The true northerner. [volume], January 22, 1875, Image 6

About The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920

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LOUISIANA.
Special Message of President
Grant.
His Response to the Senate's Request
for Information.
To the SriMtt of the I'niM Statu :
1 have the houor to make the following an
Hwur to a BMMUi rOSOlatiOB of thoSth mutant,
aakini; for InfonaetiOO eh to any iuterferenco
by any m.liurv ottott or any pait of the
army of the United Statea with the organiza
tion or proiv iliu'H of tho General AhhiuIj1v
of the NtHto of I.oniniana, or either braneli
thereof, and alnn Inquiring in regard to the
01 1st ones of armed organization la that
State BOOttto to tho govorum -rt thereof, and
intent On v r 1 1 1 r n i n g NOb government hy
force .
To Hay that UateOBBOae. turbulence and
bloodshed iiave oharaotertaed the political
affairs of that Statu cince Ha organization
under tho BeOOBOtl notion aits, is onlylto re
peat what ha become well known ad a part of
itn unhapny histoiy: hut it may ho proper
here to i fOf to tin eleotton of 1868, hy wbleh
tho BoPttbUmn vote of tho State, through
fraud tad violence. wh reduced to a few
thousand, and tho bloody riots of 1S6! and
lHtIS to shew disorder . Theee are not due
to any root 0.1 BaBOOf Of late action of the
Foderal authorities. 1'ioparatory to the elec
tion of lsT J, a eliamoful and uinliguie(l con
spiracy wan formed to carry that election
against the Ih'puhl can, without n gard to law
or right, sad 10 that end the niot glaring
frauds and forgeries wero committed in tho
returns, after many colored citizens had been
denied registration and others deterred hy
fear from canting their ballots. When the
timo came for a final canv.iss of the votes, in
view of tho foregoing facts. Wi'liim P. Kel
logg, the R publican candidate for Governor,
brought su.t upon the equity side of th
United States Circuit Court for Louisiana, and
against WaflBOtB anil ot hers who had obtaiued
possession of the returns of tho election, rep
rooonttng tbot several thousand voters of
tho State had been deprived of tho elective
franchise on account of their color, and pray
in; t hat steps might he taken to have thei
vot s OOOntod, and for general relief. To
enable tho 0 urt to Inqoiro as to tho truth of
those eUegatioBB, atemporiiy restraining or
der was issued against ths dafeodeato, wnlota
was at 0000 wholly disregarded and BTOOtad
with OOntOtnPt by those to whom it was di
rected. Those jiroceedings havo been widely de
nounced a-i an unwarrantable interference bv
the Federal Judtciarv with the election of
State offtc re, but it is to he remembered that
by the Fit p-miI h Ameudmout to the Constitu
tion of tin United States the political equali
ty of colored citizens is secured, and
under the lOOOad section of that amexdiui uf,
providing that CongTOM shall have power to
enforce. IW provision! by appropriate legisla
tion, an Mi RM pOOOOd On the .'list of May.
187D, and amended in 1871, the object of
which v as to prevent tho denial or abri 'go
mont of the soffrtgO of citiz -ns on account of
race, co'oror pro VI BI condition of servitude,
and it has been held by ail the Fed -r.il
Judges before whom the question ha ar s.-n,
including Jatl00 Strong, of the BnpiOBM
Court, that tho protection afforded by theos
amondnicnts and these a. ts extendi to State
as well as to other olections.
That it is the duty of the Foderal Courts to
onforeo the proxJeiOM of th constitution of
the United States and tho laws poosod in pur
suance thereof is too char for controvi rsy .
Boot ion 15 of siid act, after numerous pro
visions therein to prevent an evasion of tho
Fifteenth Amendment, provides that tht
jurisdiction of the Circuit Court of tho United
States shall extend to all OMOf inlaw or equity
arising Ond r the Provlaii n of said act and of
the act oaondotorj tboroof. Oongrom soems
to have taken prompt and (qui able as wed as
legal proceedings to prevent tho denial of
suffrage to the colon d oitiBOUS, and it may be
safely asserted that if Mr. Kollogg's bill In tbo
above OSIBOd 0100 does not present a car.- foi
tbo oqoitabk interposition of the court,
no such case can arise under tho act. That
the oonrta Ot the United States have the right
to interfere in various ways with State elec
tions, so M to maintain political equality and
rights therein, irrespective of race or Ooler,
is comparatively a new, and to some it seem-t
to he a etart'ing, idea ; but it results as clear
ly fr m the Fifteenth Amendment of the Ccn
oUttltiOB tad tho acts that have been passed
io enforce that amendment, a the abroga
tion of Mate law upholding slavery remilt
from tbo ThirtOOOtb AwiondoOHt of the Con
stitution. While the jurisdiction of tho court
in the case of Ked gg V. Warmoth and
other it clear to my mind, it seem that
some of tho rders made by tho Judge in that
and the kindred case of Antoinc wero illegal;
b'.it vvuile thev are so hold iimi considered, it I
is not to be forgotten that ti e mandate of bit
."-ourt had boon c titem. tuously defied, and
tbojr v. ,te modo while wild scones of anaichy
wtve s-.vvvj uo sway U restraint cf law and
3siec. ' X) nbtliOl iiio Judge of ;his court
jaarae grave mistakes, bat the Isw ailewt t
mo i nanceiior great uunBOO not only in
pun slung those contemnii g his orF rs. but
those pceveuUng the consummation of the
wrong which ho has jud.e ally forbidden.
