Jasper Republican, Volume 1, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 September 1874 — The Revolution in Louisiana. [ARTICLE]

The Revolution in Louisiana.

The Associated Press dispatches from New Orleans on the 16th furnish the following intelligence: The city continued quiet, and there was a very general resumption of business, with no gatherings of people or evidences of excitement in any quarter. A telegram had been sent to President Grant, signed by the Presidents of the Chamber of Commerce, Clearing-House, Cotton Exchange and Merchants’ Exchange, informing him that “ this city is perfectly quiet and free from all disturbing elements, and business has been resumed as usual. No further trouble is anticipated.” This dispatch was supplemented by one signed By James F. Casey, dated at the “ Custom-House, New Orleans, Sept. 16,” in which he says: “The statement that the city is perfectly quiet is true, and business is proceeding as usual. Property and persons are safe from insults or injuries except from some rowdy or drunken man.” The following telegram was also transmitted to President Grant: A petition has been forwarded you to-day by express, signed by 500 of the leading business men of this city, as follows: “ We, the undersigned merchants, representing the commercial interest of New Orleans, and deeply interested in the welfare and prosperity of the State, gladly embrace the recent change of government, and guarantee impartial rights to all. We respectfolly ask the sympathy and support of the Executive.’’ (Signed) E. B. Whmlock, Chairman of Committee.

Baton Rouge and East Baton Rouge had turned out the Kellogg officials and installed McEnery officers in city and parish. Livingston Parish had also declared for McEnery. The adjacent parishes would do the same. No disturbance. A Shreveport dispatch, dated the 16th, and signed by W. B. Egan, J. C. Moncure and A. H. Leonard as committee, savs: The last vestige of the Kellogg Government has disappeared from North Louisiana without a word or act of violence to whites or blacks. Perfect quiet and order prevail, and can only be disturbed by extraneous interference. The people are buoyant, and now hopefal of a future material prosperity. A New York dispatch of the 16th says D. B. Penn, signing himself “LieutenantGovernor and Acting-Governor of Louisiana,” had telegraphed to a newspaper in that city as follows: " The North can form no idea of the robbery and spoliation to which we have been subjected. My movement was necessitated by the attitude of the people. They demanded it. I am now in full possession of the Government of the State. The colored people are satisfied and contented. A strong brigade of colored troops, fully organized and armed, and la the service of the usurpation, refused to fire a shot in its defense. Thp most perfect peace and good order prevail. We are thoroughly loyal to the Federal Government, and in the operations of the past two days there have been no excesses or violations of law. This Government is the only one now tn existent* in Louisiana. ! • Gov. Kellogg, in a telegram to the same paper, says: ■ Amid all the troubles which have beset the State, I have redifted State and parish taxation each fully one-third, and measures have been passed providing for a reduction of the State debt ana the constitutional limitation of debts, both on State and city; also an amendment limiting taxation. The obnoxious features of the Blection and Registration laws, need by the Fusionists in the last election, have been repealed, and, in the appointment of officers of registration, I have voluntarily tendered to the opposition a representation, which they entirely denied to the Republican party at the last election. Finding, as the registration progressed, that they would be left still more in the minority at this election than ever before If the voters were allowed a free, untrammeled, nnintimidated franchise, they have, by a long-pre-pared plan, violently overthrown the Govern-’ ment, even before the election, to prevent the evidence that they had not had a majority before.**Upon shallow pretext of violence, and by incendiary statements and appeals, they have got together their clans, which they have organized in secret and drilled in their club-rooms in the city, and have taken possession of the public offices by violence and bloodshed. Personally, I have no desire to discharge the very onerous and vexatious duties of Governor, but I feel it a duty I owe to the State and to the party to hold on until relieved by competent authority. Gen. Emory and staff and McEnery arrived at New Orleans on the evening of the 16th. McEnery visited the State House and received the congratulations of his friend?. He would probably relieve Penn ®n the 17th. Instructions were sent to Gen. Emory from Washington on the 16th to “under no circumstances recognize the insurgent Government of Louisiana. Within five days from date of proclamation to the insurgents such action will be taken as the emergency may require.”

