Chap. 366.—JOINT RESOLUTION Expressing the Sense of the Gen-
eral Assembly of Virginia on the state of Public Affairs in Louisiana.

Approved April 2, 1873.

The committee to which was referred the communication of
the governor of Louisiana, with the address of the governor
and the legislature of that state, recently laid before the gene-
ral assembly, beg leave to report the following joint resolutions
for its adoption :

The general assembly of Virginia has received with profound
sensibility the communication from the governor of Louisiana,
with the accompanying address to the people of that state,
exposing the wrongs and oppressions which afflict that unhappy
people. No language it could employ would adequately ex-
press its sympathy with their sufferings, nor could reinforce
the appeal made in their dignified and manly protest to the
“American people, without distinction of past sectional feeling,
present party differences, or of birth, race or color.” It is incon-
testable that by the order of a Federal judge, made effectual
by military force, a political body, claiming to be the regularly
elected government of that state, has been superseded and
another body with rival claims substituted in its place, and
that both claim the allegiance and obedience of the people.
The disorders, moral, social and political, which have followed
upon this anomalous state of things, are depicted in lively col-
ors by the sufferers, but it may well be believed, not too strong
nor in excess of the truth. An appeal has been made to the
president for redress, but that official appears to have devolved
the duty of interposition upon congress, which was in session
while these transactions were in progress; but that body has
adjourned without action on the case, and the president, in
their recess, still refrains from interfering. The people of this
distressed state are thus left, at least for the present, to their
fate. Were this received as the deliberate decision of those en-
trusted with the constitutional powers of the government, we
would be forced to conclude, that, instead of preserving and
enforcing the pledge in the constitution, that “the United
States shall guarantee to every state in the Union a repub-
lican form of government,” they were co-operating to foil and
defeat it. But we hope for better things: therefore,

1. Resolved, That this general assembly does earnestly unite
“in the appeal now being made by the people of Louisiana to
the president for an extra session of congress, in order that
necessary and legal measures may be inaugurated by that hon-
orable body which will give to that people a just, free and
republican government.”

2. Resolved, in compliance with the wish expressed in said
communication, That said appeal may be made known to the
people of Virginia, a thousand copies of the said communi-
cation and address, and of these resolutions, be printed for use
and distribution by the members of the assembly ; and that his’
excellency Governor Walker be requested to transmit a copy
of these resolutions to Governor McEnery, of Louisiana.