Year: 1877

President therefore desires that YOU
should devote your first and principal
attention to removal of the obstacles
to an acknowledgment of one govern
ment for purposes Of an exercise of
authority within the State, and rep.
resentarion of the State in its relations
to the general government under sec.
tion 4 of article 4 of the constitution
of the United States, leaving, it neces.
sary, to judicial or other constitutional
arbitrament within the State, the ques.
ton of ultimate right.


If these obstacles should prove in.
superable, from whatever reason, and
the hope of single government in all
it's departments be disappointed, it
should be your next endeavor to &C.
complish the recognition of a single
legislature as depository of the rep.
resentative will Of the people of Louis
lana. This great department rescued
from dispute, the rest of the problem
could gradually be worked out by the
prevalent authority which the legisla.
tive power, when undisputed, is quite
competent to exert in conflicts in the
coordinate branches of the govern.
ment. An attentive consideration of
the conditions under which the Fed
eral constitution and the acts of Con-
gress provide or permit military inter-
vention by the President in the protec.
tion of State against domestic VIC.
lence has satisfied the President that
the use of this authority in determin-
ing or influencing disputed elections in
a State is most carefully to be avoided.


Undoubtedly, as was held by the
Supreme Court in the case Of Luther
VS.. Borden, the appeal from a state
may involve such an inquiry as to the
laWfulneSs of the authority which in
vekes the interference of the Presi-
dent in supposed pursuance Of the con.
stltution, but it is equally true that
neither the constitutional provision
nor acts of Congress were framed with
any such design. Both obviously treat.
ed case Of domestic violence within
State of an outbreak against the law
and authority Of the established gov.
ernment, which the State was unable
to suppress by it's own strength. A case
wherein every department of the State
government has disputed represent
alton and the State therefore furnishes
to the federal government no internal
political recognition of authority upon
which the federal Executive can rely,
will present case of so much difficulty
that it is of pressing Importance
to all interests involved and should be
avoided. A single legislature would
greatly relieve this difficulty, for that
department of the State government is
named by the constitution as the nec-
essary applicant, when it can be COIL
vened, for military intervention by the
United States. If, therefore, the dis
putting interests can concur in or be re.
duced to single Legislature for the
State of Louisiana, it would a be great
step in composing the unhappy strife.


The President leaves entirely to the
Commission the conciliatory influences,
which in their Judgment, formed on
the spot, may seem to them to conduce
to the proposed end. His own deter.
mination that only public consider
atiOns should inspire and attend this
effort to give ascendancy in Louisiana
to the things that belong to peace, is
evinced by his selection of Commits
sioners who offer to the country in
their own character every guaranty of
public motives and methods of trans
action which they have undertaken.
Your report of the result of this en-
deavor will satisfy the President, he
does not doubt, of the wisdom of his
selection and his plenary trust in the
Commission.


A second, and less important subject
of attention during the visit to New
Orleans will be the collection of accu-
rate and trustworthy information from
public officers and prominent citizens
of all political connections as to the
state of the public feeling in the com.
munity at large upon the general
questions which affect the peaceful and
safe exercise in the State of Louis
lana of all legal and political
privileges conferred by the
constitution of the United States
upon all citizens. The maintenance
and protection of these rights and
privileges by all constitutional means,
and by every just moral and social in
| fluence, are the settled purpose of the
President in his administration of the
government. He will hope to learn
from your investigation that this pur.
pose will be aided and not resisted by
the substantial and effective public
opinion of the great body of the
people of Louisiana. The President
does net wish to impose any limit upon
your stay in Louisiana that would
tend to defeat the full objects of
your visit. He is, however, extreme.
ly desirous to find it in his pow.
er at the earliest day compatible with
a safe exercise of that authority, to
put an end to even the appearance Of
military Intervention in the domestic
affairs of Louisiana, and he awaits
your return with confident hope
that your report will enable him
promptly to execute purpose he has
so much at heart. The President de.