Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1877-04-07
INSTRUCTIONS TO THE LOUISIANA
COMMISSION.

80 " .
secretary OF War
INSTRUCTIONS TO THE LOUISIANA
COMMISSION.
IA" following is he mc,rirnt'- letter OF IN
s''n"iIo" +" She l.""i-I'ma commission
NAsHI>DTDE. April.
Hon Charles Il. Lawrence. Jo,.nh 4 ~iinwIcv,
John NJ Harlan. John &. brown, WAYNE
MACY eIsh. tOmml-aIon"rs
LFSILEME\.- am Ir-iru. tet Nv the nr..rfaut
TO lay before you some observations upon th-
occasion and objects which have le! uitn to in
vie You as m.ln'rf> OF til. commission about tn
visit the state "i Louisiana 10 undertake inns pub
ne -trEirc | p"n assuming his office. the pre-,
i"ent inds TIE situation OF affairs in Louisiana
su"tI a. to Justly demand hIs prompt and solicit
"'Is attention. Tor tins situation present, a. one
"i It's features the apparent lnt"Ivrn.ion II the
military power OF the tuitc,l States IN domestic
controversies which undoubtedly d!rIde opIn-
Ions and disturb the harmony Of the people of
that state. inns intervention arising during TIE
term and by the authority OF his pred cc--Or.
throws no present dutv upon the president GA
cept 10 e1dnin" and determine the real extent,
tIallv exists. and 10 decide ats 10 the time aud
manner and conditions wnIcn should he ot,rrv-
ri IN putin. an end ia il. II - IN aii OF his in
t-iiis-nt and prompt discharge OF this duty that
ti- president iias Sbushi. the services OF tins
commission TO supply by means OF lis cxnnIIua-
ton, conducted IN the state OF Louisiana, some
Information that III ~ b. pertinent 10 the circum-
specfion and security OF any measures he NAV
resolve upon II Viii hr readily understood lual
III - - 4 W.. u. ~ III III l. I y III is com
mission does not include any examination INTO
or report upon the facts ui The recent state cleo
ton. "r OF the canvass oil the votes cast i. that
~e'ction. 80 Tar as attention To thai subject NAV
he u"cessary Tie president cannot but feel That
the report q! the commission OF the Two houses
vi Congress and Other public Information at
nund viii dispense with and SHOULD prrCiu !-
any original exploration by the commission OF
that Held OF inquiry bat it most rrrtlnrnt and
important III coming 10 u drcIziOn upon the
precise question I'll The executive duiI before
hi'il Mat The president should know what ARE the
real iinpeiHhvnf-, regular. legal and peacc:ul
procedure unirr the law. and constitution vi
The STATE III Louisiana, by which the anumalie-
IN the Soyeruturnt there pI esrnted may b. Dut m
course oil settlement without involving the el,-
ntrni 81 the military power. as either sn agent
81 = iHtke-WriGni ia -iiCh ~ solution The un-
ns'inI circuInniance- whlch attended aud !ul-
lowe | the state election and the canvass from
an r~"!'t''n !" the eNcitet feelings ami Interest,"
OF rr !suJ. a election may have. ret trir!
WITHIN Tive staIs o! Louisiana the PERSIA, vc ia
"""''Nr' ny winch tdr great moral amt material
Ih!"i-ais. common To- lHr whole people OF i .IaIe
au"i = i'iih" "i fhr american clIai iCirI us IL law
nbiIing nation. .iI-ltvrai. til. il.appD!ntmenr-
ani dt-H'tSr ihe irs"Htin.nt. ct the clO-- ami
Jealous political contests, bar The prrsi,leul
H":,rT an'i hriic'"- the great body o! The l'spIir
"i LpuI-ttmi are npH iIrp trct 10 treat the IN
9e'iI"' ie>nlIe 81 Their -inie election with d calm
AMI 'Hnc!iIi Ii'Is niHrit II II re too mich to sN-
peer . '"inp'"i' 'r"ruIrrn-" IN "a ~ink'e govern
iiirht iF MAJ stale II least, ih' President may
anticipate Il submission To peaceful Resources ui
ihr laws IN! the Constitution OF TIA" -tltr ut all
thrtr .t->ti.>Inus. ut once relieving Ilem-rlve,
tfuin irprurrh and their Glow citizens OF tn-
| nll"; Nia'"- hnm The auXjstI,s which must
r''i attend i i'fcl 'nsri dispute as &" HE title
aH't ''iTnlU stratiun OF the government oil ous o
ihr states ui the IuIuu
Inr president therefore lssirs- that YOU should
He'"l" y"ur hr1t aud principal attsItlon 10 a
l'iHh' II oil tile obstacles To an acknowledgment
ct "ns @'v"rnTu"nt Tor lnr PURPOSES Of al rxer.
Csc 81 H~uihpIlty within The stale ana Of n T-pf-.
