New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-02-04
LEGISLATIVE RUNEOEss:


LEGISLATIVE RuREoRs:
NE have an nfinitrde Of r1lnlors from the State
Capital some of them sensible, others ridiculous and
the balance simply absurd unworthy the lightest
consideration.
What surprises us, however, is the opinion that
prevails to limited extent among practical men, that
the Legislature do just whatit pleases; that it is
an enlarged Yenitian Council of Ten; that the ma
jority can meet caucus and determine upon edicts
of the most trannical character; that it tyran-
ize and Cypress, favor and enrich, just Insults ire
sponsible will and pleasure; that no matter what
ukases may be issued they must be obeyed, just as
though we the serfs Of St Petersburg, instead
of reeborn citizens Of the State of louisiana that
may be stgmatsed with every opprobious epithet,
and ground to the dust by the most arbitrary laws,
treated as outcasts and felons just as though the
blood Of our fathers did not course through veins;
as though the strength Of their stalwart arms had
gone to the grave with them; as though they had
hequeathed their children the hearts of slaves and
towards instead Of the hearts Of brave and true men,
and as though the great principle which underles,
sustains ard supports the superstructure of
publican institutions that last right, that extreme
resort sanetified by the example Of those who have
gone before not our right and our privilege,
should we choose to dare the hazards that always en-
viron the escape from intolerable despotisn.
We say we are surprised at the way some men
talk They appear to think that the Legislature is
wholly an irresponsible body and that there are no
metes and bounds to its authority. This mistake
There is responsibility There is responsibility to
the Constitution the laws in ce-to the past
and to the fntureto right and to wrong to justice
and TO truth7-and from that responsibility the mem
hers Of the may not hope escape There
is future as well present Let not that fact be
forgotten.
Among other rnnlors, we hear it bruited about that
il is in contemplation to remove by address, Chief
Justice Merrick and Justice Buchanan, of the Su-
preme Court; not because any charges are brought
OF can be brought against their Judicial conduct but
because its alleged they belong to what is known
as the American party 5#s 5$$S sjs83 H 1 IN
Ii is also rrmored that the majority intend remoy-
ing also by address the recently elected Sheriff; Dis
triet Attorney Coroner Clerks and other officers Of
| the Parish Of Orleans. This rulnor is going the
rounds Of the opposition journals if with view to
the manufacture Of a false public opinion.
/ We have given these rumols for what they are
worth, and for the present shall have little more to
say. So far the individuals mentioned are CON
eerned, the question is Of no extraordinary import
anee. Bnt the principle involved is Of the gravest
character: and, once submitted to, would eyentuate
/ ia tyranny more irresponsible grinding and unbear
able then That Which weighs down the people Of any
country in the Old World. IWould be far worse than
the coWardly despotism Of Napes-the meanest and
most contemplate despotism in Europe-for there,
Whist little liberty the subject is allowed is distinctly
marked and defined. and he knows precisely what be
can depend on, Here-should the rumors we have
\ b.,
/ know how he stands, what he can depend upon, or
whether he has any rights atal whether there are
any laws at all Everything will be at the yhinl and
caPrice Of an irresponsible oligarchy, denominated
| Legislature. t
If the Legislature can remove Messrs. Merlick and
Buchanan-not because they have been guilty of the
smallest misconduct in oficebut because their poll
tics do not accord with those Of the majority the
Legislature may remove gil the other judges in the
State for similar reasons. The people may continue
to elect until doolnsday, but If they do not choose
men suited to the tastes of partizan Legislature,
that Legislature viii nullify their will trample upon
their choice, and fell them, virtually that they are
| incompetent TO make proper selections of judicial
| funetionaries
&c. too, in regard to the Sheriff and other officers
of the Parish of Orleans. If the Legislature can adj
dress Sheriff Hufty out Of Office after having gone
through all the forms prescribed by law before reg
ularly specified Court-without charge against his
official conduct without why wherefore, save that
his political tenets are displeasng may address
every other sheriff in the State out Of office similar
grounds, Or, on no grounds at all. The way rumors
it is not necessary to have any grounds any proof
any reasons anything else All that is required is
to have the votes of arbitrary and constituencies
majority, and the thing is done, justice, precedent
honor, right, law ana the primal wish of the people
to the contrary, notwithstanding. Admit the prin
ciple and the people will have no rights-all powe
will centre in the hands Of the Legislature. Il
But we find that we are making this article longe
& than we intended; and will close by remarking a
opinion that before the alluded to- if ther
be any foundation for them, reduced to practice
the story Of the Memphis Eagle about the grass grow
ing in the streets Of New Orleans will be realized