been recognized by
me in accordance with previous precedents. The recognized governor was
driven from the statehouse, and but for his finding shelter in the
United States custom-house, in the capital of the State of which he was
governor, it is scarcely to be doubted that he would have been killed.

From the statehouse, before he had been driven to the custom-house, a
call was made, in accordance with the fourth section, fourth article,
of the Constitution of the United States, for the aid of the General
Government to suppress domestic violence. Under those circumstances, and
in accordance with my sworn duties, my proclamation[91] of the 15th of
September, 1874, was issued. This served to reinstate Governor Kellogg
to his position nominally, but it can not be claimed that the insurgents
have to this day surrendered to the State authorities the arms belonging
to the State, or that they have in any sense disarmed. On the contrary,
it is known that the same armed organizations that existed on the 14th
of September, 1874, in opposition to the recognized State government,
still retain their organization, equipments, and commanders, and can
be called out at any hour to resist the State government. Under these
circumstances the same military force has been continued in Louisiana
as was sent there under the 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 Army is not composed of lawyers, capable
of judging at a moment's notice of just how far they can go in the
maintenance of law and order, and that it was impossible to give
specific instructions providing for all possible contingencies that
might arise. The troops were bound to act upon the judgment of the
commanding officer upon each sudden contingency that arose, or wait
instructions which could only reach them after the threatened wrongs
had been committed which they were called on to prevent. It should be
recollected, too, that upon my recognition of the Kellogg government
I reported the fact, with the grounds of recognition, to Congress, and
asked that body to take action in the matter; otherwise I should regard
their silence as an acquiescence in my course. No action has been taken
by that body, and I have maintained the position then marked out.

If error has been committed by the Army in these matters, it has always
been on the side of the preservation of good order, the maintenanc