Wilmington journal., 1876-07-07
GOvEKNoK TILDEN,N VI EsSAGE

ON THE LOUISIANA SITUATION.
We give below this able State paper
entire, III order that our readers may
read it and digest. 1t is document
worthy of statesman of the best days
of the Republic, and if the st. Louis
Convention had adopted no platform
of principles whatever. this sound and
able declaration of the true principles
of the government, would have fur
nished platform on which oil lovers
of constitutional government would
plant themselves in support of the
nominee. With the election of Tilden
We may dismiss all fears Of unlawful
raids of Phil Sheridan ct id onene
genus, on tie constitutional rights of
legislative bodies, and of citizeus:
oNLMUNICATIoN FROM THE GOVERNOR.
Executive CHAMBER,
ALBANY, January IL, 1875.
To the Legislature: On you. re
ass. NJ bling,I deem it to be my duty TO
invite your attention to the grave
events which have happened in our
sister State of Louisiana. The inter-
val of your adjournment has offered
you an opportunity to receive the
statements of the parties concerned
In those occurrences, particularly that
of Lieut.. Gen. Sheridan, in his official
report to the Secretary of War, dated
January 8, 1875. You are now enabled
to know with certainty all the facts
necessary to form just and deliberate
Judgment as to the nature of the prin-
cipal acts which have created so much
public excitement on the Louisiana
situation.
According to the official report of
Lieutenant General Sheridan, the |
United States soldiers entered the |
House of Representatives of the State |
session, and removed from it five of |
it's members.
The pretexts of this act are:
FErst-That it was done under di-
rections from the Governor of the
State recognized by the President
tSocond-That the persons removed
'had been illegally seated" and chad
no legal right to be there"
1hdrd-That a fear existed in the
mind of Lieutenant General Sheridan,
that in some underlined contingency.
violence might happen. i
With respect to the first and second
of these pretexts. it is a decisive an
swer-that the Louisiana House of
Representatives had, by the constitu-
tiCn of that State, the exclusive judg-
ment as to the right of these members
to seats; that its judgment is subject
to no review by the Governor or by
any officer of the United States army:
that its Judgment in favor of these
members thus forcibly removed is
binding in law, and conclusive upon
the Governor and Lieutenant General
and upon every other per
son.
In respect to the third pretext, the
fear in the mind of the Lieutenant
Sheridan of possible future
violence, when no violence really ex
isted, is not only no lawful occasion,
but not even an excuse for an invasion
OF the right of the House of Repre-
sentatives of Louisiana to Judge for
itself of the title to seats of it's own
members.
Interference by United States SOL
diers was not only unlawful, but it
was without the color of legality. It
was an act of naked physical force, in
of the laws and constitution
IF Louisiana, and of the laws and con-
'titution of the United States. There J
e case of disputed seat in the Sem
lte of this State low pending. Another |,
vas determined at the last session.
The transaction in Louisiana is, as if, !
It the instance of the Governor of this !!
State. General Hancock, commanding
n this department, or an officer spe
tally deputed by the President, should
end a file of Federal soldiers and re- !
move the incumbent to whom the seat l
lad been adjudged by the Senate.
That disorders have formally existed
n Louisiana makes no difference. For
ne laws-to which the President and I
congress are parties-recognize the
restoration of her autonomy. I
The right of her legislative bodies to !
etermine the title of their members c
'as as perfect and absolute as the rightl