LOUISIANA. 



449 



In view of the deleterious effects of the un- 

 settled political condition, various unavailing 

 efforts at compromise were initiated in Louis- 

 iana. On the 15th of February Governor Mc- 

 Enery issued a proclamation forbidding pay- 

 ment of taxes to collectors appointed by Kel- 

 logg. On the 27th he issued a proclamation 

 enrolling the State militia. 



On the 1st of March a mass meeting assem- 

 bled in Xew Orleans, and passed resolutions 

 supporting the McKnery government, asking 

 the withdrawal of Federal protection from the 

 Kellogg government, or else that the State be 

 placed under martial law pending a new re- 

 construction by the General Government. 



On the evening of March 6th an effort to 

 take possession of the police-stations by an un- 

 organized body of citizens, after considerable 

 bloodshed, was frustrated by the metropolitan 

 police, armed with rifles and artillery, and 

 supported by several companies of United 

 States infantry. This attempt was disclaimed 

 by the McEnery government as premature and 

 unauthorized. 



On the 6th of March a body of armed police 

 took possession of the Odd-Fellows' Hall, and 

 having arrested the members of the McEnery 

 Legislature in session there, placed them be- 

 tween files of sharp-shooters and marched them 

 as prisoners to the guard-house. 



During the day Governor McEnery wrote to 

 Colonel Emory, commanding the Department 

 of the Gnlf, to inquire "whether or not the 

 action of the metropolitan police force of this 

 city in the seizure of the Odd-Fellows Hall 

 this morning and the armed prevention by 

 said force of the assembly of the Legislature of 

 this State in said hall, meet with your counte- 

 nance and approval, and whether or not the 

 United States forces under your command will 

 support the armed occupation of that build- 

 ing." In reply. Colonel Emory says: 



I have to state that the seizure of said building by 

 the metropolitan police was without my knowledge, 

 and made without conference with me. In regard 

 to any expression of opinion as to the act, having no 

 authority in the premises I must respectfully decline 

 to make any reply. 



In answer to that part of your letter which asks 

 whether my command " will support this armed occu- 

 pation ofthat building," I have the honor to inclose 

 to you the copy of a telegram received last night, 

 from which you will sec that it is made my duty to 

 prevent any violent interference with the State gov- 

 ernment of Louisiana. Previous instructions have 

 directed me to recognize the government of the State 

 of Louisiana to be that represented by the Hon. W. 

 P. Kellogg. 



If the act referred to by you in your letter is the 

 act of Governor Kellogg and of the government of 

 the State of Louisiana represented by hiirij and any 

 violence is used to interfc-re with this act, I shall most 

 assuredly consider it my duty, under my instructions, 

 to use the whole force of the United States at my dis- 

 posal to prevent such violent interference. 



An address to the people of Louisiana was 

 then issued by Governor McEnery and the 

 Legislature, wherein, after recapitulating the 

 facts already cited and the conclusions an- 

 nounced by the congressional committee, they 

 TOL. mi. 29 A 



state in respect to the de facto government, 

 that 



We have further to record the mortifying fact as 

 declared by the report of the committee of the Uni- 

 ted States Senate that such government is main- 

 tained and its authority enforced by the aid of the 

 military power of the United States. 



It has been even intimated, that the government 

 dejure does not command the support and approval 

 of the people of the State, because this government 

 is unwilling to defy and unable to overcome the pow- 

 er of the United States. Because of this unwilling- 

 ness and inability, the stupendous falsehood is pro- 

 claimed that the people of Louisiana voluntarily sub- 

 mit to and acquiesce in this usurpation. If we resist 

 the Executive of the United States, which with anus 

 defends this usurpation, we are rebels ; if we do not 

 resist it, we submit to and acknowledge its authority 

 and power. * * * We appeal to our brethren in the 

 other States for their sympathy and support of a po- 

 sition which they are all interested in maintaining, 

 thus vindicating a cardinal principle of our political 

 system. We have no other hope or means ot defense 

 against the wrongs done us. We can only assert our 

 rights, refuse submission to usurpation, and abide the 

 judgment of the American people in our case. 



The Kellogg Legislature having passed an 

 act for the enforcement of the collection of 

 taxes under speedy and severe penalties, the 

 " People's League " for resistance to tax-col- 

 lection was largely recruited. Governor Kel- 

 logg issued a proclamation against non-tax-pay- 

 ers, stating that the unpaid State taxes amount- 

 ed to $2,331,321.60, and urging the citizens to 

 prompt payment, to avoid extreme measures, 

 lie warned all citizens against taking part in 

 any association or conspiracy having for its 

 object resistance, passive or otherwise, to the 

 collection of taxes. The "Committee of Two 

 Hundred " issued an address to the people, re- 

 viewing the political position, the majority and 

 minority reports on the testimony elicited by 

 the congressional committee, and the deplo- 

 rable condition of the State. They advert to 

 the friendly manner in which their previous 

 " Address to the People of the United States " 

 was received by the press, and the interest 

 manifested in the subject by the people of the 

 United States, and recommended "the preser- 

 vation of a temperate, moderate, and sedate 

 deportment on the part of our people, so that 

 we may show to the world that the inherent 

 force and strength of our population is equal 

 to the occasion of maintaining ourselves in the 

 presence of an ignominious government, im- 

 posed by usurpation, violence, and fraud, ac- 

 cording to the report of a committee over 

 whom we had no influence or control, and in 

 which we had no representation." 



Among the acts passed by the Kellopg Le- 

 gislature was one "to protect the civil rights of 

 citizens," requiring all common carriers, inn- 

 keepers, and managers of places of public 

 amusement, etc., to afford equal and impartial 

 accommodation to citizens without regard to 

 race or color ; and providing severe fines, for- 

 feitures, and imprisonment, for those guilty of 

 the misdemeanor of making such distinctions. 



Another act, which excited much comment, 

 was that authorizing the muster of the metro- 



