Year: 1873

To the Senate and House of Representatives:


Your attention is respectfully invited to the con-


dition of affairs in the State of Louisiana. Grave


complications have grown out of the election there


on the 9th of November last, chiefly attributable,


it is believed, to organized attempt on the part


OF those controlling the election officers and the


returns to defeat, in that election the will OF the
majority of the electors of the State. Different
persons are claiming the executive offices, two
bodies claiming to be the Legislative Assembly
of the State and the confusion and uncertainty pro-
duced in this way falls with parayzing effect upon
all its interests. Controversy arose as soon as the
election occurred, over its proceedings and results,
but declined to interfere until a suit involving
this controversy to some extent was brought into
the Circuit Court of the United States, under and


by virtue of the act of May 81 1870, entitled an


Act to enforce the right of citizens Of the United
States to vote in the several States of the Union,
and for other purposes" Finding that resistance
made to the judicial process in that suit with
out any opportunity, and, in my Judgment
without any right to review the Judgment
of th the stiGSs cS9Tt TiPpm upon IN tS cSas
I directed the United States Marshal to enforce
such process, and to use, II necessary, troops for
that purpose, in accordance with the thirteenth
section Of said act, which provides that cit
shall be lawful for the President of the United
States to employ such part of the land or naval
forces of the United States or Of the militia, as
dical process under this act" Two bodies Of per
sons claimed to be the Returning Board
for the State, and the Circuit Court in that
case decided that the one to which Lynch belong





full Returning Board, and this decision has been
repeatedly alluded to by the District and Supreme
Courts of. the State Having no opportunity or
power to canvass the votes, and the exigencies OF
the case demanding an immediate decision,I con-
ceived it to be my duty to recognize those persons
as elected who received and held their credentials
to Office from what then appeared to me to
be, and has since been decided by the Supreme
Court OF the State to be, the legal Re-
turning Board. Comfortably to the decisions
of this Board full set of State officers has been
installed and a legislative assembly organized,
constituting, If not de jUTe, at least defdct0
government, which, since some time in December
last, as had possession of the offices and been
exercising the usual powers of government. But
opposed to this has been another government
claiming to control the affairs of the State, and
which has to some extent been pro Jogna0 or
ganized The recent investigation Of the said
election has developed so many frauds and
forgeries as to make it doubtful what candidates
ceived majority of the votes actually cast and in
view of these facts a variety of action has been
proposed. have no specific recommendation to
make upon the subject but If there is any practical
way of removing these difficulties by leg1sla-
tion, then / earnestly request that such action
may be taken at the present session OF Congress;
course / shall feel bound to pursue IN re-
ference to the matter. in the event OF no action
by Congress. At this time it will be my
act to adhere to that Government heretofore rec
ognized by me. To Judge Of the election and quail
iication of its members is the exclusive province
of the Senate as it is also the exclusive province
of the House to judge of the election and qualih-
cations Of its members; but as TO State offices
filled and held under State laws the decision Of
the State judicial tribunals, 1T seems TO me, ought
to be respected. am extremely anxious to avoid
any appearance Of undue interference in State af-
fairs, and if Congress differs from me as to what
ought to be done respectfully urge its immediate
decision TO that effect Otherwise shall feel OBJ
liged as far as can by the exercise of legitimate
authority, to put end to the UNHAPPY controversy
which disturbs the peace and prostrates the busi-
ness of Louisiana by the recognition and support
Of that government which is recognized and up
held by the courts of the State g. s GRANT.


EyEnuTIYE MANsIoN. Washinctnn. Feb. %. 1879. :