1874 Ulysses S. Grant - Battle of Liberty Place

In 1872, Louisiana saw a much disputed election with both candidates claiming to win the governorship. William P. Kellogg was named Governor by the Reconstruction Republicans, while John McEnery was supported by the Democrats. Eventually the federal government certified Kellogg as the governor of the state. Many people in Louisiana were already opposed to Reconstruction, and this brought everything to a boil. Two years later, in 1874, the Crescent City White League entered the city of New Orleans with 5000 men to seat McEnery into office by force. The White League was a white paramilitary group started in 1874 to turn Republicans out of office and to intimidate blacks from organizing politically. In what is called the Battle of Liberty Place, the White League fought against 3500 police and state militia for control. The White League defeated the militia, inflicting about 100 casualties. After occupying the state house for three days, President Grant set Federal troops to oust them and put Kellogg back into the seat as governor.

In his 1874 annual address to congress, President Ulysses S. Grant recounted the events in detail and argued that the 15th amendment gave him authority to use federal intervention. 

"On the 14th of September last the governor of Louisiana called upon me, as provided by the Constitution and laws of the United States, to aid in suppressing domestic violence in that State. This call was made in view of a proclamation issued on that day by D. B. Penn, claiming that he was elected lieutenant-governor in 1872, and calling upon the militia of the State to arm, assemble, and drive from power the usurpers, as he designated the officers of the State government. On the next day I issued my proclamation commanding the insurgents to disperse within five days from the date thereof, and subsequently learned that on that day they had taken forcible possession of the statehouse. Steps were taken by me to support the existing and recognized State government, but before the expiration of the five days the insurrectionary movement was practically abandoned, and the officers of the State government, with some minor exceptions, resumed their powers and duties. Considering that the present State administration of Louisiana has been the only government in that State for nearly two years; that it has been tacitly acknowledged and acquiesced in as such by Congress, and more than once expressly recognized by me, I regarded it as my clear duty, when legally called upon for that purpose, to prevent its overthrow by an armed mob under pretense of fraud and irregularity in the election of 1872. I have heretofore called the attention of Congress to this subject, stating that on account of the frauds and forgeries committed at said election, and because it appears that the returns thereof were never legally canvassed, it was impossible to tell thereby who were chosen; but from the best sources of information at my command I have always believed that the present State officers received a majority of the legal votes actually cast at that election. I repeat what I said in my special message of February 23, 1873, that in the event of no action by Congress I must continue to recognize the government heretofore recognized by me. 

I regret to say that with preparations for the late election decided indications appeared in some localities in the Southern States of a determination, by acts of violence and intimidation, to deprive citizens of the freedom of the ballot because of their political opinions. Bands of men, masked and armed, made their appearance; White Leagues and other societies were formed; large quantities of arms and ammunition were imported and distributed to these organizations; military drills, with menacing demonstrations, were held, and with all these murders enough were committed to spread terror among those whose political action was to be suppressed, if possible, by these intolerant and criminal proceedings. In some places colored laborers were compelled to vote according to the wishes of their employers, under threats of discharge if they acted otherwise; and there are too many instances in which, when these threats were disregarded, they were remorselessly executed by those who made them. I understand that the fifteenth amendment to the Constitution was made to prevent this and a like state of things, and the act of May 31, 1870, with amendments, was passed to enforce its provisions, the object of both being to guarantee to all citizens the right to vote and to protect them in the free enjoyment of that right. Enjoined by the Constitution "to take care that the laws be faithfully executed," and convinced by undoubted evidence that violations of said act had been committed and that a widespread and flagrant disregard of it was contemplated, the proper officers were instructed to prosecute the offenders, and troops were stationed at convenient points to aid these officers, if necessary, in the performance of their official duties. Complaints are made of this interference by Federal authority; but if said amendment and act do not provide for such interference under the circumstances as above stated, then they are without meaning, force, or effect, and the whole scheme of colored enfranchisement is worse than mockery and little better than a crime. Possibly Congress may find it due to truth and justice to ascertain, by means of a committee, whether the alleged wrongs to colored citizens for political purposes are real or the reports thereof were manufactured for the occasion."

http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=29515
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Liberty_Place
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_League https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/ 

The monument is still standing ...

Today, there still stands a monument to the Battle of Liberty Place. It stands in an obscure place stripped of it's white supremacy inscriptions.

http://www.bestofneworleans.com/.../what-is.../Content...