Year: 1875

The President then re1erS 10 tue ouuageS
committed upon the Republicans in various
parts of the State, and the displacement and
murder of Kellogg officials by the supporters
of McEnery, and repeats the story OF the
Colfax massacre and the Coushatta troubles
at length, and concludes that while it would
be unjust to the great part of the people OF
Louisiana to say that the murder Of the negro
or white Republican is not considered crime,
it is true that the spirit of hatred and violence
is stronger than law, and consequently the
perpetrators of these crimes went still un-
punished.


The President then takes up the condition
of affairs in the State last fall, and recounts
the history of the September riot in New Or
leans, and quotes from newspaper articles
and proclamations of the people Of Shreye-
port to show the spirit Of the White League
and the opponents of Kellogg He next re-
fers to the action of the Returning Board, and
says he has no information Of its proceedings
except what is found in its report, which is
published; but it is a matter Of public infor-
uldllOu CldC q cat paw VI tuO tAAAC lAhNA
to canvass the votes was consumed by the ar
guments of lawyers, several of whom repre-
sentcd each party before the Board. have
no evidence that the proceedings Of the Board
we're not in accordance with the law under
which they acted; whether in excluding from
their count certain returns they were right or
wrong, is a question that depends upon the
evidence they had before them; but it is very
clear that the law gives them the power, if
they choose to exercise it, to decide that way
and p,1nsa fiacie persons whom they return as
elected are entitled to the Offices for which
they were candidates.


Respecting the alleged interference of the
military with the organization Of the Legsla-
ture of Louisiana on the 4th, I have no know
ledge or information which has not been re-
ceived by nae since that time and published.
Nv first information was from the papers of
the morning Of the 5th of January did not
know that any such thing was anticipated,
and no orders, no suggestions were ever civ
en- any military officer in that State upon that
subject prior to the occurrence am well
aware that any military interference by Off
GERS or troops of the United States with the
organization of State Legislature, or any of
its proceedings, or with any civil department
of the Government, is repugnant to our ideas
of Government. can conceiyc no case not
involving rebellion or rinsurrection where such
interference by authority Of the General Gov
ernment ought to be permitted or can be JUS
tilted; but there are circumstances connected
with the late legislative imbroglio in Louisi-
ana which seem to exempt the military from
any Intentional wrong in that matter, know
ing that they had been placed in Louisiana to
prevent domestic violence and 10 suppress it.


The stationing of troops in various parts OF
the State to sustain United States Marshals in
their duty of keeping the peace at the elec


tion, is justified by section of the act Of


February, 1871, by which United States
Marshal is empowered to call for troops to
aid in the enforcement of the State laws, and
the President says the officers and troops of
the United States may we'll have supposed it
was their duty to act when called upon by
the Governor for that purpose. The Presi-
dent admits that each branch OF the Legisla-
ture is the judge of the election and qualif-
cation of its members, and states the remedy
of the Governor in case the Legislature is
sought to be obtained possession Of bya mob,
which is first by calling on the local constabu-
larry, and if this is insufficient then on the
militia; but says that in this case neither
course was practicable without involving
bloodshed, and both parties relied upon the
United States troops as conseryators OF
the public peace The first call was made
by the Democrats, to remove persons obnox-
ious to them from the legislative hall. The
second was from the Republicans, to remove
persons who had usurped seats in the Legis-
lature without legal certificates and in sufi-
cient number to change the majority. No
body was disturbed by the military who had
a legal right at that time to occupy a seat in
the Legislature.


Referring to the action of the Conserva-
tives in organizing the Legislature, he says: |
am crediblv informed that these violent pro-
ceedings were part of q premeditated plan to
have the house organized and in this way
recognize McEnery, and the Senate was
then to depose Kellogg and 50 revolutionize
the State government. Whether it was wrong
fer the Goveraer, at the request Of major
'ity Of the members returned as elected, to use
such means as were in his power to defeat
these lawless and revolutionary proceedings,
is, perhaps, q debateable question; but it is