Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-01-22

oil the act OF February -, 1871, II Is made
the duty of 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 acts and 9th
er offences against the laws of the United
States, and upon requisiiion of the mar
shal OF Louisiana and in view of said arm
ed organizations and pOrtentous circum-
stances, ] ordered detachments of troops
to be stationed in various localities in tho
State to aid him In the performance Of his
Official duties in the enforcement of the
state laws. The officers and troops OF the
United States may well have supposed
that 1t was their duty 10 act when called
upon by the governor for that purpose.
Each branch OF a legislative assembly is
the judge of the election and qualification
of It's own members, but If "A mob, or
body of unauthorized persons seizes and
holds the legislative hall in tumultuous
and riotous manner, and 30 prevents any
organization by those legally returned as
elected, 1t might become the duty Of the
state executive TO interpose If requested
by majority Of the members eject, to sup
press the disturbance, and enable the per-
sons elected to organize the House. Any
exercise of this power would only be Jus
tihable under the most extraordinary cir
cumstances, and ii would then he the uu
W OF The governor TO call upon The constab-
ularJ, or If necessary, military force OF the
State. But with reference 10 Louisiana II
Is to be borne in mind that any attempt by
the governor 10 use the police force of that
State at this time wonld have undoubtedly
precipitated n bloody conflict with the
white league, as it did on the l4lh of Sep
lember. There Is no doubt that the pres
ence of the United States troops upon that
occasion prevented bloodshed and the loss
OF life. Both parties appear TO have re-
lied upon Them as conservators of the pub
lie peace. The first call was made by the
democrats TO remove persons obnoxious to
them from the legislative hall, and the sec
ond was from the republicans 10 remove
persons who had usurped seats in tue Leg
islature without any legal certificates au-
thorzing them to seats, in sufficient
number 10 change the majority. Nobody
was disturbed by the military who had
the legal right at that time 10 occupy a seat
in the Legislature. That the democratic
minority OF the House undertook to seize
lis organization by fraud and violence,
that in this attempt they trampled under
foot the law, that they undertook 10 make
persons members who were not returned
aS elected members Sd as 10 create major.
itv, that they acted under a preconcerted
plan and under false pretenses introduced
into the hall a body Of men TO support
their prelensons by force if necessary, and
that conflict, disorder and riOtous proceed
ings followed, are facts that seem to be
well established and l am credibly in
formed ihat these violent proceedings were
part Of a premeditated plan TO have the
House organized, and in this way recog-
nize what has been called the McEnery
Senate, then to depOse Gov. Kellogg and
SO revolutionize the state government.
Watcher 1t was wrong for the governor.
at the request of the majority OF the men,
bers returned as elected TO the House, to
use such means as were in his power 20
defeat these lawless and revolutionary pro-
ceedings, is perhaps q debatable question,
but 1t is quite certain that there would
have been no trouble If those who now
complain OF illegal interference had allow
ed the House to be organized in a lawful
and regular manner. When those who in
augurate disorder and anarchy disavow
such proceedings 1t will be time enough to
condemn those who by such means rs they
have resOrted 10 have prevented the sue
cess Of their lawless and desperate schemes.
Lieut.. Gen. Sheridan was requested By
me TO 60 10 Louisiana TO observe and re-
port the situation there, aud fin his opin-
ion necessary, to assume the command
which he did on the 4lh instant, after the
legislative disturbances had occurred, at
nine o'clock p. M, number or hours af
ter the disturbances. No party motives
nor prejudices can reasonably be imputed
to him, but honestly convinced by what
he has seen and heard there, he has char
acteriZed the leaders Of the white leagues
In severe terms, and suggested summary
modes of procedure against them, which,
though they cannot be adopted, would, II
legal, soon put an end 10 the troubles and
disorders in that State. Gen. Sheridan
was looking at the facts, and possibly was
not thinking of the proceedings which
would be the only proper ones TO pursue
In time of peace. He thought more of the
utterly lawless condition of society sur
rounding him al the time of his dispatch,
aud Of what would prove a sure remedy.
He never proposed TO do an illegal act, nor
expressed the determination 10 proceed be-
yond what the law in the future might au-
thorlze for the punishment of the atrocities
which have been committed, and the COM
mission OF which cannot be successfully
denied. II is dep!orable fact that political
crimes and murders have been committed
in Louisiana which have gone unpunished
and which have been Justified or apolJ-
eized for, and which must rest as a re-
proach upon the State and country long
amer the present generation has passed
away.
l have no desire to have United States
troops interfere in the domestic concerns
Of Louisiana or any other Stale. On the
OH of December last, Gov. Kellogg tele-
graphed to me his apprebenslons lhat the
white league intended to make another at
tack upon the state house, TO which, on the
same day, l made the following answer
since which no communication has been
sent 10 him.
Your dispatch ofthis date Is just receiv-
ed. 1t Is exceedingly unpalatable TO use
troops in anticipation of danger. Let the
stale authorities be right and then proceed
with their duties without apprehensiOus OF
danger. If they are then moested, the
question will be determined whether the
United Stales is able 10 maintain law and
order within Its limits, or not"
1 have deplored the necessity which
seemed to make it my duty under the con-
stltutlOn aud laws 10 direct such inter-
ference. l have always refused, except
where ii seemed TO be my imperative du-
ty 10 act in such a manner under the con-
slitution aud laws Of the United States. l
have repeatedly and earnestly entreated
The people OF the South TO live together in
peace aud obey the laws, and nothing
would give me greater pleasure than tO
SEQ tranquility everywhere prevail, aud
thereby remove all necessity for the pres
epse of troops among them. regret, how
ever, TO say that this state of things does
not exist, nor does its existence seem to be
desired in some localities, As to those, it
may be proper for me 10 say that TO the ex-
tent that Congress has conferred power on
me TO prevent it, neither kuklux klans,
white leagues, nor any other association
using arms aud violence 10 execute their
unlawful purposes, eau bo permitted IA
that way TO govern any part of this coun-
try. Nor can see with Indifference Union
ISi VI iSpublicahS osllaSiseuI peTSeculeu
and murdered on account Of their opinions,
as they now are in some localities.
have, heretofore, urged the case of Loui-
siana upon the attention Of Congress, and
cannot but think that its inaction has pro-
duced great evil. To summarize; In Sep
tember last, an armed, organized body OF
men, In the support Of candidates who had
been put in nomination for the offices of
governor and lieutenant governor at tho
November election in 1872, and who had
been declared not elected by the board of
canvassers recognized by all tho courts to
which the question had been submitted,
undertook to subvert and overthrow the