The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-01-21

| peOpleOl Tue Soutu 10 i've COSeCuer III peace
and obey the laws, and nothing would give me
greater pleasure than to see peace and tran
| guilty everywhere prevail and thereby remove
1theni. fegret, however, t6 say that this state
tof things does not exist, nor does its existence
seem to be desiredih some localities; and rs
to them it may be proper, for me to say that TO
the extent that Congress has conferred power
Upon me to prevent it. neither kn' klux klan,
White leagues; ihor any other association using
:arfns and 3iolence to execute their unlawful
purposes, can be permitted that way to govern
any part Of this country, nor, can see with
| Indifference Union men or Republicans ostra
cised, prosecuted and murdered on accoGnt of
their opinions, as they now are in some locali-
ties. ..,..,.., .f,,,-e,. > i,,,s!j.ar.
L have heretofore urged the case of LOU
| isiana upon the attention of Congress, and /
can't but think that its inaction has produced
great evil Some timein September last an
armed organized body; of men to support the
| candidates who had been put in nomination for
the officers Of Governor and ;Lieutenant-Gov-
ernor at the November election in 1872, and
who had been declared not elected by the board
of canvassers, = recognized by all the courts to
which the question had been submitted, under
took to subvert and overthrow the State gov
ernment that had been recognized by me in ac-
cordance with we'll known precedents. The
recognized government was driven from the
State House, and but for his fudiug shelter in
the capital of the State Of Which he was gov
er,ior, it is scarcely to be dodbted but that he
would have been killed. From the State
House, before be had been driven to tie Custom
House, call was made, in accordance with
the fourth section OF the constitution of the
United States, for The aid of the general gov
eminent toIsuppress, domestic Violence under
these circumstances and, in accordance; with
my sworn duties, my proclamation of the. 10Th
September, 1874, was issued. This served to
reinState Gov. Kellogg to his position Nominal
ly, but it cannot be claimed that the insurgents
have, to this: day, surrendered to the State cor
that they have, in apy, ,sepse disarned. On the
contrary, it is known that the same armed or
ganization, that existed on the 14th Of ofSepten-
ber, 1874 id opposition to- the recognized State
government, still retain their organization,
equipments and commanders, and can be-called
out any hour to resist the State government.
Under these circumstances the same military
force has been continued in Louisiana as was
sent there under the. first calls and under the
same general instruction. / repeat that the
task assigned the troops is not PLEASANT one
to them. The army is not composed Of lawyers
capable of Judging, at q moments notice, of
Just how far they can go in the maintenance Of
law and order. and it was impossible for me TO
give specific instructions providing for all pos
sible contingencies that might arise. The
troops were bound to act upon tile judgment Of
the commanding officer upon each sudden con-.
tingency that arose, or await instruction, which
could only reach them after the threatened
wrongs had committed which they were called
on to prevent. ut should be recoliected, too,
that upon my recognition of the kellogg gov
ernment reported the fact, with the grounds of
recognition, to Congress and asked that body to-
take action in Tie matter; otherwise l should
regard its silence aS an acquescence in my
course. Noaction has been taken by that body,
and have maintained the positionthen marked.
out. .;.,...-.. ..
If orror has been committed by the army In
these matters, it has always been on theiside of
preservation of good ORDER the maintenance.
of law, and the protection of life Their bear
ing reflects credit upon the soldiers, and If
wrong has resulted, the blame is with the tur-
buent elements surrounding them. 2 15.*
I now earnestly ask that such action be taken
by Congress as to. leave my duties perfectly
clear in dealing with the affairs of Louisiana,
giving assurance at the same time that ~hateY-
er may be done by that body in the premises
will be executed according to the spirit and let
ter of the law, without fear or favor. I Herewith
transmit copies of documents containing more
specific information as to the subject matter Of
the resolution.
i7i<'T,.Y2 U. S. GRANT.