WaatoTOi msy bo said ortboagbtof tbeos
matters, it sOS only made koOWO to mo that
he j roOOOS Of the (Jj i'ed Bt ales Court was
resisto 1, and n- i-a'd acts sjiecially prov.de
for tho MO l I tho army and navy when DOOOO
'3ary lo enf. n o ju licial pro BS arising thore
BBdor, I 0 tnsidorod it my duty to seo that
such process was executed according
to the judgment of the court. Resulting I
fremi these proceedings through various con
trovers.es and OOBtpliootions, a State adminis
tration w... organised, with V7m, P. Kellogg
as Governor, which, in tho discharge of niv
duty, under SOOtl n I of article I of
the Constitution, I have recognized an the
government of tho State. It has been bit
terly and porsistentlv alleged that Kellogg
was not elected. Whether he WOO OT not u
noi anogewiei conaiu : nor is it any more
certain that his comoetitor. M EneiT, was l
chosen. Tho election was a gigantic fraud.
and there are no reliable returns of its result.
Kellogg obtained possession of the office, and.
in my opinion, has more right to it than his
competitor.
On the ib Of ft binary. 1878, the Commit
too on Privileges and Elections of the Senate
made a report, m which they say that they
are satisfied by the testimony that the man
hyalation (f the election machinery by War
moth and othom w as equivalent to id.noi)
voters, and thev add that to recognize tho
HeEnery govaraastat would be rooognixing
a government based upon fraud, in defiance
of the wishes and intentions of the voters of
the State. Assuming the correctness of the
statements in this rejort, and they seem
to have been generally accented by the coun
try, the great crime in L misiana. shout
which so no: h bus booadooo snd said, is that
one m noktiog the i thee of Governor who was
Otsaxeod eat Of 88,088 votes, against another
whose tUls to the - Bsos is aadoabtedly based
OB f rot '. el in il 'fiance of the wishes and
mt nts - ol tho voters of the State. Misin
formed and mi-judging ss to the nature and
exlen' of this repOtt, the supporters of
McEnery proosodOu to Jisplsce by fOffOO, U
some parte Of ths State, the appointees of Gov.
Kellogg, snd on the I8tb of April, in an effort
of that 1 nd. a i BtOBOty of citizens was
committed at Colfax, which, in btoodthtroti
nea and barbarity, is hardly surpassed by
any OOtS of savage warfsie. To put th-i
mst'.er byoad controversy, I qaoti
from tl") chaige of Judge Woods, of the
United Siatee Circnit Court, to the jury in
tho csee of the United Ststee vs. Cruiksbsnk
and others, in New Orleans, in March, 1874.
He said : " In the eane on trial ihereare many
facts not in r mtroversy. I proceed to state
Bome of t In ,11 iq the presence and hearing
of counsel on ls)th sides, and if I stste as a
ooiici h-,i ta t aiis matter that is di-q uted, thev
lTvvt After etating the origru of
inedilfiiulty. which rew out of an attempt of
white n.m,ijH to drive the Iansh Judge and
Sheriff, appointees f Kedogg. from office,
anil their attempted protection bv colon d
persons, which lud to same lighting, in wbiob
quite a number of negroes were killed, the
.) udge stales that most of t hore who were killud
ITOfO taken prisoners. pftetn or sixteen ot
the bhichs had lifted the boards and
rol on refago jadof Ike Soot i i the
Court House. Thev were all cap
t in ft ; about thirty-seven men taken
prisoners; the number is not defi
nitely fixed. 1'iiov wen- kept under guard
until' dark. The wi re led out two hy two,
and sln.t. Most of the men wore shot to
death A few were wounded, but not mortally,
and by pretei ding to bo dood wi ro xftarward,
dariag the night, abls to nuke t ho r oooopo
'i.oiik them was tho Levi Nelson named in
tbo iiidictmout. Tbo dood bodies of aogvooo
killed in this affair were left unbutied till
Tne day, April 15, when they were bojrtod hy
a Deputy Marshal and an efhoer of the militia
from New Dr eiiis. These persons found
lifty-nniH deid bodies. Tln-v showed pinto
allot wounds, the rOSl ma jority in the heart,
and many ( t them in the back Of the head .
In addition to the o ad found, souao charred
remains of d a 1 bodes were discovered
near the Couit HOBOO. Six dead bodioi
Wi M found under a warehouse, all shot
in the heart but one or two. who
were shot in tho breast. Tho only w Into men
injuied. from th beginning of these troubles
to tin n close, were Haduot and Harris The
Cint-House and its contents were entirely
consumed. There is .o evidonce that any
0B0 Lb the crowd of the whites bore any law
ful warrant for the arrest of any of the bU H
! lino is no evidence that either Nash or Caz
abat, after tho alTair. over demnnled trial
before an pfAOtf who even et up a claim to
b gtllv act bat the lh gister continued to act
as Parish Judge."
TaooO are me facts in th s case, as I ur.dt r
stand them to be admitted. To hold the peo
I lo of Louisiana goiieiadv r sponsible for
these atrocities would not be just : but it is a
lamentable foot that .nsupiablo obsti uctions
were throw n in the way ot punishing these
murderers, and the so-called "Conservative"
papers of the Stato ni t oi:l Justified the inas-
aoro, but doooaaoodM " Fsderal tyranny ond
doopotaan" the attempt of tho United States
otlicers to bring them to justice Fierce de
nunciations ring through tho country about
oHico-hol ling and election matters in Louis
iana, wnile every one of tho Colfax miscreants
goes unwhippi d of jiiHtice, and no way can bo
foaad in this land of boasted civilization and
Christianity lo punish the perpetrators of this
bloody and monstrous crime.
