The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1875-01-23
The Louisiana Message.

The Louisiana Message.
From the New Orleans Republican
Of the 18th we extract the following
synopsis Of the special message trans
United to the national Senate by Pres
ident Grant in response to aresolution
introduced by Senator Thurman, ask
ing for information relative to Louis
lana affairs:
The message of President Grant,
sent yesterday to the Senate Of the
United States, strikes directly ut the
root Of tho evils out Of which have
grown the disturbances in the South,
and particularly in this State. 1t is 4
more elaborate message, fuller in de-
tail and narration than we were led
to believe be would publish but the
occasion and subject admit of so much,
and more could have been said, had it
seemed necessary, to impress Congress
more deeply as to tlle Importance Of
action regarding Louisiana affairs.
The facts related in the message of
| frauds ut elections, Of violence, MUIR
der, ostracism and lawlessness, COM
mitted, suffered and even commended
in this State, all acting against Re-
publicans and with a view to their ex-
termination, is tale that has been
many times told, and it must continue
to be told until the life, property and
personal, civil religious and political
rights Of all men, white or black, COM
ing as men from wheresoever they
may have come, are rs secure in Louis
lana as in Vermont. 1t is to impress
Congress with the necessity of secur-
! ing peace here that the message is
submitted 1t does not assert that the
election of Governor Kellogg was not
accomplished without question, nor
ask that he be sustained as Governor,
right or wrong. That question is left
where it belongs.
Congress, by non-action at its last
session, left the President in position
where he was obliged to assume res
possibility, and he long since recog-
nlzed Governor Kellogg as Governor,
following the best evidence in the case,
and with the certainty before him that
Mr.. McEnery was not elected.
The message alludes to the riots
and massacres of 1866 and 1868, of the
Colfax butche1y, the Cousllatta MUIR
ders, the Crawford aud Harris assas-
sinations and the events of the four
teenth of September. It is but a faint
outline, necessarily SO in a single mes
sage, Of a trail marked by the blood
Of Union men aud Republicans from
the beginning Of the reconstruction OF
. rebel State up to the present day.
Military interference is also cOnsid-
cred. Generally, the military arm Of
the government has been stretched
ont after the outrages have been ac-
cOmplished. On the fourth of January
the army was in time, and prevented
Il slaughter which one party threat
ened, another feared, and both unite
in saying would have taken place had
not General DeTrobriand appeared at
the right moment and cleared from
the hall Of Representatives those per-
sons who had no legal fight to be
tliele. ~ '. -
General Sheridan is spoken of as Al
officer who was sent here tO observe
and report the situation, What he
did and what he said is approved and
believed; what he suggested as a
remedy for the evils found here re-
mains to be considered according to
law. Congress is asked to take such
1 action 40 may ho nacossaru scs,unorn.
ing the happenings in this unhappy
State. The White Leagues are yet to
be disbanded, and wholesome punish
ment is yet to be 1netrd out to those
who deserve it. The members Of Con
gress should not shirk their duty,
when as now, and previously, the
President has done his. The message
isa strong one, and good one. 1t should
do good. H+%".t g..
Spanned as the eastern half of the
| American cnntinant IL with ,.ailrr.eGs