The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-01-22

q pitifuI tale of the persecution of her hus-
band because he was 8 union man, and OF the
efforts made to seize those who had committed
a crime which, to use her language, left two
widows and nine orphans destitute. To say
that the murder of negro or a white rtpubll-
can, is not considered a crime in Louisiana,
would probably be unjust to great part Of
the people, but it is true that great number
of such murders have been committed, and
no one has been punished therefor, and mani
testify the spirit OF hatred and violence Is
stronger than the law.
Represents ions were made to me that the
presence of troops in Louisiana was unneces-
sary, aud thst there was no danger OF puohc
disturbances if they were taken away. Cyn-
ssquently, early last summer the troops were
withdrawn from the state, with the exception
of a small garrison at New Orleans barracks
1t was stated that a comparative state of quiet
had supeTvened, and that political excitement
as to Louisiana affairs seemed to be dying
out bat the November election was approach
ing. and it was necessary for party purposes
that the flame should be relighteG. Accord
ingly on the 18th of September d. 3 Penn.
claiming that he was elected lieutenant gov
ernor in 1872 issued an infammat0ry pTOcla-
nation calling upon the militia of the state to
arm, assemble, and to drive out the usUrpers
as he designated the officers Of the state. The
White Leagues, armed and ready for the con-
fiict, promptly responded. On the same day
the governor made a formal requistiOn upon
me, IN pursuance of the act Of 1875, and sec
ton 1, article of the constitution, to aid IN
suppTessing domestic violence. On the next
day l issued my procl 4matIOn commanding the
insurgents to GIsperse within five days of the
date thereof but before the proclamation was
published in New Odeans. the organized and
armed forces recognizing usurping govern
ment, had taken fOTcibe possession of the
state-hOuse and temporarily subyeTted the
government, Twenty or more people were
killed, including a number of the police OF
| the city. The streets Ct the city were stained
with blood. All that WAS desired in the way
of excitement Lad been accomplished. And
IN ye% 81 Vas as aspFfgarenty though it is be-
lieyei not really, abandoned, and the cry of
fe leral us1rpation and tyranny in Louisiana
was renewed with redOubled energy. Troops
had been sent to the state under the requisi-
ton Cf the governor, as other disturbances
seemed imm nent. They were allowed to re-
main there to render the executive sucI aid
as might become necessary to enforce tue
laws of the 3 ate, and repress the continued
violence which SCENE inevitable the moment
federal support should be withdrawn. PIiOr
to and with view to the late election in Lou
l=laDa. white men associated themselves to-
gether in armed bodies called White Leagues,
aud at the same time threats were made in
the journals of the state, that the election
should be carried against the republicans at
all hazards, which, very naturally, greatly
alarmed the colorod voters.
By section 8 OF the act of Feb o. 1871, it
and their deputies, at polls wnere votes are
cast for Representatives in congress, to keep
order and prevent violations Of the so called
enforcement act, and other offenses against
lie laws of the United States, and, upon
requi7iti0n Of tie marshal Of Louisiana,
and in view Of armed organization and
pOrtentOus circumstances, / caused detach-
ments Of troops to be stationed IL various 10
calties IN tue state. to aid HIM IN the perform
anre Of his official duties.
TVas inf n
voters at the election, notwithstanding this
preCautIOp, admits Of no doubt. The follow
log are specimens of the means used: On
the 18th Of October, eighty persons signed and
published the following at shreveport:
We, the undersigned, merchants of the
city OF Shreveport, in obedience to request
Of the Shreveport Campaign club, agree to
use every endeaFOr to get our employees 10
vote the pcoDie's ticket 1T the ensuing cleo
ton and in the event of their refusal so to do.
