The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1876-06-07
GOV. TILDEN
Upon THE
supremacy Of Civil Over Military
Authority.
His Timely Rebuke of the Sheridan
UsurpatiOn In Louisiana.

South who have lately escaped from
bayonet and carpet-bag misrule upheld by
the military power of the United States,
is the right of local selfgovernment.
Every other consideration sinks into insig-
nifcance compared to it. Give our people
the right to manage their own affairs, sub
iect of course to the restrictions of the
federal Constitution-to each and every
part of which they have in good faith
pledged their allegiance-and they will
have abundant means to make themselves
contented and become prosperous. De
prive them of this right, and subject
them to the rule of the bayonet, or of
alienism and ignorance supported by the
bayoret, and their condition will be in
finitely worse than that of the colonists
whose sacrifices to freedom are revived
in this Centennial year. 1t takes them
back beyond the Red sea. and into the
wilderness from which they have
but yesterday escaped after long years
of weary marching, Of hunger and of
thirst, of trouble and of tribulation, of
sickness and of sorrow. With US this is
the chief issue of the contest-the Aaron
rod which swallows up all other questions.
It is to this policy Of resubjugating
the Southern States, and re-establishing
carpet-bag and bayonet despotism over
them, that the Republican party of the
South is pledged. 1t is committed to it
by the appointment of the Senatorial
Inquisition which is now searching for
pretexts, no matter how false, upon
which to set aside and nullify our cleo
ton of last year. 1t is committed TO it
by its endorsement of the bloody in
structions of Morton, Blaine, and other
Radical leaders in Congress. 1t is COM
mitted to it by the echoes of the senti-
ments of these malignants, which have
gone out from the State Conventions of
their party all over the Union. They
all protest against what the Democracy
of the South have so earnestly craved,
the Punishment of sectional discord and
military rule, now that the causes which
produced them have ceased to exist.
Upon this paramount issue of the sub
ordination of the civil to the military
authority and the right Of each State to
manage its own affairs in its own way,
subject, as we have said, to her obliga-
tons to the constitution of the United
States, seeing the growing strength Of
Governor Tilden, who has justly won
the title of the great Reformer,
the question is asked, how does
he stand Fortunately, he has made a
record which does not leaye us in doubt.
1t has been but little more than a year
since Gen. Sheridan, by order of the
President, entered Louisiana, and usurped
the power to expel members of the Leg
islature with the bayonet. AT the same
time, he denounced the people of that
State, who had won their right to be free
from carpet-bag rule, as "bandiHi,"
and communicated his purpose, if sus-
tanned, to overthrow the laws and estab-
lish military despotism for their pun
ishment. Coy. Tilden was, at that time,
as now, the chief Executive officer of |
the Empire State, and in that capacity
he delivered q special message to the
Legislature, embodying in the name of
he people of New York and of the
cause of constitutional liberty, an indig-
lant protest against the proceedings.
The protest, emanating from source so
untitled to consideration, was not without
IS influence. The upllfted hand of the
military usurper was stayed.
If the people, whose fate is bound up
n the triumph of the cause for which Til
en- then raised his voice, are prepared to
-ithhold from him their confidence, then
ne words may be fifty uttered
Begone;
un to your houses, fall upon your knees,
ray to the gods 10 intermit the plague
hat needs must light on thiS ingatitude.
PECIAL MESSAGE PROTESTING AGAINST
THE INTERFERENCE OF SHERIDAN IN THE Z
AFFAIRS OF LOUISIANA. l
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER. I
ALBANY, January II, 1876. p
b the Legislature: C
On your re-assembling deem it to be my
lty to invite your attention 20 the grave
-ents which have happened in our sister P
ate of Louisiana. The interval of your Il
ljournment has afforded you an opportunity r
receive the statements of the parties con- L
rned in those occurrences, particularly b
at of Northumberland Sheridan, in his n
ficial Report to the Secretary of War
ted January 8th, 1875. You are now en-
lied to know with certainty all the facts r,
cessary to form a just and deliberate -
dgment as to the nature of the principal
Is which have created so much public ex- o
tement.
According to the Official Report of Lieu G
nant-General Sheridan, the United States ty
oilers entered the House of Representa- m
res of the State of Louisiana, while that d
dy was in session, and removed from it tt
e of its members. n,
The pretexts of this act are:
First.-That it was done under directions &C
m the Governor of the State, recognized AZ
the President. H
the persons removed chad an
IN illegally seated,' and chad no legal M
bit TO be thsle," Ell
fear existed in the mind hs
Lieutenant-Gener Sheridan that in ha
ne underlined contingency, violence might
open.
With respect to the TiEst and second of these VI
texts, 1t il @ decisive answer-that the O
uisiana House of Representatives had, by
Constitution of that State, the exclusive ~
gment as to the right of these members Of
eats; that its judgment is subject to no ca
lew By any judicial authority, still less -
sview by the Governor or by any officer Ia
he United States Array; that its judg- at
Mt in favor of these members thus forci- sL
removed is binding in law, and conclu- -