The situation of affaHß ,in New Orleans on the 17th was according to the telegraphic of that date: s Gov. McEnery had addressed a letter to Gen. Emory, that there did not exist in the State ofnLouisiana any insurrection against the McEnery Government ; that there was not anywhere in the State any assemblage of insurgents to disperse; that there was but one Government in existence in the State, which was the one elected and . chosen by the people in 1872 and installed in 1873, of which he (Jo!m McEnery) is Governor and D. B. Penn LieutenantGovernor; that throughout the State this Government was recognized, supported, adhered to, respected and obeyed by the people, and was both de ure and de facto the Government of the State. He thgn gives a history of recent events in New Orleans, and attempts to show that the President’s recent proclamation did not rightfully apply to New Orleans or the people of Louisiana, who were not in a state of insurrection. He then distinctly announces no attempt would be made tor forcibly resist the military forces of United States, and concludes as follows: “We will occupy the State Housw.and other State property in this city until the appearance and occupation of th&same by the authorities of the Government of the United States, when we rfall retire, knowing we have surrendered the same alone to the Government oflhe United States.” Governor, also issued an order acceding to a demand from Gen. Emory tMhrall armed men on the streets should begfletired and their arms returned to the a raffia al. in the evening, in accordaqopTSwith previous arrangements, Gen. Jz < R. Brooke, • accompanied by Lieuts. Wallace and Roe, went to the Executive office, at the St. Louis Hotel, and afW formal salutations Gov. McEnerynfygted to Gen. Brooke that he gave him possession of the State Capitol and all State buildings within the

limits of the city, and then read to him an address in the shape of a protest, to the effect that the surrender was in response to a formal demand of Gen. Emory; that they had neither the power nor inclination to resist the Government of the United States; that the people had overthrown the Kellogg administration because they could no longer bear its “wrongs, tyranny, arrogance and insults.” The protest concludes as follows: “I know as a soldier you have but to obey the orders of the Government of the United States, but I feel that you will temper your military control of affairs with moderation, and in all things exhibit that integrity of purpose characteristic of officers of the army. I now turn over to you, sir,, the Capitol and other property of the State under my charge.” At the conclusion of this address Gen. Brooke was seated in the office, and required from Lieut.-Gov. Penn a statement of all records, etc., which were in the building when they took possession. Gov. McEnery and his followers then withdrew, leaving the Capitol of Louisiana in possession of the military officers “of the Federal Government. At seven p. m. two companies of the Third Infantry marched down and were quartered in the building. Col. Thomas Boylan, McEnery’s Chief of Police, remained on duty with his force. The city was very quiet. Gen. Emory had'issued a circular announcing the appointment of Gen. Brooke to command the city of New Orleans until such time as the State and city governments could be reorganized. McEnery and Penn had issued an address to the people advising a cheerful obedience to the constituted authorities.

On the 18th Gen. Emory sent a communication to Gov. Kellogg to the effect that the insurgents lately in arms against the State Government had surrendered, and that he would afford him the necessary military support to re-establish the State Government. Gov. Kellogg acknowledges the receipt of the communication and requests Gen. Emory to assume the maintenance of peace and order of the city during the coming night, as, owing to the disorganization of the police force, the Commissioners of the Metropolitan police would not be able to get their officers on their beats until the next day. The following order was subsequently sent to the official journal: EXECUTIVE ORDER. " AH State officers who have been prevented, during this recent trouble, from performing their duties will immediately resume their official functions. Ti® Board of Metropolitan Police will at and organize the police force of NejTOrleans, and assume the maintenance of the peace and order of the cityr * (Signed) William P. Kellogg, Governor. f . A difpattfb-tp Gov. on the 18th, from reports that town attacked ths night before by negroes. The attack was repulsed. Gen. Emory had ordered troops to that point. In accordance with the Executive order of Gov. Kellogg the old State officers took quiet possession of the Louisiana State-House on the morning of the 19th. When Gov. Kellogg reached the Executive Office Gen. Brooke approached him and informed him that he was prepared to turn over to him the State-House and all the records and public property belonging to the State which had com 3 into his possession at the time of the surrender of the insurgents to his command. Everything, the General said, would be found in precisely the same condition as it had come into his hands. The Governor accepted the transfer and Gen. Brooke thereupon retired. Gen. George Baldy, VicePresident of the Board of the New Orleans Metropolitan Police, proceeded to the police-station at the head of about 200 police, and the building was quietly surrendered by Acting-Chief'' Boylan, and the Metropolitans were soon placed on their old beats. Gov. Kellogg advised that the ranks of the Metropolitans be filled from the retiring force of Chief Boylan.