U.S. GRANT.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, _February 25, 1873_.
_To the Senate and House of Representatives:_
Your attention is respectfully invited to the condition of affairs in
the State of Louisiana.
Grave complications have grown out of the election there on the 6th of
November last, chiefly attributable, it is believed, to an organized
attempt on the part of those controlling the election officers and
returns to defeat in that election the will of a majority of the
electors of the State. Different persons are claiming the executive
offices, two bodies are claiming to be the legislative assembly of the
State, and the confusion and uncertainty produced in this way fall with
paralyzing effect upon all its interests.
Controversy arose as soon as the election occurred over its proceedings
and results, but I declined to interfere until suit involving this
controversy to some extent was brought in the circuit court of the
United States under and by virtue of the act of May 31, 1870, entitled
"An act to enforce the right of citizens of the United States to vote
in the several States of the Union, and for other purposes."
Finding that resistance was made to judicial process in that suit,
without any opportunity, and, in my judgment, without any right, to
review the judgment of the court upon the jurisdictional or other
questions arising in the case, I directed the United States marshal to
enforce such process and to use, if necessary, troops for that purpose,
in accordance with the thirteenth section of said act, which provides
that "it shall be lawful for the President of the United States to
employ such part of the land or naval forces of the United States or of
the militia as shall be necessary to aid in the execution of judicial
process under this act.
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