.Not unlike this was the BMOOOOTO in August
last. Sever..! Northern jronog men of capital
and OntOrpriOl had started tho little and
fionriobino. towa of Oonobotto ; some oftbom
were Republicans and office-holders under
Kollogg. Tiny wero, therefore, doomed to
death. Six ol them were seized and carried
away from their homes and tnurdofod in OOU
blood. No one has been punished, and tho
"Conservative" press of tho State denounced
all efforts to that ond, and boldly justified
the crime.
Many murders of a hkc character have been
committed in individual cases, which cann it
here be detailed. For example : T. S. Clil
fordf Judge of the parish, and the iMstriet
Attorney of the Twelfth Judicial Histriet of
the Stato, on thur way to tho court, wore
shot from thaif horses bj mon in umSush on
the 8th Of October, 1873,' and the wile of the
former, in a communication to the Depart
ment of Justice, tells a piteous tale of the
pOnOOUtioni Of her husband, because he was
a Union man, ami of the efforts made to MiM
those who had commuted I crime which, to
ii.-e her language. ' left two willows and nnio
oiphans dOtOlotO"
To soy tbal tiio ntardof of a negro or a
white RopnbliOOa is not cons dered a crime in
Louisiana, would probably be unjust to s
great part of the people, but it is truo that a
groat oaaiboi 01 such stardom havo loon
committe i and no one has been punished
therefor, and it is manifestly true that the
Dirit of hatred and violence there is stronger
than law.
Representations w ere made to mo that the
presence of troops in Louisiana was unneces
sary, and that th re was M danger of public
disturbance if tboj were taken OWOJ. Conse
quently early iast summer the troops wero
withdrawn from the
State, with tho ex-
noptioa of a small garrison at now
Orleans barracks. It was stated that
a comparative stato of quiet had supervened :
that the political excitement as to L Hiisiana
affairs si emed to bo dying out: but the No
vember election was approaching, and it, was
necessary for party purposes that the tlann
should DO relight, Id. Accordingly, on the
11th of Soptemher. I. 15. l'enn, OloiBtblg ho
whs elected Lieutenant-Governor in ls72,
UWBOd OB inflammatory proclamation, calling
upon the militia of the Sta'o to arm, asseni
hie and drive Bt the atar e. s,' as ho des
ignated tho officers of the State. The White
f iSsgrero, maofl and ready for tbo eoafliet,
promptly responded. On the same day the
Governor made a formal requisition BOOT
me, in pursuance of the tct of 179 ,
and section 4, artielo 1 of tho Con
stitution, to aid ba appresotog
domestic violence. On the next day I boned
my proolsmation. oonuandlng tbo iu.-uigoints
to disperse within live days tr, in tho date
Iheieof; but before t lie proclamation was pub-
huliod
ln new linearis tlie organized and
armed toroes reorganising i usurping gov
en, nn nt, had taken fOTOtbiS possession of the
Slate House and temporarily subverted the
government. T.ventv .,r unue . nplo were
killed, inchidii g a number of the police of tho
etty, The streets of the citv wore stained
with blood. All that was desired in the way
of excitement had been accomplished.
Prior to, sad with a view to, tbO Jato elec
tion m Louisiana, wbito men associated them
selves together in armed bodies, called
' White Leagues," and at the saino timo
threats VOtO made hi the Democratic journals i
of the State that, tho election should be car
ried ageioit the RepnblieaoB at all hazards,
which vi ry naturally greatly alarmed the col
ored voters. By section 8 of the act of Feh.
98, 1871.it is made the dutv ( f United S t, s
Marshals and their deputies, at tho polls
where votes are cast for Representatives in
Congress, to keep tho peace and prevent any
violations of the so-called Enforcement act
and other offOBOOl SgsJaOt the laws of the
United BtatOO, and upon a i enisit i m of the
Marshal of Louisiana, end OS vie.v of said
anm d organization and other portentous cir
cumstances. 1 caused detachments of troope
to bo stationed in various localities in tho
state to unl him in tho performance of b.s
(,n.il .tmie- n, nfAm.,,i r.t
Stato laws. The offioors and troope of the
United BtatooBsiy well have sapposou that it
was their duty to net when called upon by the
government for the purpose.
That tfiero was int imidation of the Repub
lican voters at the election, notwithstanding
this precaution, admits of no doubt Tho
following are specimens of the moans
used On tlie 1 1th day of October
eighty pereOOl signed and published
the following at Shreveport : " We tne under
signed, merclianti of the city of Shreveport,
in nlM'dienco to a request of the Shieveport
Campaign Club, agteo to use every endeavor
to get our employes to vote the People's
ticket at the ensuing election, and in tbo
event of their refusal to do so. or in case they
vi .to the Radical ticket, to refuse to employ
them at the exniration of their present con
tracts." On the same day another large body
of persons published, in the same place, a
paper in which they used the following lan
guage; "We, the undersigned, merchants
of the city of Barevoport, Bare to the great
importance of securing a good and BOBOet
government to the State, do agreo and pledge
ourselves not to advance any supplies or
money to any planters the coming year who
will give employment or rent lands to Isbor
ers who vote the Radical ticket in the coining
election."