~s"nttrirm 81 tho stare IN IL, Ir!,;trr, Ia th,. gsn-
"rli government, Ha'!Cr section 4rf article / OF
ti- constitution OF Tie United stale, leaving. II
u Necessary =" ilc u" hctaI OF other constitutional
GtLilEhmeni IiEhi W han The state flr. question
"l ultimate iiGAt II tl'e-r obstacles should prove
ihscrtTabt" from whatever reasons au,i aOie OF
single sUEsrhtusnt in ali is departments u. dts
appointed u should BE- SUur mex eudeayoT To-
accomplish tlr recognition of single legl.la-
Iur", hs II depository II THE representative Viii
OF the iIrupl, uI Louisiana. This great Aru.r,.
itrHi ie-cuet from dispute, the act of the lrui,-
lem CONT gradually be worked ont 1y tie prev
=! NJ t"iiI'tily wnIci the lrgI-l ave power,
VIZ II u"iI-rui"i, /. quite COMPETENT 10 exert. in
a"iHp"s'"s conflict, IA coordinate brancir. Ui
ii- government An attentive -,m.nieraion OF
IL" conditions under which Tue ir,trrLl c]uusiiiu-
non 81 'ie his "I congress PloHrit or psrInIt
the IN ''iarS intervention by thu president IN tho
r''''rct'"I OF itr stale against GpmestI" violence
has Statistic the president HAT the use at ii4s
authority IN determining OF Influencing The dis
littcI elections IL most CAREFULLY - lie avoided.
| u.i'uhte'iy, ~ MA held hy the supreme court
IN ih- "a-e III i.t,tnrr w.. Borden. the appeal
from the state may involve such an inquiry as to
the iaNiuin"Ss vi the authority which Invnkrs
the interference OF the president IN Tho supposed
appearance OF HE csnstIIutlon, bUi 1t is equally
irn" that neither the constitutional provision nor
act OF congress We're framed with any such de-
Ign. Both obviously treated The case Of do
nestle vi"itnc" wrhIn "A state ~ Of AN outbreak
against the law and authority OF the established
government. viii Ii the state WA, unabie to sun
press 10y It's own strength "a case wherein every |
depart :Ii"nt of he state government has II dis
rhtrd representation, ana the state therefore fur
ulrh"s 10 the federal government no internal pU-
liticaI recognition OF authority upon which the
federal executive can rely, will present Il case
OF =" much difficulty that it is of presSin. i'm
p"rianc- ip all the interests IN Louisiana that II |
ll''h"i Dt iEplittt- y single legislature would |
greatly relieve this difficulty. Tor that Gelart.
nritt OF the state government is named ~ the
c"hs'''ut "l as il necessary applicant, when IT
can 40 convened. for military Iui-ry. ntlun by
the I nltsi States. It. therefore. the disputIng
interests can concur il or be reduced 10 II sing e
legislature for tho state of Louisiana. II would
be a great step in composing this unhappy strife. |
ne president leaves entirely 10 the commission
til" concilIaiUry influences which IN their jutg- !
nIent formed on the spot NAV seem 10 them To
c"nduce I" the proposed end, HIS own deter
niliInatl"n that only public cons,!era; .uns
should inspire and attend this effort 10 give the
sscendancy IN Luu Jana TO things that belong to
tlr peace, l., cvinCcd by his selection OF COM |
n,i7sI"m"r7 VIII" Offer To the country in their own
Character every guaranty of public motives AMI
methods Of transaction which they lav" under
taken. Your report "i The result OF this -nd,av"r
viii siti-ty to" president he does not doubt. OF
he Wisdom Of his selection and his pienary trust
IN the commission. |
A second and less important subject of ntren-
non during the visit To New Orleans Will be The
G"'it'!l"h OF accurate and trustworthy in
formation iiun. public officers and prominent; !
Fl'tZeh~ "l All political connections a la the !
STAT" al public feeling ami opinion in the com |
MUMMY at large upon the general questions which
hu'ct ne peaceful AMI safe exercise IN the state !
"i Louisiana OF all the legal and political prIvi-
i"Sc- conferred by the constitution OF the [ nIle,l
,iale7 ul"n all citizens. The maintenance" ami
protection OF those rights and privileges Ivy sill
constitutional means and by every Just, moral
aud social influence are the settled purpose OF
IL" president IN hts administration Of the gov
eminent. |
lie Will hope 10 learn from Your inye,tig rti"ns
That TINS purpose VIII be aided in and not re-
s'sfeti hy the substantial and effective lublic
opinion "f The great body OF The y, oplc al lruis- !
rama. lht president does not wish L. impose |
any ii'nlt upon your stay in Louisiana that would
t'Nu !" limit the fall objects OF your visit. He
IL, h"~"'tr, extremely de irou- 1" tinh IN his
power al III" tarlI' 1T day compatible with Il safe |
EXERCISE "i that authority 10 put an end TO even
an appearance of military intervention in the
domestic Affairs vi Louisiana, ana he awaits your
return win II confident hope that your report
VIII enable nun promptly To execute II PM pose
he has 80 much At heart The president desires
me L" adj mat III. publication OF the results Of
;oi'E VISIT liz sliai: hope to make Immediately al
,ti thrir communication 10 hun. | have the
h'h"l |" be with great respect, your nbetient
servant, WILLIAM NJ.