Year: 1872

literally granted to the Northern State


n the last ten years, gnnted new in
judicious manner to our section woul,


increase the production Of our great staple


many per cent, and do more to cemen


the kindly feelings now resuming thei


ancient sway in the hearts of our peopl,


than any enforcement bills.


1t is also desirable that all disabilities


and legal penalties inflicted on account
Of the late war should be done away with
The number of persons who remain


under congressional or constitutional dis.


abilities is extremely small, yet as stead


toward complete reconciliation an act Of


full and final amnesty to all concerned in


the war would have ON important and
salutary inhuency. Ths noble example OF


the State Of Louisiana, which was the first


State to expunge from its statutes all dis


elimination on account of differences in


the past civil war, may be wisely and


safely followed by the general government


The President of the United States has


already followed it hope that you will


instruct our Senators and Representatives


in Congress to initiate him in this respect.


As the chief executive of the State, it is


my duty to call your attention TO grave.


illegal and dangerous abuse by certain


federal officers Of the official power, by


using it to interfere in and attemptto to con-


troll political assemblage Of the citizens
Of this State. convened to deliberate upon
State affairs. In other States, very mod
crate and limited exercise of federal influ-
enoe. extending only so far as the use Of
the federal patronage for tho purpose of
electing or influencing delegates to politi-
cal conventions, has been met with severe
and merited rebuke from the people, and
has been thought serious enough to de-
mand congressional investigation. In this
State, federal interference in State matters
has gone far beyond what it did in these
States to which Congressional attention
has been directed. It has embraced not
only bribery, the use of patronage, and
the active, undisguised interference of
federal employees as such in political meet
ings, but in addition to these reprehensi-
BILE acts. the federal appointees in this
State, or many of them, have resor.ed to
menaces, threats. the prostitution of United
States building to factious party purposes
to the exclusion of the business public
and beyond this, even, what is unprece-
dented in the history of this country, the
employment and presence of large num-
bers of armed deputy United States mar
shals, and of armed United States troops
to interfere with, menace and control a
political assemblage of citizens of the
State. recite briefly the facts that are
undenied as to this monstrous outrage ON
the peace and dignity of the State. In
time of profound peace, without any CON-
petent authority, of the least necessity and
without consultation with, or the consent
Of the State authorities, the United States
officials here, in violation of law, convoked
q political convention in the Customhouse
in New Orleans, and this against the wish
es and in the face of the solemn protest of
q large majority of the convention. The
doors of the Customhouse were locked
and barred for day, and the whole busi-
who had interest there were



United States deputy marshals, selected
in many instances from rough and lawless
characters, were especially deputised for
the occasion, armed with loaded revolvers
and stationed within the building and
around the United States courtroom de-
'ighated for the convention. The United
States Marshal previously declared that
hey should be stationed within the conven-
ion itself. Their instructions had been
such that these deputies were insolent and !
violent in language and manner toward |
The delegates even to such an extent as to |
excite serious disturbance, and going so
lar ON the part of some Of them as the
offering of personal violence to the dele
gates.


United States troops were drawn in the
Customhouse. Their very presence was
An alarming attack upon the right of pub
lie assemblage, and upon every tradition
md principal of American liberty. They
interrupted the deliberations of the dele
gates. This interference of federal officers,
armed with federal authority and federal
guns and pistols, in the affairs of peace
able political meeting of the people of
State, isa very serious encroachment upon
he peace and dignity of the State, and
upon the individual liberties of its citizens.
can not suffer it to pass by without enter
ing against it my solemn protest. and in
Siting you most seriously to join with me
asking the national government to inves-
tigate the outrages fits subordinate Off
GERS and to punish the guilty parties. A
ful statement of the matter has been laid
before the President, and I can not be-
ieve that after careful Investigation he
~ disavow these Awless acts of
MS appointees, and dismiss the guilty
,nes from Office.


The unanimous condemnation of these
buses by the press and the people of all |
parties throughout the country, and the