President Grant has forwarded a Message to Congress defend- ing
his action in Louisiana on the ground that we supposed he would take. He declares that lawlessness and bloodshed have characterised the State ever since its reorganisation ; that at first coloured citizens were denied registration, and that a Federal decision giving the verdict in their favour, it became his duty to support it by force. Subsequently, he had to intervene to expel a usurping Governor who held possession of the State House ; and although the recent military interference was " repugnant to the ideas of the Government" and had received no previous sanc- tion, still in "the legislative imbroglio," the military had done no intentional wrong. The Revolution had not really been abandoned, and though General Sheridan's proposals were inadmissible, still they would soon put an end to existing troubles. The President asks Congress to make his duties clear, and promises to carry out their decision without fear or favour. The President's view evi- dently is, that in a State like Louisiana military rule is preferable to civil war, but it is doubtful whether Congress will declare Louisiana in a state to require the suspension of its Constitution.
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