New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-01-27
BY TELE GRAPH.



MESSAGE.
Louistana Affairs.
WASHINGTON, January 25.-The Presl
dent sent to the Senate to-day, in further
response to it's resolution of inquiry, an
other large macs of manuscript copies O1
correspondence relative to disorders in
Louisiana The correspondence dates bach
to October 25, 1874, and begins with various
cypher kilograms sent by General Emory
to the War Department, in which he ex
MerrilPa action in making affdavits against
citizens of Shreveport, under which they
were arrested for alleged violations of the
enforcement act. General Emory in.
formed Major Merrill that he considered his
personal action, appearance as prosecutor,
was departure from the established rules
of the service, and mischievOus in its
tendency. Major Merrill thereupon ex
planned that his action was due to the fact
that no citizeu could have made the af6.
davits except at the risk of his life, and sub
ing the lswless condition of affairs in the
Red river region.
Major Merrill says. under date of Shreve'
port, October 26:
mo civil authority or machinery of any
kind, local, State or national, has for long
time existed here, and the community was
fast drifting into state where any uncon-
trolled lunatic could set match to the
mine.
my action was taken to set the civil
functions going and restore respect for civil
law, and to remind the community that this
was not state of war"
These reports being all before the depart.
ment, Adjutant General Townsend tele-
graphs to Merrill, December, 1874, through
the headquarters Of the army, that the de-
partment considers his action justified by
the circumstances.
The papers next comprise . long report
from General Emory concerning Lieutenant
Hodgson's arrest by civil authorities for
cutting telegraph wires, and various reports
Of subordinate officers, giving details Of the
shatta parishes, etc. Emory subsequently
reports his action, detailing Lieutenant
Colonel Henry A. Morrow to proceed to the
Red river region and make thorough ex-
animation Of the condition of affairs.
On November 16, 1874, Adjutant General
Townsend telegraphed General Emory as
follows: eff troops in New Orleans still
occupy the State House, it is desired by
the President that they be transferred to
the quarters they are to occupy for the
winter. Are there any in the State House?"
moved as directed. It will slightly increase
estimated expenses for quarters. While in
the State House strict orders were observed
not to interfere with free ingress and egress
of citizens or with State officers"
On the fifteenth of December, Emory tele-
graphed to the department - follows: The
Returning Board and the people represent
ing the opposing party differ on vital ques-
tions. Each AYERS against the other crimes
Of such enormity that, in the present ex-
cited state Of the public mind, violence is
teenth September, 1 WAS informed in q
dispatch dated September Is, that the.
President directed you to say previous or
ders are not to be obeyed, in consequence
of which my order tn Colonel Brooke to
recognize Governor Kellogg was revoked
and An interregnum interviewed. To avoid
further misuuderetandin in the impending
disturbance, which may happen at any
moment or may not occur until after the
meeting OF the Legislature in January, 1
ask to be informed if the instructions Of
considered in force, or if am to await the
result of another application from Governor
Kellogg to the President!
To this Adjutant General Townsend re.
piled, December 16, as follows: The Presi-
dent directs that you make arrangements
to be in readiness to suppress violence, and
have it understood that you will do it.
On the sixteenth day of December Emory
telegraphed: Since my dispatch of yester.
day information comes which think justi-
fies the conclusion that personal violence
and armed conflict will not be used by
parties to settle the pending
political troubles in this city.
Under date of Shreveport, December IL,
1874, Lieutenant Colonel Morrow makes q
orief report of his investigation in that
vicinity, in anticipation Of . longer report,
which he says he will write out subse-
luently. After stating that there is no
leed of more troops in that vicinity, he
aye: IAN arrangement has been made
the United States civil authorities
lere and prominent citizens, under which it |
8 more than probable there will be no further |
alls for troops to act as posse to marshals.
eferred to, the army will be relieved
rom most unpleasant and onerous |
luty and q great cause of local |
irritation be removed. As to the gem
raj condition of affairs in the parishes |
f Caddo and De Soto, reserve my opinion |
ntil l have had fuller opportunity for
Orming one; but this much may say, it is
ot such as to give any ground Of apprehen-
ion on the part of the commanding General
f serious disturbances of any kind, at least
Ot at present. 1t is not to be disguised,
owever, that local disturbances Of very
erious character may take place in the
vent of the Returning Board, now in ses-
ion in New Orleans, ruling out the votes
the parishes for mere technical reasons"
He goes on to say that the universal SEN
ment there is that resistance and violence |
I'LL be entirely justifable to secure to the
eOple change of local administration, to
'hich they claim to be entitled ae the
asult of the late election. He continues:
In ell have said it is important to under
and that SO far as relates to tie United
tates there is not the slightest disposition
} oppose the general government, but the
ppositiou to the State government is de-
'rmined and expressed, and will manifest
self in open violence whenever and wher.
yer it asserts itself"
On the twenty-fourth of December Lieu
'nant Colonel Morrow, then in New Or
ans, submits q detailed report of his
vestigatlon. Its main conclusions are
le same as those above given in his slkele-
N report. He expresses the opinion that
70 troops may be safely withdrawn from
Colfax and Natchitoches, and
eed not be increased at any other point to
'mpel obedience to the laws of the United.
|ates, though he adds: Troops will be
quired, however, in nearly every section
the State to sustain the State authorities
Congress, by appropriate legislation, does
IT give some relief" He says he is aware
the fact that the federal troops have
1t been ordered into parishes except
| reguisiti0n of the civil authorities:
1T recommends that stringent orders be
ven to the officers to exercise caution.
I'd not to furnish posses except in cases
here a marshal unaided has tried
serve his process and failed. and
IS made application tn the cit;zona e., |