The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1875-01-28
The LOUISIANA TROUBLES.

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The LOUISIANA TROUBLES.
The President RssPsais to the RE-
Quest for Informatlon.
The President, in answer to the Senate resolu-
tion adopted ON the 8th asking for information in
regard to the recent proceedings in Louisiana, re-
sponeeed n spse1al message on the 18TH an ab
10 ssy that iawiesshess, taarbuisnes and blood.
shed have characterised tho political affairs of
louisiana since IT'D organization under the Recon
peat what has become well known az part Of lite
unhappy history. He briefly reviews the leading
events 10 Of {Ss Past ieY yssrshe election q is
Ing that event; the shameful and undis.
1873 against the Republican,; the glaring
IN sns the
states Circuit Court; the decision Of that court
sumption Of The office Of Governor: The Presi-
have. tic Hight to interfere with State
elections 90 a. to maintain political equal
lty and rights therein, lrrespestive Of race
t s1S ill.,. result: aa 70 :. es.rS em The
Fifteenth amendment and the acts to enforce
that amendment as the abrogation of State laws
unfolding slavery results nom the Thirteenth
clear, tts judgment was properly executed. He
had In the discharge of his duty under Sec. 4 OF
Art; I Of the coastttutioa recognised Mr.. kellogg
~ Governor. 1t Was not certain that he was
Emery was elected. Kellogg Obtained possession
Of the office and in his opinion had more right to
It than his competitor.
By the Senate Committee on Privileges and
Elections to the effect that to recognize the
McEnery Government would be recognizing, q
Of tn s
report which seems to have been generally &C.
cepted by the country at the time it was made,
the great crime in Louisiana is that one is hold
out of 5000 Soss sin xn1 .notSss
whose title to the Office is based on fraud and
in defiance Of the wishes and intentions
the voters Of the ss The
Colfax, which he characterized as an affair
which in bloodthirstiness and barbarity was
hardly surpassed by any acts of savage warfare.
To hold the people of Louisiana responsible
for these atrocities would be unjust, but it is a
lamentable fact that insuperable distractions
the
nounced as . Federal tyranny and despotism''
the attempt Of United States officers to bring
boosted land Of civilization and Christianity to
punish the perpetrators of this bloody and mon.
strous crime. Not unlike in its leading feat
been punished and the Conservative press de.
nounced all efforts to that end and boldly justified
the crime. The President relates additional out.
RACES, to which more or less prominence has been
given In the public press.
In consequence OF representations made to him
that the presence of troops in Louisiana was I'M.
necessary, and that there would be no disturbance
from the State early last summer with the excep.
ton of . small garrison at New Orleans. On the
18th Of September d. B. Penn, who claimed that
he had been elected Lieutenant Governor in
upon the militia of the State to arm assemble and
drive out the ''usurpers," as he designated the
ofaeers Of the State. The White Leagaers, armed
ana 1 ready ios the eGnst promptly
Of l7s5 and Sec. Of the Consultation, to aid in
suppressing domestic violence. On the next
days from the date thereof, but before the
proclamation was published in New Orleans,
izing, ausurping government had taken forcib!e
possession Of the State House and temporarily
subverted the Government. Twenty or more
persons were killed, including q number of the
The President insists that there was great in.
timidatiOn exercised at the recent election,
and instances the agreement of the mer:
he .so at as e9
to the efforts made to control the election and
SO manipulate the vote as to assure the as
tendency of their friends and the defeat Of the
1871. it is made the duty of the United States
Marshals and their Deputies at the polls where
votes are cast for Representatives in Congress to
keep the peace and prevent any violations
OF the sO-called Enforcement act, and other
offenses against the laws of the United States,
and upon requisition of the Marshal of Louisi-
ana, and in view of said armed organization and
tachments Of troops to be stationed in various To-
calities In the State to aid him in the perform
ance of his official duties:
In regard to the alleged interference of the mil.
itary with the organization of the Legislature OF
Louisiana on the 4th, he had no information which
had not been received by him since that time and
published. His first information was received
usry.. He did not know that any such thing was
anticipated, and no orders, no suggestions, were
ever given to any military officer in that State
Ss to as
BY the ofacers or troops of the United
States with the organization of State Legisla.
ture or any of its proceedings, or with any civil
our ideas of government. He could conceive OF
no case, not involving rebellion or instruction,
where such interference by the authority Of the
stances connected with the late iegisia-
tive imbroglio in Louisiana which seem to exemnl
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 REFRESHING it. The revolution was apparently,
though tho 1t is believed not really, abandoned
amy in Louisiana was renewed with redoubied
energy. Troops had been sent to the State under
the requisition of the Governor, and, other dis
turbances seemed imminent, they we're allowed
to remain there to render the Executive such aid
as might become necessary to enforce the laws OF
the State and repress the continued violence
which seemed inevitable at the moment when
the Federal support should be withdrawn:
the Returning Board for the late election which
may not be found in its report, which has been
published, but it is matter of public information
votes was consumed by the arguments oflawyers
several Of whom represented each party before
the Board: He had no evidence that the proceed.
ings Of this Board were not in accordance with
in excluding from their count certain returns,
they were right or wrong, is = question that de-
ponds upon the evidence they. had before theY,
power II they chose to exercise it, to decide that
way, and, prins0 J0cie, the persons whom they re.
turn as selected were entitled to the Offices fol-
which they were candidates.
Each branch of 4 Legislative Assembly is the
Judge Of the election and qualification Of fts own
members, but if q mob hold the legislative hall
In riotOue manner, and SO prevent any organi.
cation by those legally returned as elected, it
mlgnt become the 0uty OF the Executive TO inter
fere if requested by q majority of the mem
bers-elect and enable the House to organize.
With reference to Louisiana it is to be
borne in mind that any attempt made by the Gov
ernor to the police force Of that State at this
time would have undoubtedly precipitated a
bloody conflict with the White League, as it did
on the 14th Of September. There is no doubt but
the presence Of the United States troops ON that
occasion prevented bloodshed and the loss of life
Both parties appear to have relied upon them az
Of the public peace. The first call was
made by the Democrats to remove from the leg.
islative hall persons obnoxious to them, and the
second by the Republicans to remove alleged
ueurpers.
That the Democratic minority of the House
undertook to seize its organization by fraud and
violence; that in this attempt they trampled
under foot the law, in that they undertook to
make persons not returned as elected member
90 Is to create majority; that they acted under
introduced into the hall men to support their pre-
tensions by force, If necessary and that the con.
nict, disorder and riotous proceeding following
are facts which seem to he well-established, and
am credibly informed that these violent
plan to have the House organized in thil
Emery Senate; then to dePose Gov. Kellogg
and 90 revolutionize the State Government
request of the majority of the members re-
turned as elected In the House, to use such
means - were In his power to defeat these
lawless and revolutionary proceedings II