The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1877-06-14
EXTRACT FROM COY. KIRKWOOD'S
LETTER.


You also ask for my ''views direct as to
the policy of President Hayes" That is
more difficult question; one that have
neither the time, the inclination, or the
information necessary to form final opin-
ion upon. There is one point in connec-
ton with it upon which l have not seen
any discussion, and which seems to me, Vi
tai The President not did decide whether
Chamberlain or Hampton was the lawful
governor Of South Carolina-whether
Packard or Nichols was the lawful gov
ernor of Louisiana Was it not his duty
under the constitution and law to decide
thesequestions ? Take the case of Louisiana.
There was in that state two persons claiming
to be the lawful governor. Each of them
was supported by what claimed to be the
lawful legislature. Each had behind him
full list of state officers and a supreme
court, all claiming to hold their offices
lawfully. One of these governors had
by armed force seized the supreme court
room, elected the judges claiming to hold
under the other governor" and installed
his own judges. 1t is well known that he
had at his call large body of well drilled
and well armed troops ready to do his
bidding. The other governor" held pos
session of the building used as a state
house and containing the executive Offices,
and barricaded the building and main
tanned it by defensive purpose and armed
force. The Constitution provides in sub
stance, that the United States shall pro,
tect each state against domestic violence"
on application of the legislature or of the
executive when the legislature cannot be
convened, and, as understand, Congress
has by law, devolved this constitutional
duty on the president Now, one of these
governments was lawful government; the
other was a usurpation. One of the
governors was a lawful officer; the other
was a rebel. 1t was not the case of an
ordinary contested election, where one
person held the office by a prin.d facie
title, and the other contested his right
before the tribunal provided for that pur-
pOoS' hSIC "SIS wv S5Of-
ernmeuts, complete in all their parts, ex
listing at the same time in the same state.
There was not any tribunal provided for
such condition of affairs. One of the
governors and one of the legislatures
applied to the president to protect it
against the usurpation OF the other.
Now, without touching the question which
of these governments was the lawful one,
if the acts of setting up in a state usurp-
ing government against the lawful one
be domestic violence" was it not the
duty of the president to decide whether
the governor making the application was
the lawful one, and if he so found him, to
sustain him? have not examined this
question with such care as is necessary
to the formation of final opinion. 1t
will probably become my duty to act upon
it and then, of course, | must examine it
as carefully as can and decide it for
myself. There are other aspects of the
general question of the presidents policy
of general interest in the future. But l
cannot now discuss them. Ny health has
not been good for some time, and, although
| am better than was, | still prefer idle
ness to work. S. j. HARDWOOD.