I havo no information of the proceedings of
the Ret'-.rniug Hmid for the said election
winch may not be found in its report, which
has been' published ; but it ie a rastter of
public information that a great par of the
t une tsBOfl to canvass the votes wan consumed
by the arguments of lawyers, several - f whom
represented each party before the board. I
have no evidence that the proceedings of this
b srd were not U1 accordance with the law
under obiob they OOOfrd. Whether, in exclud
ing ft in tlstk I BBst OOrtoiS returns, they
were r;; ht or wrong, is a question tbst de
pends Bpoa the evidence they had before
i In m : but it is very clesr that the lsw gives
tin in th p isrOT, if they chose to exerciso it,
to d cide that way, snd, prims fscie, the per
sons whom they "return ss elected are enti-
tie 1 to the e ffices for which thoy were candi
dates. I specting the alleged interference by the
military with tho organization of tho Legis
lature of I. ..us.. i a on the 4th instant, 1 have
no knowledge or information which lias not
bOOB i e, 'rived by me since that time and pub
lished. My first information was from the
papers of tho morning of the 5th of January.
1 did not know that any such thing was an
ticipated, ami no orders, no suggestions, wore
over given to any military BUor in that State
r! on taooabjeot prior tO the occurrence, lam
well aware tuat any military interference by
the officers or troops of the l i.it. d Stales with
th. oiganization of a State Legislature or any
of its prOOS edtnge, or Wttb any civil depart
ment of tne gov. rnasoat, is repugnant to our
ideva of goven meut. I can conceive of no
case, not involving rebellion or nsnrrec
Hon, where Midi interference by the au
tborirj o the general government ought to be
permitted or can be justified but there are
circumstances connected with the late Legis
lature imbroglio in Louisiana which seem to
BXOmpt the military from SBV intentional
srrOBg in that matter, knowing that they bad
bOOB placed in Loui-iana to prevent dOBMOtk
iolOUOO tad 10 aidbl repressing it. The rev
olution von apparently, taoagau is bebeved
not really, abandoned, and the cry of "Fed
eral usurpation" and " tyranny in Louisiana"
was renewed with redoubled onergv. Tioops
had bOOB SOB! to the State under the requisi
tion of tbo Governor, and so otbor dietarbsnooi
i-eeined linmine if, they were allowed to roinain
there, to render the Executive such aid as might
become necessary to enforce the laws of tho
Stato and reoness tho continued violence
winch seemed Inevitable at the moment when
the Federal support should be withdrawn.
I ib brunch of a legislative a-sembly is
the JodgS Of tho election and the qnnlitica
tious of its own mi nbor;bntif s mob or a
bo ly Of unauthorized persons soizo and hold
the h'Hislativo h h 11 in a tumultuous and liot
OBS manner. M d so prevent any organisation
by those legally returned as elected, it
niigbt become the duty of tho State Execu
tive to interpose, if requested by a majority
of the members-elect, to suppress hi dis
turbance and enable the peinons elee'ed to
organise tho House. Any OXOroloO of this
n iwi r would be justitiable under most extraor
dinary oil OUmslOnOSS, and it would then be tho
duty of t!ie Governor to call upon the con
st ibulary, ir. if mcessary, the military force
Ol ih. State; but with reference to Lou
isiana, it is to bo borne in mind that any at
tempt bv tbo Oororaor to use the police font
of that State at this timo would BOTO BB
doabtedl precipitated o bloody ooufllet with
the White League, as it did OB the I4tb of
September. There is no doubt that the pres
. :: of the Halted States troops on that DC
OOOlon prevented bloodshed and the loss of
life. Loth pMrtli". appear tO liHTO relied Bpoa
theuj as coiisQiYAtoru of the public r eaco.
The first call was made by tho Democrat,
to remove persons obnoxious to them from
the legislative hall, and the second was from
lbs Republicans, to remove persons who bad
Boarpod suns in the Lsgailotaro without le
gal c rtiticttos authorizing thorn to seats, and
in sufficient number to change tho majority.
Nobcdy was disturbed by the military who had
a legal right at that timo to occupy a seat, in
the Legislature. That the Democratic
minority of tho House undertook to seize its
organization by fraud and violence ; that in
t his attempt they trampled underfoot the law,
in that they acted nnuer s prOOOQ
SOrtod plan, and under false pretenses intro
duced into tho hall men to support their pre
teiiMon by fores. if nceasary,
and that the conflict, dieordor and
riotous proceedings following are facts.
eOBM to bo well-established, and I
am credihlv informed that these violent pro
ceedings were a part of a premeditated plan
to havo tho FIOQM Organised In this way :
to rocognifo what has been called ths He l in
en1 Senate ; then to depose Gov. Kellogg,
and ho revolutionize the S ato goternment.
Whother it was wrong for tho Govornor, at
the request of a majority of the member
returned as elected in the House, to use etich
means us were in his power to defeat these
lawless and revolutionary praooodingO, is
perhaps a debatable question : but it is quite
certain that there would have been no trouble
f those who now eoumlain of illecal interfer
ence had allowed tho ilouso to ho organized
in a lawful and regular manner. When tboos
who inaugurate disorder or anaichy dioavos
such proceedings, it will be time enough to
condemn those who, by such means as they
had. prevented the success of their lawleas
ami desperate schemes.
Lieut. Gen. Sheridan waH reiplfsted by mo
to go to Louisiana to observe and report the
situation there, and, if in his opinion neces
sary, to assume the command, which ho did,
on tho fab instant, after the legislative dis
turbances had occurred, at 9 o'clock in the
evening, a number of hours after the disturb
ance. No party motives nor personal preju
dlOOS can reasonably be lmj uted to him. but,
honestly convinced by whai be bus Men and
heard there, ho has characterized tlie leaders
of tho White Leagues in severe term and
snggosted summary mod en of procedure
against them, which, though they can
not be adopted, would, if legal, soon
put an end to the troubles and disor
der in that Stato.
