Year: 1875

subject prior to the occurrence.
am well aware that any military in
reference by the officers or troops o.
the United States with the organiza
ton of a State Legislature or any o
its proceedings, or with any civil dc
partment of the government, is repug
nant to our ideas of government.
can conceive of no case, not inyolv
ing rebellion or insurrcction, where
such interference by the authority o
the General Government ought to be
permitted or can be justified; bu
there are circumstances connected
with the late Legislative imbroglio il
Louisiana, which seem to exempt the
military from any intentional wrong
in that matter, knowing that they hac
been placed in Louisiana to prevent
domestic violence, and to aid in re
pressing it. The revolution was ap
parcntly, though it is believed not
really, abandoned, and the cry o.
"Federal usurpation" and "tyranny
in Louisiana" was renewed with re
doubled energy. Troops had been
sent to the State under the rcquisition
of the Governor, and rs


OTHER DISTURBANCES SEEMED IMMI


NENT,


they were allowed to remain there, tC
render the executive such aid as
might become necessary to enforce
the laws of the State and fepress the
continued violence which seemed in
evitablc at the moment when the
Federal support should be with
drawn.


Each branch of a Legislative assem-
bly, is the judge of the election and
the qualification of its own members
but if a mob or Il body Of unauthor
lied persons seize and hold the legis
lative hall in tumultuous and
riotous manner, and SO prevent any
organization by those legally returned
as elected, it might become the duty
of the State Executive to interpose, il
requested by a majority of the mem
bers elect, to suppress the disturbance
and enable the persons elected to or
ganize the House. Any exercise OF
this power would be justificable un.
der most extraordinary circumstances
and it would then be the duty of the
Governor to call upon the constable
larry, and, if necessary, the military
force of the State; but with reference
to Louisiana, it is be bornein mind
that any attempt by the Governor to
use the police force of that State at
this time would have undoubtedly
precipitated a bloody conflict with
the White League, as it did on the
l4th of September. There is nc
doubt but that the presence OF the
United States troops on that occasion
prevented bloodshed and the loss OF
life. Both parties appear to have re-
lied upon them as conservators of the
public peace.


The first call was made by the
Democrats, to remove persons obnox
ious to them from the Legislative hall
and the second was from the Repub
licans, to remove persons who had
usurpcd seats in the Legislature with
out legal certificates authorizing them
to seats, and in sufficient number to
change the majority. Nobody was
disturbed by the military who had &
legal right at that time to occupy g
seat in the Legislature. That the
Democratic minority of the House
undertook to seize its organization by
fraud and violence; that in this ut
tempt


THEY TRAMPLED UNDER FOOT TIL


LAW,


in that they undertook to make per
sons notretumeda rs elected, members
so as to create majority; that the.
acted under prcconcerted plan, an'
under false pretenses introduced into
the hall men to support their preten
sions by force, if necessary, and tha
the conflict, disorder and riotous pro
ceedings following, are facts which
seem to be well established, and | an
credibly informed were a part OF
premeditated plan to have the lous'
organized in this way; recognize
what has been catled the McEner,
Senate; then depose Governor Kel
logg, and so rcvolutionize the Stat
government. Whether it was wrong
for the Governor, at the request o
the majority of the members returned
as elected in the House, to use sucl
means as were in his power to detea
these lawless and revolutionary pro
ceedings is perhaps debatable ques
ton; but it is quite certain that ther'
would have been no trouble if thos
who now complain OF illegal interior
ence had allowed the House to be OF
ganizcd in lawful and regular man
ner. When those who inaugurat
disorder or anarchy disavow sucl
proceedings, it will be time enough
to condemn those who, by sucl
means as they have, prevented tn
success of their iawless and despel
ate schemes.


Lieutenant General Sheridan wa
requested by me to go to Louislan
to observe and report the situation
there, and, if in his opinion necessary
to assume the command, which h
did on the 4th inst, after the legisla
tive disturbances had occurred, at
o'clock in the evening, 4 number o
hours after the disturbance. No pal
ty motives nor prejudiccs can reason
ably be imputed to him; but, convin
ced by what he has seen and hear'
there, he has characterized the lead
ers of the White League in sever
terms and suggested the summar.
modes Of procedure against them
which, though they cannot be adopt
ed, would. if legal, soon put an en'
to the troubles and disorder i'll tina
State.


General Sheridan was


LOOKING AT THE FACTS,


and possibly not thinking of proceed
ings which would be the only prope
ones to pursue i'll times OF peace-h
thought more of the lawless condition
of society surrounding him at tn
time of his dispatch and Of wha
would prove a sure remedy. He nev
er proposed to do any illegal act no