New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-02-25
THE CDNsUNENGATION.

On Saturday, according to the telegraph Governor
Wickle contaminated the removal proceedings OF the
House Of REPRESENTATIVES. and Senate, by appointing
and commissioning Mr.. John N. Bell Sheriff Of the
Perish Of Orleans in the place of Major Hufty " ad
+ dressed' out Of office
We presume Mr.. Bell will demand the office Of the
present incumbent to-day or tomorrow-that his de-
nand will be positively yet courteously refused-and
that then resort will be had to some one of our Dis
tict Courts, from the arbtrameut Of which the party
deeming himself disadyantaged will appeal to the
Supreme Court
The whole question, in all its scope and bearings,
should be brought before the tribunal of last resort
and be there fully argued and finally determined A
higher duty never devolved upon Supreme Judges
than now devolves upon our Supreme Judges, and
we are free to express unlimited confidence in their
irmness honesty and capacity. It's their high pre-
rogative to interpret and construe the constitution
and to nufy or enforcethe action of the Legislature
and Governor underit; and when principles OF mo-
mentous Importance are involved; when the Legls
lature sees fit to pursue policy which abolishes
everything like official security in the Sate when it
is declared that the continuance of an individual in
Office depends upon the whim Of partisan legislative
majority instead of the will of the peoples when laws in
force yield no safety to the occupant civil station;
when the verticts of juries and the judgments of
courts can be set aside valueless it becomes the
imperative and solemn duty Of the Supreme Court to
decide tile question one way Or the other in order
that the people may know what to depend upon Ne,
One Sheriff has been removed without cause,
charges, even the smallest whisper against his OF.
fetal conduct. The majority did not even vouchsafe
reason, much less the shadow of fair trial. The
whole proceedings were characterized by despotisri
il1esponsibiity, and supreme contempt for existing
statutes the rights of individuals and the pleasure of
the people.
Now if under such circumstances, the Legislature
can remove the Sheriff of one Parish, the Legislature
is competent to the removal of the Sheriffs of all
other Parishes the Clerks Of Courts, Constables, and
many other officers of like character and all without
assigning q why or wherefore This would make
popular elections worse than arcieal for tile voice of
the people would count practically, as nothing and
the individuals designated by them to fill certain off
ces would have no security that they could continue
in office. Every thing would depend uponte political
complexion Of alegslatiye majority.
Here would be aScomplete unsettingaof the princi-
pies upon which republican governments are founded
an elevation of the creature above the creator-an
organization Of authority superior to- and independent
Of, the loudly proclaimed source of all power in this
country-the Rsople themselves Instead of electing
Senators and Representatives. to carry out our will and
protect our interests tie tables would be turned and
legislators wouldif this dangerous principle be re-
ed-=become our tYants instead Of our servants,
ouA r nut their will and attend to tiier own in
Without rcgaf& TO the wishes ellbeing of
! i. 49,, .tnertts'
hef consul -aiule--one fraught with so many per-
So odous a prih- aonsen,onoos 90 = i,,-or-oi
licious and destructive .,y,s no,or hefa,a al
in the removal of Sheriff Hufty /, I'll,
yocated in this country. Itnvolves ~
and personal rights-violates the laws OF '
trampes upon the right of trial by Jures--sets III
naugEt the Judgment Of the courts--stfes lnyeshga-
ton and debars man from the inalenabe privilege
of sedefence accorded by the most despotc govern
ments of Europe. It unsettes the whole body polite
and it's tendency is bad, no matter what the light IN
which it may be viewed. There is not a redeeming
feature about it, AL is bare, bald Wickedness and
deformity. .+"
There is not a government in Europe that would
lare venture upon such an act OF unlimited despotis
is the Legislature of Louisiana has ventured upor-
There is not despotwearinga CROWN in the old world,
Who would have tie hardihood to interfere against the
lights Of citizen acquired through the regular pro
cess of law. Such an attempt on the part Of Queen
Victoria or Louis Napoleon, would cost them their
sceptres as quick as the indignation Of an aroused
people could organize itself for action.
Yet we pretend to be freer and better protected
than they