Gen. Sheridan was looking at tho facts, and
possibly not thinking of proceedings which
would be the only proper ones to pursue in
time of poace he thought more of tho ntterlv
lawless condition of society surrounding him
at the lime of his dispatch end of 0001 would
prove a sure remedy. Ho never proposed to
do anv illegal act, nor expressed a dot. rmina
tion to proceed beyond what tho law in the
future might authorize for the punishment of
the atrocities which have been commuted and
the commission of which cannot bo aaoof ss
fully denied
It is a deplorable fact that political crimes
and murders have been committed in Louis
iana which havo koiio unpunished, ami which
havo been justified or apologized for, which
must rest as a reproach upon the Stato and
country long after the present generation has
passed aw ay. I have no desiro to have United
States troops interfere in the domestic con
corns of Lousiana or any other State.
On the 9th of December last, Gov. Kellogg
telegraphed to mo his spprehension that the
White League intended to niHke another at
tack. Upon the same day 1 made the follow
ing answer, since which no communication
has boeu sent to him
" Your dispatch of this date just received.
It is OXOOtdiagjlf unpalatable to use troops in
anticipation of danger. Let tho State author
ities be right, and then proceed with their
duties without apprehension of danger. If
they are then molested, the question will be
determined whether tho United States is able
to maintain law snd order within its limits er
not."
I have deplored tho necessity which soemed
to msko it my duty, under the Constitution
and laws, to make such interference.
I have always refused, except where it
seemed to be my imperative duty, to act in
such a manner as the Constitution and laws
of tho United States required. I have
repeatedly and earnestly entreated the people
of the S uth to live together in peace and
obey the laws, and nothing would give me
greater ploasuie than to see reconciliation
and tranquillity everywhere prevail, and
thereby remove all necessity for the prosonco
of troops among them. I regret, however, to
say that this state of things dooa not exist,
nor does its existence seem to be desired in
some localities, and as to those it may be
proper for me to say that, to the extent that
Congress has conferred the power on me to
prevent it, neither Ku-Klux Klsns, White
Leagues, nor any other ass xuation using
srms and violence to execute their unlaw ful
purposes, can be permitted in thst way to
govern sny part of this country; nor can I
seo with mdifTeience Union men or Repnbti
csns ostracized, persecuted snd murdered on
account of their opinions, as they now are in
some localities.
I have heretofore urged the esse of Louisi
ana upon the attention of Congress, and I
cannot but think its inaction has encouraged
the great evil. To summarize i In Septein
her last an armed, orgsnized body of men. in
the nni port of candidates who had been put
in nomination for the offices of Governor snd
Lieutenant-Governor st tho November elec
tion in 1872, snd who had been delcared not
elected by the Board of Canvassers thst had
been recognirod by all the courts to which
the question had been submitted, undertook
to subvert snd overthrow the State govern
ment thst had been recognised by me in
scoordance with previous precedents. The
recognised Governor was driven from the
State House, and but for his finding
shelter tn the United States Custom
Hoiise, in th capital of the State of
which he was Governor it is scm elv to be
doubted that he would have been killed.
From tho State House, heforo ho hail been
driven to the custom Boaao, a oaU woo xeado
in accordance wrb the ith section , f tho 4th
srticle of the Constitution ol tho United
states b.r the aid of the general government
to suppiess domestic violence. Under tOOM
circiinisianccs, and m iaoofiaBOf with my
vrotfi duties, my proclamation of the Lfitb
of Hoptoatbor, 1874, was leaned, Sue served
to reinstate (i,.v. Kellogg q his position nom
inally, but it cannot ! c claimed that the in
surgents have to this day surrendered (o the
Stato authorities tho anus belonging to the
Stste, or that they have in any sense duWmed.
Ob the oentrery, it is known thai the isbm
armed organizations that existed on theltih
ol September, 1-71. m opposition to the
leoogalasd Beats government. still
retain their organization, equipments
and commanders, and can he called out at
any hour to resist tho Stato goVOrami Dl
Under these circum-dai ces the same military
force hoe boea continued in Lou, sums as was
sent under tho first call, and under the same
general instructions.
I repeat that the task assumed by the troops
is not a pleasant one to them ; that the at m
is not composed of lawyors capable of judg
ing at a moment's notice of just how far they
cm go in the maintenance of law and order,
snd that it was impossible to give BpOOiflo in
structions providing for all possible contin
gencies that might a iso. The troope were
bound to act upon the judgment of their com
manding officers upon each sodden oontin
goaOf that arose, or await instructions, winch
could only reach thorn after tbo threatened
wrongs had boeu committed which tin v
were called upon to prevent. It should be
recollected, too, that upon my recognition
of the Kollogg government I reported the
fact, with the grounds of tho recognition, to
Congress, and ftoked that body to take action
in the matter; otherwise I should regard
their silenco as acquiescence in oiycouiso.
No action has been taken by that body, and I
have maintained the position marked out.
If any error has been committed by the
army in thoso matters. R has always b en on
the side of the prcsci ration of good order, the
maintenance of law, and tho protection of
life. Their bearing roflsots credit upon the
soldiors, and if wrong baS r suited, the blame
lies with the turbulent elements surrounding
them.
I now earnestly ask that such SOtiOB bo
taken by Congte-s as to leave my duties
perfectly clear in doaliag with the alt tin
of Louisiana, giving SSSBTOaos at the same
lime that whatever may be dOBO by that, body
in the premises will b executed according to
tho spirit and letter of the law, without fear
or favor.
