Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1875-01-21
CoNTIS,UED PROM FIRST PAGE.


IF Shreveport Campaign Club, aSsee TO
use every endeavor to get our employees
to vote he Peoples ticket at the ensu-
ing election. and in the event Of their
refusal so to do, or in case they vote
the Radical ticket, TO refuse to employ
them at the expiration of their present
On the same day another
large body. of persons published, in the
same place paper in which they used
the following language: "We, the un-
dersigned, merchants of the city
of Shreveport, alive to the great i'm
portance of securing good and honest
government to the State, do agree to
pledge ourselves not to advance any
supplies or money to any planters, nor
to any planter, the coming year, who
wjlIgive employment or rent lands to
laborers who vote the Radical ticket in
the coming election
[ have 40 information of the proceed
ings of the Returning Board for the
said election which may not be found
in its report, which has been published,
but it is matter of public Information
that a great part of the time taken to
canvass the votes was consumed by the
arguments of lawyers, several OF whom
represented each party, before the
Board. | have no evidence that the
proceedings of this Board were not in
accordance with the law under which
they acted. Whether in excluding
from their count certain returns they
were right or wrong, isa question that
depends upon the evidence they had
before them, but it is very clear that
the law gives them the power, if they
choose to exercise it, of deciding that
way and priaa fdcie thepersoDs whom
they return as elected are entitled to
the offices for which they were candi-
dates. Respecting the alleged inter-
ference by the military with the organ
ization of the Legislature of Louisiana
on the fourth inst. have no knowl-
edge or information which has not
been received by me since. My first
information was from the papers of the
morning of the 9Th of January. l did
not know that any such thing was an
ticipated, and no orders or suggestions
were ever given to any military officer
in that State upon that subject prior to
the occurrence. / am well aware that
any military interference by the officers
or troops of the United States with the
organization of State Legislature or
any of its proceedings or with any civil
Department of the government Is re-
puynant to our ide1s of government.
can conceive OF no case not involving
rebeliionor insurrection where such in
reference by tie authority OF the gen.
eral government ou- hit to be permitted
or can be justified, but there are circum-
stances connected with the Louisiana
Legislature which seem to exempt the
military from any intentional wrong in
that matter, knowing that they had
been placed in Louisiana to prevent
domestic violence and TO aid in the pre-
servation of peace. The revolution was
apparently, though it is believed, not
really abandoned, and the cry of Fed
eral usurpation and tyranny in Loulsl-
ana was renewed with redoubled ener-
gy. The troops had been sent to the
State under the requisition of the Gov
ernor. as other disturbances seemed
eminent. They were allowed to re-
main there to render the executive
such aid as might become necessary TO
enforce the laws of the State and repress
the continual violence which seemed
inevitable the moment the Federal
SUPPORT should be Withdrawn. Prior
TO and with view to the new election
in Louisiana white men assembled
themselves together in armed bodies
called White Leagues, and at the same
time threats were made in the Demo-
cratic Journals of the State that the
election should be carried against the
Republicans at all hazards, which very
naturally greatly alarmed the colored
voters. By Section of the act OF Feb
ruary 2S. 1871, it is made the duty OF
q. S. MarshalIs and their deputies at
polls where votes are cast for represent
atiTes to keep the peace and prevent
any violations of the so called enforce
ment acts, and other offences against
the laws of the United States; ana upon
a requisition of the Marshal OF Loulsl-
ana. and in view of said armed organ
ization and other portentous clrcum-
stances ]. caused a detachment OF troops
to be stationed in various localities In
the State to aid him in the performance
of his official duties and the enforce
ment of the State laws. The officers
and troops of the United States may
well have supposed it was their duty
to act when called upon by the govern
ment for that purpose. Each branch
Of a legislative Asse mbly is the judge
of the election and the qualification OF
its members; but il mob or BODY OF
unauthorized persons seize and hold
the legislative hall in tumultuous
and riotous manner, and so prevent
any organization by those legally re-
turned as elected. it might become the
duty of the State Executive to inter-
pose if requested by majority OF the
members-elect, to suppress the disturb
ance, and enable the persons elected 70
organize the House. ANY exercise Oi
this power would only be Justlnaoie
under the most extraordinary circuLri-
stances. and it would be the duty OF the
Governor to call upon the constabu-
iary. or if necessary, the military force
of the State. But with reference io
Louisiana, it is to be borne IL mind thai
any attempt by the Governor 70 use the
poijce force of that State at that time
would have undoubtedly precipitated
bIoody conflict with the White League
as If did on the 14th of September
There is no doubt but that the presence
of the United States troops on that oc
casion prevented bloodshed and loss o
life. Both parties appear to have relied
upon them as preservers OF the pubic
leace, The first call was made oy tbe
democrats to remove persons obn0X
ions to them from the legislative hall
and the second was from the Republi'
cans TO remove persons who had usurp
ed seats 10 the Legislature without
l"ral certificates authorizing them tc
take seats, and in sufficient numned ,ia {
turbed by the military who had lega
richt at that time to occupy a seat il
tne Legislature. The Democratic mi
nority of the House undertook to seiz'
its organization by fraud and violence
That in this attempt they trampled un
der foot the Law; that they undertook
"a make persons not returned as elect
ed. memhers, so as to create majorl
T.: that they acted under a preconcert
cd plau, and under false pretense In