Respecting the alleged interference by the military with the
organization of the legislature of Louisiana on the 4th instant,
I have no knowledge or information which has not been received by
me since that time and published. My first information was from the
papers of the morning of the 5th of January. I did not know that any
such thing was anticipated, and no orders nor suggestions were ever
given to any military officer in that State upon that subject prior
to the occurrence. I am well aware that any military interference by
the officers or troops of the United States with the organization of
the State legislature or any of its proceedings, or with any civil
department of the Government, is repugnant to our ideas of government.
I can conceive of no case, not involving rebellion or insurrection,
where such interference by authority of the General Government ought to
be permitted or can be justified. But there are circumstances connected
with the late legislative imbroglio in Louisiana which seem to exempt
the military from any intentional wrong in that matter. Knowing that
they had been placed in Louisiana to prevent domestic violence and aid
in the enforcement of the State laws, the officers and troops of the
United States may well have supposed that it was their duty to act
when called upon by the governor for that purpose.
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