I herewith transmit conies of documents
containing more specific information as to the
subject matter of the resolution.
U. 8. Guam.
BxXCtTTITa Mansion, Jan. Fl. 1S75.
NATIONAL FINANCES.
Views ol Ihe President -lie OAYrs Sonic
Sugars! Ions K :;.oi!iuy tlie New Ki
nnnce IS 1 1 1 Also Knvors the ttestora
Hun of (he Ten miii! ort- Tax, nnl
tlie lucre ate of the Titrifr to the i,i
Standard.
Ih esident Grant has signed the new Odr
rency hill paesod by Congress. Accompanying
his approve! of tbo measure ho sent to the
Senate the following message embodying his
views sf it. and tho legislation necessary to
renaer it eneotoei :
To the Senate of the Tinted States:
Henate hill No: 1,084, to provide for tho re
stii.ip'ion i f specie payments, is before me,
and this day receives niv signature of approv
al. I venture upon this unusual method of
conveying notice of approval to the house in
v. b lob the measure originated becanso of its
great importation to the country st large,
and in order to suggest further" legislation
which seems to mo essential to mako this law
effectual. It is a subject of congratulation
that the measure bus become a law. which
fixes tho dito whon specie resumption chad
commence, ai d implies an obligation on tho
part of OoBgreat, if in its power, to give such
legislation as may prove necessary to redeem
this promiso. To tbtl end I respectfully call
yonr attention to A few suggestions :
1. The necessity for iBOroeood reserve fo
carry cut the obligation of adding to the sink
ing fund annually one per OMt. or tne public
debt, amounting now to about 888000,000 per
annum, and to carry out the promises of this
measure to redeem, under certain contin
gencies, HO 000,000 of tha present legal
tenders, and without contingency the frac
tional currency now in circulation. How to in
creaso the surplus revenue is for Congress to
devise, but I will venture to suggest
that the duty on tea and colTeo might
be restored without permanently enhancing
tho cost tO consumers, and that the 10 per
cent, reduction of tariff on the articles epeci
tied in the law of Juno i. 172, be repealed.
Tlie supply of tea and OOffOt already on hand
la the United Htates would in all probability
hi advanced in price by adopting this meas
ure, but it is known that the adoption of free
entry to these articles of nsosssity did not
cheapen them, but merelv added to the pr tits
of the countries roduciog them, or of mid
dlemen In those countries who have exclusive
trado in tbem.
2 The first rection ff the bill under con
sideration now provides that fractional cur
rency shall be n deemed in silver coin as
rapidly as practicable. There is no provision
preventing fluctuation in tne value of paper
currency with gold at a preninm of ovor 10
per cent, abovo the current y in use. It is
probable, almost certain, that silver would
bo bought up for exportation as fast
as it was put out, until change
would become so scarce as to make
the premium on it equal to tbo premium on
gold, or sufficiently high to make it no longi r
profitable to buy for export, thereby OaBMllg
a direct loss to the community at large and
groat embarrassment to trade. As the pres
ent law commands tbo final resumption on
the 1st of January, 170, and as gold rOOOipta
by tho Treasury are larger than gold pay
ments, and currency receipts less than cur
rency payments, thereby making monthly
sales of gold necessary to meet the cui
rent currency expenses, it occurs to mo that
these difficulties might ho remedied hy au
thorizing the (Secretary of tho Treasury to re
deem loal tender notes whenever presented
in sums not loss than $100 and multiples
thereof, at a premium for gold of lOporoent.,
less interest at the rate of 2J per cent, per
auuum, from the 1st of January, 1875, to
date, putting this law into operation and
d minishipg this premium at said rate until
the final resumption, changing the rato of
premium demanded from time to
time, as the interest amounts to
one-quarter .f one per cent. I SBg
gest this rate of interest becau-o It would
briny currency at par with gold at the date
fixed by law for final resumption. I suggest
per cent, as tho demand premium at the
beginning because I believe this ra n wonld
insure the retention of silver in the country
for change. The provisions of the third sec
tion of the act will preveut combinations
made to exhaust the Treasury of coin. With
such a law it is presumable that no gold
would be called for not required for legiti
mate business purposes. When large
amounts of coin should be drawn from the
Treasury, correspondingly largo amonuta of
currency would be withdrawn from circula
tion, thus causing a sufficient stringency in
currency to stop the outward flow of coin.
The advantage of a currency of a fixed
known value would also be reached. In my
opinion, by the enactment of such a law busi
ness and industries would revive, and the
beginning of prosperity on a firm basis would
be reached. Other means of increasing
the revenue than those suggested should
probably be devised, and siso other legis
lation. In fact, to carry ont tho first sec
tlou of tho act, another mint becomes
a necossity. With the present facilities for
coinage it would take a period probably be
yend that fixed by law for the final specie re
sumption to coin the silver necessarv to trans
act the business of the country. There are
now smeltiug furnaces for extracting silver
and goldirom ores brought from the moun
tain Territories, in Chicago, Ht. Louis snd
Omaha, three in tho former city, snd as much
of the change required will be wanted in the
Mississippi Valley Htates, and ss the tnotals to
be coined come from i he west of those Htates,
snd as I understand the charges for transpor
tation of bullion from either of ili'i cities
named to tho mint la I'ndadolplua or Now
York city, amount to I for each $1,000 worth,
with an e pial expense for transportation
back, it would seem a fair argument in favor
of adopting one or more of tbOSS cities a the
place or places for the establishment of new
omage facilities.
