The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-01-27

II
: are circumstances connected with tb.
late Legislative imbroglio in Louisi
ana, which seem to exempt the mill
tary from any intentional wrong ii
that matter, knowing that they haC
been placed in Louisiana to preven
domestic violence and aid IN tot,
in the enforcement of the State laws
The officers and troops of the United
States may well have supposed tha
II was their duty to act when calIec
upon by the Governor for that pur
pose.
Each branch Of a legislative assem-
bly, is the judge Of the election and
qualifications Of its own members
but if mob or a body of unauthor.
lied persons seize aud hold the legis
latlve hallin atumultucus and riotous
fmanner, and so prevent any organi-
zation by those legally returned as
elected, it might become the duty OF
the State Executive to irterpose, il
requested by majority ofthe mem
bers elect, to suppress the disturbance
aud enable the persons elected to or
ganize The House. Any exercise
Of this power would only be justifa-
bic under most extraordinary circum-
stances and it would then be the
duty Of the Governor to call upon
the constabnlary, or. if necessary, the
military force Of the State.
The first call was made by the
Democrats to remove persons obnox-
ious to them from the legislative hall,
aud the second was from the Repub-
Leans to remove persons who had
usurped seats in the Leg s'ature with
out legal certificates emitting them
to seats, and in sufficient numbers to
change the majority. Nobody was
disturbed by the military who had
a legal right at that time to occupy a
seat in the Legislature That the
Democratic minority Of the House
undertook to seize the organization
by fraud and violence that in this
attempt they trampled under foot law;
that they undertook to make persons
not returned as elected members, so
as to create q majority; that they
acted under a preeOncerted plan, and
under false pFetenses introduced in
to the hall body Of men to support
their pretensions, by force if necessa-
~ and that conflict, disorder, aud
riotous proceedings followed. are
facts that seem to be well established,
and | am credibly informed that
these violent proceedings were part
Of premeditated plan to have the
House organized in this way, recog.
u ze what has been called the. Nc
Emery Senate, then to depose Gov
Kellogg, and so reyolutionize the
State Government
Whether it was wrong for the
Governor, at the request OF the ma
jority Of the members returned as
elected to the House, to use sHch
means as were in his power TO defeat
these lawless and revolutionary pro-
ceedings is, perhaps, a debatable
question, but is quite certain thar
there would have been no trouble If
those who now complain Of illegal 10
reference had allowed the House to
be organized in lawful and regular
manner. When those who inaugu-
rate disorder and anarchy disayow
such proceedings it viii be time
enough to condem1 those who, BY
such means as they have, prevent the
success Of their lawless and desperate
schemes.
Lieutenant General Sheridan was
requested by me to go to Louisiana
to observe and report the situation
there, aud if, in his opinion necessa-
~, to assume the command, which |
be did on the 4th instant, after the
disturbances had oc-
Cured, at . o'clock p. m, a number
of hours after the disturbances. No
party motives nor prejudice can rea-
sonably be imputed to him, bus, hon
estly convinced By what be has seen |
and beard there, be has character
lied the leaders of the White Leagues
in severe terms and suggested sum
mary modes Of procedure against
them which, though they cannot be
would If legal, soon put an
end to the troubles and disorders in
that State. General Sheridan was
looking at facts, and, possibly not
thinking Of proceedings which
would be the only proper ones To
pursue in time Of peace, thought
more Of the utterly lawless condition
of the society surrounding him at the
time of bis dispatch, and OF what |
would prove q sure remedy. He |
never proposed to do an illegal act
nor expressed a determination to pro-
ceed beyond what the law in the fu-
ture might authorize for the pun
isbment Of the atrocities which have
been committed and the commission |
of which cannot be successfully de-
MED 1t is a deplorable facg that
political crimes and murders have
been committed in Louisiana which
have gone unPunished, and which
Rave been justified or apologized for,
which must rest as q reprOach upon
the State and country long after the
Eesent generation has passed away.
have no desire to have United
States troops interfere in the domes-
tic concerns of Louisiana or any
0ther State. On the 9th of December
.ast Governor Kellog telegrapbed to
me his spprehensiOns that the White
League intended to make another at
tack upon the State House, 20 which,
on the same day, | made the follow
ing answer, since which 10 eOmma-
nication has been sent to him:
Your dispatch Of this date just re-
ceived. 1t is exceedingly unpelata-
bic to use troops in anticipation OF
danger. Let the State authorities
be right and then proceed with their
duties without apprehension Of dan
ger. If they are then molested the
question will be determined whether
the United States is able to main
tain law and order witkin its limits !
Or not"
[ have deplored the necessity
which seemed to make it my duty.
under the Constitution and laws, to
direct such interference. have al
.-ars refnsad excent where II Seem