or in case they vote The radical ticket, to re-
fuse to employ them a. the expiration OF their
term of service"
On the same day another large body of per-
sons published in the same place a paper, IN
which they used the following language:
We, the undersigned, merchants Of the
city of Shreveport alive to the reat import
ance of securing good and honest government
to the state. do agree and pledge ourselves
not to advance any supp les or money to any
planter the coming year. who will give employ
ment or rent lands to laborers who vote the
radical ticket in the coming election"
have no information of the proceedings OF
the returning board for said election, which
may not be found in its report which has been
publ he'd. but it is a matter of public infOr-
nation that a great part of the time taken to
canvass the votes was consumed by the argu
ments of lawyers several Of whom represented |
each party before the board. | have no evil
dence that tine proceedings of tLis board were
not in accordance with the law under which
they acted. Whether, in excluding from their
count certain returns they we're II hit or
wrong, Ia a question that depends upon the
evidence they had be fore them, but 1t IL Very
clear that the law gives them the power. #
they choose to eXerc sc it, Of deciding that
way, and prlma facic, the persons whom they
return a. elected, are entitled to the Offices
for which they were candidates.
Respecting the alleged interference by the
military with the organization of the leglsla-
ture of Louisiana on the 4th inst, have no
knowledge or information which has not been |
received by me since that time and published
Ny first information was from the papers of
the morning of the 9Th Of JPnuarv. L id
not know that any such thing was anticipated, !
and no orders and no suggestions were ever
given to any military officers in that state on
that subject prior to the occurrences. l am
well aware that any military interference by
the officers of the United States with tbs or
ganization of state Legislature or any OF its |
pr oceediugs, or with any civil department OF
the government is Tepugnant to our ide as OF |
government. l can conceive of no case not |
involving rebellion CT insurl ectiOn, where such
by authority Of the general gov |
eminent ought to be y emitted or can be justl- |
fed. But there are circumstances connected |
with tie legislative imbrOghO in Louisiana |
which seem to exempt the military from any
intentional wrong III that matter
The enforcement of the state laws the |
officers and troops Of the United States may !
well have supposed that it was their duty to |
act when called upon by the governor for that |
purpose Each branch OF the legislative as |
sombly is the judge of the election and quail |
fcatrons Of its own members, but il a mob or |
a BODY Of unauthorized persons seize and |
hold the legislative hall in tumultuous and |
riotuus manner, and so prevent any Organiza- |
ton lv those legally returned elected, 1t |
might become the duty of the state executive |
to interfere. if requested by a majolty of the |
members elect. to suppress the disturbance /
and ensb,e the persons elected to organize the
house ANY exercise Of this power would be
Unsuitable under most extraordinary clrCum-
stances, and It would then be the duty of the
governor to call upon the cOnstabulary, or if
necessary, the military force of the tate.
But with reference tO7LOuisiana. it is to be
borne III mind that any attemp of the govern
or to use the police force Of that state a. this
time. would have undoubtedly precipitated a
bloody conflict with the white league as 1t did |
on the l4th OF Sc TENDER. There IS no doubt
but that the presence of the United States
troops on that occasion prevented blo0dshed |
and the loss OF life. Both parties appear to
have relied upon them as conservators Of the
)uIl C peace. The first call was made by the
democrats to remove persons obnoxious to
hem from the legislative hall, and the second
Was from the republicans. to remove persons
Who had usuTped seats in the legislature,
without legal certificates authorizing them to
seats, and in sufficient number to change the
majority. Nobody was disturbed 10y the mill
any who had a legal right at that time to Oc-
,Ipy a seat in the legislature That the demo-
,ra'ic minority Of the house undertook to
ei2e it's organization by fraud ard malice
hat in this attempt they tIampled under foot
he law: that they undertook to make persons
Tot returned a. elected Members so as to
reate majority; that they acted under
preConcerted plan, and under false pre-
enses introduced into the hall men to sup
,ort their pTetensiOns by force, il necessary,
nd tina: conflict, disorder and riotOus proceed
ogs following. are facts that seem to be well
established, and 1 am credibly informed that
hese violent proceedings were part OF pre-
leditate plan to nave the house organized III |
his way, recognize what has been called the
IcEuery senate, then to depOse Gov. Kellogg, | ,
nd so rsvOlutionize the state government. |
Whether it was wrong for the governor at the
squest OF the majority Of members returned ,