Kellogg and SO
revolutionize the State government.
~ Whether it was wrong for the Gov:
ernor at the request of the majority Of
members returned as elected to the
House. to use such means IS were in his
power to, defeat these law]ess and revo:
lutionary proceedings, it,, perhaps, a
debateable question. But: It is quite
certain that there would have been
no trouble ifthose who now complain
Of illegal interference had allowed the
House Ito be: organized in q
lawful and regular. manner.
When those who inaugurate disorder,
war and anarchy; disavow such pro-
ceedings, it will be time enough to con.
denim those who. by such means IS
they have, prevent the success Of law.
less and desperate schemes. &C.,.
Lieut.. Gen. Sheridan was requested
by me to 60 to Louisiana to observe and
report the situation there, and if in bis
opinion necessary, to assume the COM
lnand, which he. did on the 9Th inst,
after the legislative disturbances had
occurred at Q o'clock, P. ~, 4 number
Of hours after the disturbance. No
party motives nor prejudices can rca.
sonably be imputed to him, but
honesty. Convinced by what he
has seen and heard there, he has
characterized the leaders of the
White Leaguers in severe terms, and
| suggested summary modes of proceed.
ure against them,, which thong II they
| cannot be adopted, would, if legal, soon
put an end to the troubles and disorder
in that State. Gen. Sheridan was look.
ing at facts and possibly not think.
ing Of proceedings that would
be only proper to pursue in the line of
peace, thought of the utterly lawless
condition of society surrounding him at
the time of his dispatch. and Of what
would prove sure remedy. He never
proposed to do an illegal act nor ex.
| pressed a determination to proceed be-
You'd what the future might autho-
rizes for the punishment Of the
atrocities which have been committed
and the commission Of which cannot be
successfully denied.
tits deplorable fact that political
crimes and murders have been com.
'mittad in Louisiana which. have gone
UNPUBLISHED and which have been JUST.
fed or apologizcd for, which must cast
reproach on the State and country
long after the present generation has
passed away.
| have no desire to have U. S. troops
interfere in the domestic concerns Of
! Louisiana or any other State. On the
9th Of December last Gov. Kellogg tel
egraphed to me his apprehension that
the White League intended to make
another attack. Upon the same day l
made the following answer, since which
no communication has been sent him {:
"Your dispatch of this noon received.
It is exceedingly unpalatablo to send
troops in anticipation of danger. Let
the State authorities proceed
with their duties without
! apprehension Of danger. II
they are then molested the question
will be determined whether the United
States is able to maintain order within
its limits or not
l have deplored the necessity which
seemed to make it my duty under the
constitution and laws to nccessitate
such interference. have always re.
fused. except where it seemed to be my
imperative duty, to act in such man
ner under the constitution and laws of
the United States. | have
repeatedly and earnestly cntreated the
people of tho South to live together
in peace, and obey the laws, and moth
ing would give mo greater pleasure than
to see this recommendation followed,
and tranquility everywhere prevail, and
thereby remove all necessity for the
presence Of troops among them. - j.
! Iregret, however, to say that this
state Of things does not improve, nor
does its existence seem to be
desired in cartain localities; and as to
those it may be proper for me to say
that the power Congress has conferred
upon me will not permit either Ku.
Klux Klans, White Leagues. or any
other association using arms and vio-
lcnce, to execute their unlawful pur-
poses, nor can they be permitted in that
way to govern any part of the country;
nor can l see, with indifference.
Union men or Republicans prosecuted
and murdered on account Of their opin-
ions, as they are in several localities.
have heretofore urged tho case Of
Louisiana upon the attention Of Con
grcss, and cannot but think its innc
ton has produced great evil. 10 sum-
marize:
In September last an armed, organ
lied body Of men in support Of candi.
dates who had been put in nomination
for the offices of Governor and Lieut..
Governor at the November election in
1872, and who had been declared by
the board Of canvasssrs, recognized by
all courts to which the question
had been submitted undertook the sub.
sequent overthrow Of the State Gov
eminent that had been recognized by
me in accordance with the previous re-.
turns. The recognized Governor was
driven from the State House, and
but for his taking shelter in
the United States custom house in the
capital Of the State of which he was
Governor, it is easily to be believed
that he would have been driven from
the State. Before he had been driven
| to the custom houaa call ,vae mado