The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1902-04-11
ARE HORSES CDNTROBAND 4?
GOVERNOR WANTS TO KNOW.
Correspondence between Governor
of Louisiana and State Depart
ment Given to the PubIic-Inves-
tigntiOn Being Made-LeEnI CUES
tiOn Involved.

DeJWeen the united states govern !
ment and the governor of Louisiana
concerning the latter's statement
touching the shipment of live stock
and supplies for the British army in
South Africa from Chalmette. La.
There are three principal letters and
number of appendices.
The principal letters are one from
the governor of louisiana dated
March 2S touching the conditions at
Chalmette; a reply from Secretary
Hay, dated April 4, announcing that
he had ordered an investigation
(Which will be made by an army Of
ficer), and a long opinion from the
attorney general on the legal points
involved in the Chalmette shipments.
Governor Heard's letter already has
been outlined in the press dispatches.
He begins with a statement that he
had received from the mayor of New
Orleans a copy Of letter from Secre-
tary Hay calling his attention to a
threat of Samuel Pearson to "com-
NIT a breach of the peace in New Or
leans" and referring that letter to the
mayor for consideration
Mr.. Pearsons letter is one hereto
fore published dated at New Orleans,
February 1, and addressed to the pres
ident, calling attention to the cOndi-
ton of affairs at New Orleans and
Chalmette. The mayor transmitted
the correspondence to the governor of
the state on the ground that the acts
complained of were committed in the
parish of st. Bernard, out of the juris-
diction of the city authorities. The
governor Immediately wrote to Sheriff
Nunez of the parish in regard to the
matter. The sheriff's reply, a part
of the governors letter, is dated St
Bernard La, February 2S. He reports
concisely that mules and horses were
being loaded at Chalmette for the
British government either directly or
indirectly, but the loading was done by
'longshoremen of the city of New Or
leans. supervised by Englishmen, who
might or might not be officers of the
British army Certainly there was no
one there in uniform. In conclusion
the sheriff says:
There is no such thing as a Brit
ish post with men and soldiers, estab-
lshed at Port Chalmette SO far as
the recruiting Of men is concerned,
am sure l can certify that it is not
being done in the parish of St Ber-
nard. AS I understand, the only men
taken on the ships are the muleteers,
VINO are employed in the city of New
Orleans"
Governor Heard says it is conceded
by the British officers themselves that
the animals were for the British army
in South Africa. Says he: The bur
ghers of South Africa are making a
fight for their homes and their liberty,
which can not but appeal to the sense
of fair play of the American people.
AS the executive of the commonwealth
of Louisiana, whose people have al
ways been ardent lovers of the Beers,
| can not but feel that the establish
ment and maintenance of a base of
war supplies for the British army up
on our soil places upon me grave re
sponsibility. These mules and horses
shipped from Port Chalmette are in
dispensable to the operations of the
British army. Hence they must be
considered as contraband of war, of
greater value, it seems, for soldiers
England can easily furnish from with
in her borders"
The governor gives it as his opinion
that it is the function of the national
government and not of the state to
enforce obedience of the neutrality
laws, yet if the duty belongs to the
state where the violation occurs, he
would not hesitate to act as the law
may warrant, and calls upon the sec
rotary of state for his view on the
matter.
In a postscript to his letter, the
governor reports the arrival in New
Orleans of General Sir Richard Camp
bell Stuart and aide of the British
army on a tour of inspection of the
transport service in the vicinity of
New Orleans. He also encloses a num-
Der of newspaper clippings and state
ments from individuals as to the oper-
ations of the British remount service,
JIdnSCllpI VI IHS pIOCSSuluSS III
court, and letters from individuals
protesting against the continuation of
the animal shipments. The most i'm
pOrtant of these is probably an aft
davit of one Tourenne, setting forth
his engagement for service on the
transport Milwaukee. signing articles
before the British vice consul. being
assigned to duty by Lieutenant