I have repeatedly
and earnestly entreated the people of the South to live together in
peace and obey the laws; and nothing would give me greater pleasure than
to see reconciliation and tranquillity everywhere prevail, and thereby
remove all necessity for the presence of troops among them. I regret,
however, to say that this state of things does 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
power upon me to prevent it neither Kuklux Klans, White Leagues, nor
any other association using arms and violence to execute their unlawful
purposes can be permitted in that way to govern any part of this
country; nor can I see with indifference Union 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 can not but think that its inaction has produced great
evil.
To summarize: In September last an armed, organized body of men, in the
support of candidates who had been put in nomination for the offices of
governor and lieutenant-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 government that had been recognized by
me in accordance with previous precedents.
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