New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1878-10-12
TIE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MOVING.

= IOm buo lobtcE VI buo AbJOTuOJ Uou-
eral to the United States Marshals it
is evident that the Federal govern
ment deems the evidence Of the
persistent attempts of the indomit-
able White Leaguers to suppress by
violence the free exercise Of political
opinion sufficient to Justify an inqui-
ry into the facts communicated from
the Southern States which had
pledged themselves to respect the
laws. The accumulation of lawless
deeds in this State, eliminating in
the Illegal arrest and exile of RafOrd
Blunt will establish the propriety Of
embracing the investigation of such
acts in Louisiana with those ''com-
mitted in North and Middle Ala
bama," which have called for the or
ders of the Attorney General. These
proceedings will be based on the
provisions of the act to punish crimes
against the elective franchise, and
especially on sections 55l9 and $500.
The first of this substantially pro-
vides that
q If two or more persons combine for the
purpose of depriving any person or class
of persons of the equal protection of the
laws or Of equal privileges and immunities
under the laws; and,
If two or more persons eonspire by force,
intimidation or threat to prevent any oiti-
zen who is legally entitled to vote from Civ
ing free support or advocacy in legal man
ner towards or in favor of any lawfully
qualified person as member OF the Con-
grees of the United States; E
Each of the persons so offending shall
be liable to fine of $500 to $4,000, or by
imprisonment with or without hard labor
not less than six months nor more than
six years, or by both such fine and impris-
onment. ~ p. i'.-'
We have only stated the points of
Indictment to which the alleged vio-
lators Of the law are subject, in order
to call the attention of whom it may
concern to another statutory pro-
vision, Section 5000, in substance,
enaets that .sa.s 81 1871. ... ss--s.
Whenever domestic violence, unlawful
combinations or conspiraeies in any State
so disturbs or binders the execution Of
the laws thereof, and the laws of the United
States, as to deprive any portion or class
OF the people of such State Of any of the
rights, privileges or immunitiee, of pro-
lection named in the Constitution and
secured by the laws for the protection of
such rights, immunities or privileges, and
the constituted authorities of such state
RE unable to protect, or from any cause
fail n, or refuse protection of such rights,
such facts shall be deemed denial by
such State of the equal protection of the
laws to which they are entitled under the
Constitution of the United States, and in
all such cases, or whenever any such in
surrection, violence, unlawful comblna-
ton or conspiracy shall oppose or OBJ
struct the laws of the United States, or
the due execution thereof, or impedes or
obstructs the due course of justice under
the laws, it shall be lawful Tor the Presi-
dent, and it shall be his duty to take such
lawful measures as he may deem necessary
for the suppression of such insurrection,
domestic violence or com binations.
We have confined this reference to
such domestic violence, cOmbina-
tions and conspiracy as undoubtedly
exists in this State, and invite the
attention of our State authorities to
the critical position into which our
relations with the Federal govern
ment are drifting. We would es-
pecially remind his excellency Gov
ernOr Nichols of the fact that in ad-
dition to the constitutional obliga-
ton imposed upon him to see that
the laws shall be faithfully executed
he has come under a voluntary and
special compact: That in eonsidera-
tan of the withdrawal of the Federal
troops by the President, he, Gov
ernor Nichols would execute GER
tain legislative pledges, amongst
which was
The enforcement of the laws rigidly
and impartially, to the end that violence
and crime shall be suppressed and
promptly punished, and that peace and
order prevail, and that the humblest la
borer on the soil of Louisiana, through
out every parish in the State, of either
color shall receive full and equal protec-
ton Of the laws in person, property,
political rights and privileges.
There is a heavy responsibility
resting upon the Governor of Lou
isiana and one of which he could not
divest himself by inaction, even were
he to content himself with such an
equiVocal resource. The Governor
can either execute the State laws in
redemption of these voluntary
pledges, made by the representatives
of the whole people, or he may de-
clare himself unable to do so, and
this duty will devolve upon the
under the authority and to
the extent stated. The Governor
should certainly exhaust the remedial
agencies Of his courts; if these fail,
he should proclaim localities in in
surrection, and if necessary proceed
as he has pledged himself to
do, 'sin person where any disorders