Jasper Republican, Volume 1, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 January 1875 — MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT. [ARTICLE]

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT.

Be Responds to the Aesolritlon for UCht <mu Loulstaiaa Afifalr*. The President, in answer to the Senate resoleresponded In a special message on the 13th, an abstract pf which is jrere Ujven: To say thatjawleseness, turbulence and bloodshed hive characterized the political affairs of Louisiana since its'organjzatlon undefthe Reconstrnction acta, .the President says, iKonly to repeat what has become well known as .a part of its unhappy history. He briefly reviews the leading and undisguised consriracy to carry the election of 1872 against the Republicans; the glaring in Ms. Kellogg’s favor. and his subsequent assumption of the office es Governor. The President says that the courts of the United States have the right to interfere with State elections, so as to maintain political equality and rights J&teseiq, irreHP«Ctim .<4* r race er color, is a hew, and to some It seeins a startling idea, but it results as clearly from Fifteenth amendment and the.acte townforce that amendment as tbe abrogation of ffitoijliws upholding slavery results from the Thirteenth amendment. The jurisdiction of the court being Ar. Kellogg as Governor. It was Apt certain that he was elected, and it was equally uncertafo that McEnery was elected. Kellogg obtained possession of the office and in his opinion had more

made by the Seifate ewnmlttee- aen - Privileges and Elections to the effect that to recognize the McEnery Government would be recognizing a government based on fraud, in defiance of the wishes and intentions of the voters of the State—a report which seems to have been generally accepted by the, country at the time it was made—the great crime in Louisiana fa that one is holding the office ofGovernor wtrowith cheated but of 20,090 votes, against another, whose, title to the office is based on fraud and in defiance of the wishes and intentions of the voters of the State. The President then referred to the butchery of citizens at Colfax, which be characterized as an affair which, jn bloodthirstiness and barbarity, ted. To hold the people of Louisiana responsible for these atrocities would be unjust, but it is a lamentable fact that insuperable obstructions ishing these murderers, and the so-called

“ Conservative” papers not only justified the massacre, but denounced as “Federal tyranny and despotism” the attempt of United States officers to bring them to justice. No way could* be found in this boasted land of civilization and Christianity to punish the perpetrators of this bloody and' monstrous crime. Not unlike in its leading features was the Coushatta massacre. No one has been punished, and the “ Conservative” press denounced all efforts to that end and boldly justified the crime. The President relates additional outrages, to which more or less prominence has been given in the public press. In consequence of representations made to him that the presence of troops in Louisiana was unnecessary, and that there would be no disturbance if they.were removed, he had withdrawn all troops OOm'the State early last summer with the exception of a small garrison at New Orleans. On the 14th of D. B. Penn, who claimed 'that he had been elected Lieutenant Governor in 1872, issued an inflammatory proclamation, calling upon the militia of the State to arm, assemble and driveoutthe “usurpers,” as he designated the officers of Ihe State. The White Leaguers, armed and ready for the conflict, promptly responded. On the name day the Governor made a formal requisition upon him in pursuance ,qf the act of 1795, and Sec. 4 his proclamation, commanding the insurgents to disperse within five.day® from the date thereof, but before, the prooiajxuition was published in New Orleans, the organized and armed forces reprganiyiag, a government had taken forcible possession of flie State-House and temporarily subverted the Government. Twenty or more people were killed, including a number of the police of the City. -» -. k

The President insists that there was great intimidation exercised at the recent election, and instances the agreement of the merchants of Shreveport as demonstrating the fact. He also refers at considerable length td the efforts made lo eonttol the election and so manfpntate tho-voteafi to assure the ascendency of their friends and the defeat of the Republicans. By Sec. 8 of the act of Feb. 28, 1871, it is made the duty of the United States Marshals and their deputies at the polls where votes are cast for Representatives in Congress to keep the peace and prevent any violations of the so-called Enforcement act and other offenses against the laws of the United States, and upon a requisition of the Marshal of Louisiana, ana in view of said armed organization and other portentous circumhe caused detachments of troops to be stationed in various localities in the State to aid him in the performance of his official duties. In regard to the alleged Interference of the military with the organization of the Legislature of Louisiana on the 4th. he had no information tlons, were ever given to any military officer in thacSta'e upon the subject prior so the occurrence. He was well aware that any military interference by the officers or troops of the United States with the organization of a State Legislature or any of its proceedings, or with any civil department of the Government, is repugnant to onrTdeas of government. He could conceive of no case not involving rebellion or insurrection where such interference bv the authorstances connected with the late legislamatter, knowing that they had been placed in Louisiana to prevent domestic violence, and to aid in repressing it. The revolution was apparently, thought is believed not really, abandoned, and the ctflr of “ Federal iumrpat:oa”aiid “ tyranenergy. Troops ted teen sent t<rth«HState under the requisition of the Governor, and as other sssßssajraßi such aid as might become necessary to enforce the lews of the State and repress the continued violence which seemed inevitable at the moment when the Federal Support should bo witndrawn. He had no information Of the proceedings Of the Returning Board for the iflte election which

ita •-BWMNFti, published, bat it is a matter of public information foal a great part of the time taken to canvass the votes was consumed bythe arguments afjayjyrp, L they were right or wrong, is a question? thatdßgendaupon ihe bad before them; power, way, and, prfow/new:, the. persona -. whom tlle y whMHbey WM<paa&dato& > sri?- -f« ; rl ??a®s^'sws , » tranbrsHna hw those levAtth returned Sa elected. it duty ofthe Executive to interfere If reqntatml by a majority of the stem--1)0 FA Ard Anfthla HQUOO to OrfifADize. With referenomto WtsMans -it is to be borne in mind tbkt any attempt Made By the Governor *■» —« nalhm fnrrn that Statnat. thia: on the Mth-ef September. Yhere Wno doubt but the Dre.Hiwuy, of the United Staten troons that them ascuMedvatori of the public peace. The them, seeoufi by the Republicans so reundertDQk to its organix&non by frand and teneea, introduced: into the hk» me« tO inp? “ d E :?sssi« whether ft was wrong for the Governor, tat the request the majoriti of t» members leas and revolutionary proceedings is perhaps a debatable question; but it is quite certain that there would have been too trouble if those who now complain of- illegal Interference had allowed the. Rouse so he orgaalted' In a lawful and regular manner,- WhehmoMe who-in-augMated disorder or anarChy disavow such proit be.qme enough to condemn those who,by such means as theyhave, prevented the success of their lawless and desperate schemes.

He deplores the necessity which seemed to prevail, and thereby remove the necessity of sending troops amppa-. them. He regretted to say, however, that this condition hedgeiteJfoldne iodalttfes; and as Ur th&ei totoe Ghngress kadgrien Mfo power to prevent it, neither White Leagues nor with indifference Union men or-Republicans ostracised, persecuted or murdered, as they are in some localities.

The case of Louisiana had been heretofore urged upon the attention of Congress, and he thought its inaction had encouraged the evil condition of affairs. He then haiefty.summarized the not a pleasant one to them. The army is not composed—of lawyers capsact npoutte judgmenttheir tomtnandfog mitted which they were called on to prevent with the grounds of the recognition, to Congress and asked thatibody to take action in the matter, that body lhatwhstever it may direct him to do