Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Instant Download Construction Law For Design Professionals Construction Managers and Contractors 1st Edition Sweet Solutions Manual PDF Full Chapter
Instant Download Construction Law For Design Professionals Construction Managers and Contractors 1st Edition Sweet Solutions Manual PDF Full Chapter
Instant Download Construction Law For Design Professionals Construction Managers and Contractors 1st Edition Sweet Solutions Manual PDF Full Chapter
At the second session of the 42d Congress that body, and the
President as well, were compelled to consider a new question in
connection with politics—an actual conflict of State Governments.
There had always been, in well regulated State governments,
returning boards, but with a view the better to guard the newly
enfranchised citizens of the South from intimidation, the Louisiana
Republicans, under very bold and radical leaders, had greatly
strengthened the powers of her returning boards. It could canvass
the votes, reject the returns in part or as a whole of parishes where
force or fraud had been used, and could declare results after such
revision. The Governor of Louisiana had made several removals and
appointments of State officers for the purpose mainly of making a
friendly majority in the returning board, and this led to the
appointment of two bodies, both claiming to be the legitimate
returning board. There soon followed two State governments and
legislatures, the Democratic headed by Governor John McEnery, the
Republican by Governor Wm. Pitt Kellogg, later in the U. S. Senate.
Kellogg brought suit against the Democratic officers before Judge
Durell, of the Federal District Court, and obtained an order that the
U. S. Marshal (S. B. Packard, afterwards Governor), should seize the
State House and prevent the meetings of the McEnery legislature.
Then both governments were hastily inaugurated, and claimed the
recognition of Congress. The Senate Committee reported that Judge
Durell’s decision was not warranted, but the report refused a decisive
recognition of either government. A bill was introduced declaring the
election of Nov. 4, 1872, on which this condition of affairs was based,
null and void, and providing for a new election, but this bill was
defeated by a close vote. Later on, Louisiana claimed a large share in
National politics. Somewhat similar troubles occurred in Alabama,
Arkansas, and Texas, but they were settled with far greater ease than
those of Louisiana. The correspondence in all of these cases was too
voluminous to reproduce here, and we shall dismiss the subject until
the period of actual hostilities were reached in Louisiana.
The Grangers.
S. M. Cullom,
Speaker House of Representatives.
John Early,
President of the Senate.
John L. Beveridge,
Governor.
The same spirit, if not the same organization, led to many petitions
to Congress for the regulation of inter-state commerce and freight
rates, and to some able reports on the subject. Those which have
commanded most attention were by Senator Windom of Minnesota
and Representative Reagan of Texas, the latter being the author of a
bill which commanded much consideration from Congress in the
sessions of 1878–’80, but which has not yet secured favorable action.
In lieu of such bill Senator Cameron, of Pennsylvania, introduced a
joint resolution for the appointment of a Commission to investigate
and report upon the entire question. Final action has not yet been
taken, and at this writing interest in the subject seems to have
flagged.
The disastrous political action attempted by the Grangers in
Illinois and Wisconsin, led to such general condemnation that
subsequent attempts were abandoned save in isolated cases, and as a
rule the society has passed away. The principle upon which it was
based was wholly unsound, and if strictly carried out, would destroy
all home improvements and enterprise. Parties and societies based
upon a class, and directed or perverted toward political objects, are
very happily short-lived in this Republic of ours. If they could thrive,
the Republic could not long endure.
Supplementary Civil Rights Bill.
“Article —.
SHERIDAN’S REPORT.
New Orleans, January 10, 1875.
P. H. Sheridan,
Lieutenant-General.
JOINT RESOLUTION.
George F. Hoar,
W. A. Wheeler,
W. P. Frye,
Charles Foster,
Clarkson N. Potter,
William Walter Phelps,
Samuel S. Marshall.