The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1877-04-11
THE PRESIDENTS LETTER OF IN
STRUC-TION.

on to New Orleans, and the following in
structions have been given them as a
chart to govern their actions in the prem
isS:
"WAsHISGroS.-To tie Her. Charles B.
Laurence, Joseph r. Ha.sLsy, john "
Harlan, john G Brossn and Wayne Nae
Vsigh, Observation-Disclosures ! am
instructed by the President to lay before
you some observations upon the occasion
and objects which have led him TO invite
YOU, as members OF the commission
about to visit the State of Louisiana. to
undertake this public service. Upon as
Stunning his Office. the President finds the
situation Of affairs ia Louisiana such as
to justly demand his prompt and solicit>
GUS attention, for this situation presents
as one OF its features the apparent inter
vcntion of the military power OF the
United States in domestic controversies
which undoubtedly divide the opinions
and disturb the harmony Of the people
OF that State. The intervention arising
during the term and by the authority Of
his predecessor, throws no present duty
upon the President, except to examine
and determine the real extent, form and
effect TO which such Intervention actual
~ exiats, and 10 decide as 20 the time,
manner and condition which should be
obscrved in putting an end to it. II is in
aid Of his intelligent and prompt dis
charge Of this duty, that the President
has sought the services Of this commits
sion. to supply, By means of its. examina>
ton, conducted in the State of Louisiana,
some information that may be pertinent
by the circumspection aud security Of
any measures which he may resolve upon.
IL will be readily understood that the
service desired OF and entrusted to this
commission does not include any exami-
nations into or report upon the facts Of
the recent State election, or OF the can
vass Of the votes cast at that election
So far as attention TO that subject may
be necessary, the President can not but
feel that the reports of the committees Of
the two houses of Congress, and other
public information at hand, will dispense
with and should preclude any original ex-
ploga;ion By the Commission Of that field
of inquiry But it is most pertinent and
important, in coming 10 a decision upon
the precise question OF executive duty
before him, that the President should
know what are the real impedimen,s to
regular, legal and peaceful proceedings
under the laws and constitution Of the
State Of louisiana, in which the anoma-
lies in government there presented may
be put in course of settlement without
involving the element Of military power
as either an agent or make-weight in
such solution. The successful ascer>
tainment Of these impediments, the Pres
ident would confidently expect, woul ID in
dictate to the people OF that State the wis
dom and modes OF their removal. The
unusual circumstances which attended
and followed the State election and can
vass, from its relation to the excited feel
ings and interests OF the Presidential
election, may have retarded within the
State Of Louisiana the persuasive innuen-
ces by which the great social ann ma
terial interests common to the whole peo-
pie of State, and the pride Of Ameri-
can character as a aw-ablding nation,
ameliorate the disappointments and dis
solve the resentments OF close and zeal
Gus political contest But the President
both hopes and believes that the great
body OF the people Of Louisiana are now
prepared to treat the unsettled results Of
their State election with n calm and con
ciliatory spirit. Ifit be too much 10 ex.
pect a complete concurrence in q single
government :or that State, at least the
President may anticipate a submission
to the peaceable resources of the laws
and constitution of the State of all their
dissensions, at once relieving themselves
from the reproach and their fellow-citi-
zens of the United States from the ankle
ties which must ever attend prolonged
dispute as to the title and administration
Of the government Of one Of the States of
the Union,
The President, therefore, desires that
you should devote your first and princi-
pal attention TO the removal of the OBJ
stacles to an acknowledgment of one
government for the purposes Of an exer-
else Of authority within the State, Of Il
representative of the State in its relations
to the General Government under. section
four of article four Of the Constitution Of
the United States, leaving, if necessary,
to judicial or other constitutional arbitra-
ment within the State the question
of ultimate right.
If these obstacles should prove insuper-
able, from whatever reasons, and the
hope of a single government in all its de-
partments be disappointed, it should be
your next endeavor to accomplish the
recognition Of single Legislature as the
depository of the representative will Of
the people OF Louisiana. This great de-
partment rescued from dispute, the rest
of tho problem could gradually be work.
ed ont by the prevalent authority which
the legislative power. when undisputed. is
quite certain to exert in composing con,