I havo ventured upon this subject with
great diffidence because it is so ut.u-uial to
approve a measure (as I most heartily do
tins), even if no further legislation is attaina
ble at this time, and to announce the fact by
message but 1 do so because I feel that it is
a subject of such vital importance to the
Bholo country that it should receive the at
teution of, and bo diOOBOOOd by, Congress and
the people, through the press, and in evety
way, to the t nd that the best and mote satis
factory course may be reached of executing
what I deem the most beneficial legislation on
a most vital question to tho interests and
prosperity of the nation.
(Signed) V. s Gu nt.
ExnoUTXVO Mansion. Jan. 11. 1H75.
SOVEREIGN COMMON WEALTHS.
Tlie Condition, Financially and Other
wise of n Dozrn or Mo of The in (uliir
tutorial Mertaaueit, and their fgOOOBB
or mlat Ions,
Tho present is a btLWJ season iu the
hiw-niiikinK line. There urn now in
aaaion more Stute Legislature than
were probably ever convened at one
Bad the same in the history of the coun
try. Of course all tin GrOTOlttOn have
observed the time immemorial custom
of communicating to these bodies their
views and recommendations regarding
such legislation as they think the
exigencies of the times demand. W
append a very brief resume of the more
important contents of such of thet'.e
documents us have eomo under our eye :
INDIANA.
Gov. Hendricks, in his message to
the Indiana Legislature, states that the
assessed value of the taxable property
of the State in 1874 was 854,857,475,
which was an increase of more than
three hundred million dollars since
1872. There are 265,000 persons in
the State vho are subject to a personal
-r poll tax of fifty cents each. The as
sessment of property, and the personal
or poll tax, constitute the important
sourci s of revenue. Tie total receipts
for State purposes during the year were
1893,091.97. At the close of the year
ending Oct. 81, 171, there was in the
treasury 62-44,203.78. Tho total Stato
debt amounts to SI, 172. 755 12. The
permanent school fund is SH,71 1,310. oO.
There was received and disbursed
during the rear, for the support of
I school?, $2,211,328.13. The ennmera
! tiou of' 1874 of children between tho
I agftg of six and" tweuly-one yorH, shows
I the raumber of 654,864 : the number
enrolled in the "schools is 480,044. and
the ansfoya attendance upon the schools
has been 3i 1,272. Twelve thousand six
hundred auj fifty live teachers have
been employed. The Stato charitable,
educational and reformatory institu
tions are representv' t ue m a pros
perous condition.
MAIN K.
Gov. Dingier! message fnjsfgfe,1 a
gratifying exhibit of tho tina:ieial ro.i
ditiou of tho Pine Tree Staio. Thf?
war left her with a debt of about 8. 500,
000. This debt the people of Jtfaine,
with steady determination, early .took
measures to reduce. In this they have
succeeded so well that they have al
ready been able to pay off 88.000,000 of
the principal, besides meeting $4,000,
000 of interest. At the present rate the
entire debt would bo extinguished in
about fourteen years more.
NK W IOKK.
The messogo of Gov. Tilden to the New
York Legislature places the receipts
of the yea r at 896,465,870; pajmrnte,
619 686,808, leaving a balance of nearly
7,000,000 ; the funded debt is 880,000,
000. Tlie reduction of the debt last
year was 06, 000, 000. 1I diseusses at
great length the transportation prob
lem, and says the Sfate must protect
the Erie canal. While not seeking to
make money from it, he urges the
perfecting of the caual by enlarging its
capacity, so that it shall practicably
cheapen and facilitate the exchange of
commodities between tho East and
West. He advocates the deepening of
the canal to seven feet, believing that
to bo the best means of facilitating
navigation by boats, whether steam or
not.
PENNSYLVANIA.
Gov. TTartrauft stab's that dnriug the
past year the State debt of Pennsyl
vania was reduced 31, 230,18t). The re
ceipts wero 87,697,119, the expenditures
an 86,602,568, leaving in the Treasury
..l,004.5."il. The total Stato debt is
884,568,685, from which should be de
ducted 0,(100,000 of bonds in the sink
ing fnud. The revenues of the State
have been decreased $12,000,000 by the
repeal of the tax on the gross receipts
of railroads, the net ea uings of cor
porations, and on cattle, and farmers'
implements. The Governor calls atten
tion to the want of skilled labor, and
recommends the establishment of
sohools where boys can be instructed in
trades, and approves of compulsory
education.
M INNF.SOTA.
Gov. Davis states that the total re
ceipts of the State Treasury dnriug the
past, fiscal year were 81,881,210 ; the
disbursements, lt148,089. Tho recog
Bised bonded indebtedness of the State
is $480,000.
Ihe Governor regards the Railroad
law of last session as a practical suc
cess. Under the rates prescribed by
the Hailroad CominisMoners, the reduc
tion c:n passenger fares and freights
and lumber pitting over the railroads
in tho State will amount to about
8800,000. He regards it as practically
settled that the State has the rights to
regulate railway freight and passenger
charges.
I IIKAnKA.
