PUBLIC DOCUMENTS. 



733 



right at that time to occupy a seat in the LegU- 

 luturu. That the Democratic minority of the HOUM 

 imdurtook to seize it* organization by fraud m 

 lenoe; that in thin attempt they trampled un*l 

 law; that tiny undertook to make person* i. 



. utumben, BO a* to create a majority ; 

 t hat tlicy iu-ted under a preconcerted J>lun, anu under 



pretense* introduced into the hull a body of men 



'j. pi.it th.-ir pretensions, by force if necessary; 



:mt conflict, disorder, and riotous proceedings 

 :..;;. .wed, are facts that seem to be well established, 

 and I am credibly informed that these violent pro- 



.^ were a part of a premeditated plan to have 

 i in- House organized in this way, reorganize what has 

 I'lH-ii ralli-il tiu- V. ito, then to depose Gov- 



ernor Kellogg and so revolutionize the State govern- 



Whcthcr it was wrong for the Governor, at the re- 

 quest of the majority of the members returned as 

 I to the House, to use such means as were in 

 his power to defeat these lawless and revolutionary 

 proceedings, is, perhaps, a debatable question, but it 

 is auite certain tnat there would have been no trouble 

 it' those who now complain of illegal Interference had 

 allowed the House to be organized in a lawful and 

 regular manner. When those who inaugurate dis- 

 order and anarchy disavow such proceedings, it will 

 be time enough to condemn those who, by such 

 means as they have, prevent the success of their law- 

 less and desperate schemes. Lieutenant-General 

 km was requested by me to go to Louisiana to 

 observe and report the situation there, and, if in his 

 opinion necessary, to assume the command, which he 

 did on the 4th instant, after the legislative disturb- 

 ances had occurred at 9 o'clock p. M. a number of 

 hours after the disturbance. No party motives or 

 prejudices can reasonably bo imputed to him : but, 

 honestly convinced by what he has seen and heard 

 there, he has characterized the leaders of the White- 

 Leaguers in severe terms, and suggested summary 

 modes of procedure against them, which, though 

 they cannot be adopted, would, if legal, soon put an 

 end to the troubles and disorders in that State. 

 General Sheridan was looking at facts, and possibly 

 not thinking of proceedings whieh would be the only 

 proper ones to pursue in a time of peace, and thought 

 more of the utterly lawless condition of society sur- 

 rounding him at the time of his dispatch, and ot what 

 would prove a sure remedy. He never proposed to 

 do an illegal act, nor expressed a determination to 

 proceed beyond what the law in the future might 

 authorize for the punishment of the atrocities which 

 have been committed, and the commission of which 

 cannot be denied. It is a deplorable fact that politi- 

 cal crimes and murder have been committed in Loui- 

 :-iuna which have gone unpunished, and which have 

 been justified or apologized for, which must rest as a 

 reproach upon the State and country long after the 

 present generation has passed away. 



I have no desire to have United States troops inter- 

 lure in the domestic concerns of Louisiana or any 

 other State. On the 9th of December last Governor 

 Kellogg telegraphed to me his apprehension that the 

 White League intended to make another attack upon 

 the State-House, to which, on the same day, I made 

 the following answer, since which no communication 

 has been sent to him : 



Your dicpatcb of this date Just received. It is exceed- 

 ingly unpalatable to use troops in anticipation of dangers. 

 Let the State authorities be right, and then proceed with 

 their duties without apprehension of danger. If they 

 are then molested, the question will bo determined 

 whether the United States is able to maintain law and 

 order within its limits or not. 



I have deplored the necessity which seemed to 

 make it my duty, under the Constitution and laws, to 

 direct such interference. I have always refused, ex- 

 cept where it seemed to be my imperative duty, to 

 act in such a manner under the Constitution and laws 

 of the United States. I have repeatedly and earnestly 



entreated the people of the South to live together in 

 peace and obey the laws, and nothing would give DM 

 greater pleasure than to *ee reconciliation and tran- 

 quillit -o prevail, and thereby remove all 



noooMity tor the presence of troop* among them. I 

 regret, however, to soy that this tate of thing* doe* 

 - 1, nor dues it* existence seem to be defired In 

 some localities, and as to thoe it may be proper for 

 me to say that to the e.\t>-nt that Congress ha con- 

 ferred power on me to prevent it, neither Ku-klux 

 Klans, White Leagues, nor any other association 

 using arm* and violence to execute their unlawful 

 purposes, can be permitted in that way to govern any 

 part of this country. Nor con I see with indifference 

 i men or Republicans ostracized, persecuted, and 

 murdered on account of their opinions, as they now 

 are in some localities. I have heretofore urged the 

 case of Louisiana upon the attention of Congress, and 

 I cannot but think that its inaction lias produced 

 great evil. 



To summarize : In September last an armed organ- 

 ized body of men in the support of candidates who 

 had been put in nomination tor the offices of Gov- 

 ernor and Lieutcnant-Governor at the November 

 election in 1872, and who had been declared not 

 elected by the board of canvassers recognized by all 

 the courts to which the question had been submitted, 

 undertook to subvert and overthrow the State gov- 

 ernment that hod been recognized to me in accordance 

 with previous precedents. The recognized Governor 

 was driven from the State -House, and but for his find- 

 ing shelter in the United States Custom-House in the 

 capital of the State of which he was Governor } it is 

 scarcely to be doubted that he would have been killed. 

 From the State-House, before he had been driven to 

 the Custom-House, a call was made in accordance 

 with the fourth section of the fourth article of the 

 Constitution of the United States for the aid of the 

 General Government to suppress domestic violence. 



Under those circumstances, and in accordance with 

 my sworn duties, my proclamation of the 15th of Sep- 

 tember, 1874, was issued. This served to reinstate 

 Governor Kellogg to his position nominally ; but it 

 cannot be claimed that the insurgents have to this 

 day surrendered to the State authorities the arms be- 

 longing to the State, or that they have in any sense 

 disarmed. On the contrary, it is known that the 

 same armed organizations that existed on the 14th of 

 September, 1874, in opposition to the recognized State 

 government, still retain their organization, equip- 

 ments, and commanders, and can be called out at any 

 hour to resist the State government. Under these 

 circumstances the some military force has been con- 

 tinued in Louisiana as was sent there under- the first 

 call, and under the some general instructions. I re- 

 peat, that the task assumed by the troops is not a 

 pleasant one to them ; that the army is not composed 

 of lawyers capable of judging at a moment's notice of 

 just how far they can go in the maintenance of law 

 and order ; and that it was impossible to give specific 

 instructions providing for all possible contingencies 

 that might arise. The troops were bound to act upon 

 the judgment of the commanding officer upon each 

 sudden contingency that arose, or wait instructions 

 which could only reach them after the threatened 

 wrongs had been committed which they were called 

 on to prevent It should bo recollected, too, that 

 upon my recognition of the Kellogg government I re- 

 ported the fact, with the grounds of recognition, to 

 Congress, and asked that body to take action in the 

 mutter ; otherwise I should regard their silence as an 

 acquiescence in my course. No action has been taken 

 by that body, and I have maintained the position then 

 marked out. If error has been committed by the 

 army in these matters, it lias always been on the side 

 of the preservation of good order, the maintenance of 

 the law, and the protection of life. Their bearing 

 reflects credit upon the soldiers, and if wrong has re- 

 sulted the blame is with the turbulent elements sur- 

 rounding them. I now earnestly ask that such action 