Gov. Furnas' message states that the
population of the State has doubled in
the last two years. The estimated pop
ulation is now 300,000. Total debt of
tho State, $402,954. Delinquent taxea
due the State, over half a million dol
lars. Total valnatiou for taxable pur
poses 880,000,006 ; while the value of
property exempted from taxation is
estimated at $300,1)00,000. Number of
frisoners incarcerated in the State
'rison, 54 ; expenses for the last two
years, $58,100.43, an average of $538 for
each prisoner ; total amount of convict
labor, at Z cents a day, $4,343.04, or
nearly $40 per prisoner er year. On
the 1st day of January, 1875, there were
1,107.00 miles completed railroads in
the State. The ( rovernor states that
the total donations for the benefit of
tlie grasshopper sufferers amotiut to
8J68.080L There are 1,345 school-houses
in the State, valued at $1 300,000 ; and
72,991 pupils. There was about $470,
ooo school money apportioned in the
last two years, and there are 2,200-uali-fled
teachers in the State. All the in
stitutions, educational and charitable,
are represented to be in prosperous
condition.
gfajfoM WCL
Gov. Woodson's statement of the
fiuaueial condition of Missouri places
the Stato debt at 17,735,000 ; amount
of maturing bonds ?aid during the
year, $1,412,000. He refers to the
prevalence of crime in the State, and
quotes tho English common law, mak
ing the people of townships and coun
ties responsible for damages when
officers or citizens fail to arrest crimi
nals, as something worthy the consid
eration of members, and says, unless
the people of the State arouse them
selves to a higher perception of duty in
roafmot to the "enforcement of law,
am st of criminals, and prevention of
mobe, the State will be seriously in
jured, and its progress and development
greatly retarded.
ILLINOIS.
Gov. Beveridge, in his biennial
i communication to tho Legislature,
states that the receipts (including bal
ance) of the Treasury frutu Dec 1, 172,
to Dec. 1, 1874, am 13,885,009, the
expenditure. 1 1 ,750, 1. 57, leaving a
balance or 2.120,532. The total in
debtedness of the State D c. 1, 1874,
was $1,730,972, of which 250,00'!
was paid Jan. 5, 1875. The Gov
ornor estimates that tho semi
annual receipts from the Illinois
Central Hailroad Company will be suf
ficient to meet the interest on all the
State indebtedness and to mv the nrin-
j cipal thereof as fast as it falls due, and
that on Jan. 1, 1880, with all ontstand
I iug obligations paid in full, there will
be a surplus of the Illinois Central fund
of over half a million of dollars,
j Therefore, ao tax will be needed from
! this time forward to pav either princi
pal or interest of the State debt. The
organized militia of the State consists
of one battalion and fifteen detached
companies, aggregating 1,112 officers
and men, of whom 974 are uniformed.
The Governor recommends that en
couragement bo given to fish culture ;
that provision be made for taking tho
State census of 1805 ; ond that the
Stftte should be represented in the
Philadelphia Cent nnial. He states
that the lew for rtvenuo for 1875
should be 82,000,000, and for 1870,
1,500,000,
for schools,
sustaining
tions.
with 1 000,000 each year
The Penitentiary is self
and needs no appropria-
wisroNsiN.
Gov. Taylor, in his message to the
Wisconsin Legislature, gives a flatter
ing exhibit of the financial condition
and material prosperity of the State.
He says that all forms of Stale tax have
beef promptly paid ; that the State
debt is comparatively insignificant;
that the ci7M? oV popular education has
progressed ; that the charitable and be
nevolent institutions are jn an efficient
condition ; that file expenses of the
State have been considerably reduced,
and that the burden of taxation is less
than at any period for many years.
TKNNKSKLK.
Gov. Brown, in his message, urgently
recomm ends the repeal of thf! act au
thorizing the conventional rate of in
terest of ten per cent. The Governor
vehemently denonnoes the action of the
military in the Louisiana affair.
MASSAC lit SKTT.S.
Gov. Gaston protects against the in
terference of the military in Louisiana,
and urges a return to amicable relations
as the only guarantee for the peace and
prosperity of the nation at hrs:e. The
funded debt of the State is $29,405,204.
The sinking fund created for its re
demption amounts to nearly $11,000,
000 ; net debt, loss than $19,000,000.
HTCTtflITTi
Gov. Parley's statement of the finan
cial condition of the Wolverine State is
a very gratifying one "Wo are," he
says, "faithfully fulfilling every require
ment of the organic law, pacing every
obligation as it matures, providing in
adraaOi for every appropriation, creat
ing no new debt and renewing no aM
one." The total bondinl debt is $1,
5H8.135; balance in Treasnrv $1,070,
274, of which 091 821 is applicable to
tne payment of the bonded dehj, and
estimates show that the sinking fund
will provide for the entire bonded debt
by 1888. The State owns 3,003,288 acres
of laud. Tho Governor severely de
nounces the insid 6 rings which, in the
shape of "fast freight lines," "dis
patch companies," " sleeping and pal
ace cars," etc., suck up tho life-blood
of the railroads, and disable them from
paying any profit or even any interest
on their bonds.
KANSAS.
The Governor of Kansas, i a his mes
sage, represents the finances of the
State to be in an excellent condition.
Ho refers to tho grasshopper plague,
and urges relief by legislation. The In
dian policy of the government is con
demned. TKX AS.
Gov. Throckmorton, of Texas, in his
message to the Legislature, congratu
lates that body upon the great prosper
ity of the State, the m irk d reduction
of the public debt during tho year, and
the protection of thousands of miles of
lorder by the Texas Koigera. Under
tne system of finance now adopted,
State bonds are sold almost at par,
restoring credit at home find abroad.
The manufacturers of firearms in this
country are reported to bo very busy.
Large orders from foreign governments
are now leing executed. Turkey is
having 000,000 of the Peabo ly-Martini
rifles made, Prussia lots of needle
guns, Russia 100,000 of Smith A Wes
son's pistols, while Spain calls for all
that can be made of the Winchester
aud other breech-loaders.