New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-02-14
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T,IIf1 ETTEssT SCENE.

4fcaTtI1a ta our dispatches from Baton Rouge it
seen the curtain has risen upon the first scene
|sof the fIst act of inclompeted drama termed
the character Of the closing scenes of
which it Is impossible for human ken to foretel So
fan, no harm has been done and it is to be hoped
tile curtain may drop upon happy denouement.
III the House Of Representatives, yesterday. Mr..
Hamilton, Of Natchitoches, introduced 4 memorial
and solution to Joseph Hufty from the office
of Sheriff Of the Parish Of Orleans Under the rule.
both the memorial and resolution were laid over until
to-day. Ill 5
AS the dispatch says nothing about cause for re-
mosal we presume the procedure contemplates the
exercise Of despotic power without vouchsaing the
people a why Or a wherefore! And, it is reasonable
70 infer that such is the case the central organ in
this proclaimed in advance that the authority Of
the Legislature was Z supreme and unlimited, and
that noneoessity existed " Why a reason should DO
advanced in the premises.
If the Legislature could find anything in the official
conduct Of Sheriff Hufty-for the Legislature can
only know him official yto Justify his removal, we
should be the last to say a word in his defence On
the contrary, we should applaud, instead Of repro
batting, such action. But to remove him without
cause, simply because his politics are obnoxuos to
the majority, would be outrageous and iuexcusable
AS it would be illegal and unconstitutional BY all
the forms Of law he was duly declared Sheriff and
the statute directing the mode and manner in which
contested elections must be settled in this parish
expressly prescribes that the decision Of the jury shall
be final, and that there shall be no appeal.
10 arbitrarily set aside rights thus acquired would
be to trample upon the law which gives a citizen
those rights; would destroy the value Of a trial by
jury; would make iaughing stock Of statutory enact
ments and would Ssupernduce a general distrust of
all the laws Of the Gommonwea Il the Legislature,
in its supreme will and pleasure can destroy the
rights Of citizen, under one law the same Legs-
ature can destroy the rights of all citizens under all
laws. The one consequence logically and legitinately
follows the other. There would be no security for
anybody, and no reliability in anything Already the
neglect Of the Legislature to enforce the peremptoly
commands Of the 18th article Of the Constitution has
produced many deplorabe evls-evils which, we fear,
never will be remeded until law makers cease to be
breakers of the supreme organic law-the bad exam
pie Of thosen authority exercising SO deleteros an
efectupon the masses Superadd to this disregard Of
the mandates of the Constitution disregard Of rights,
legally acquired under the laws of the Legislature,
and it will be worse than nonsense to hope for i'm
provement in any respect. When a citizen acquires
rights through the regular process law those rights
must be sacredly protected if the government would
have the law obeyed and generated. His privileges
4 and immunities cannot be curtaed or abrogated,
without he gives official cause for such curtaiment
/ and abrogation.
Suppose, by way Of illustration, that the Sheriff of
the Parish of Orleans is removed on account of the
Consciousness ofhis politics, exclusively tmay not
such precedent lead to in the future Why two years
hence opposition Legislature may be in power the
members of which may see fit, in the exercise Of
,prenle and unlimited despotsm, toremove all politi-
cay obnoxious shers, well as other officers in the
STATED The sword tits proposed to is two edged and
may be the cause of slaughter both sides The
rule regard to Orleans will hold good in regard to
Natchtoces and other parishes. If the Legislature
is competent to remove the Sheriff Of this parish
without and without reason. the Legislature is
competent to take the same arbitrary action in refer
ence to the Sheriff Of Natchtoches How would Mr..
Hamilton like to have despotc majority apply this
| rule to his own parish How would he fancy com
pulsory drinking from the same cup he has ruthlessly
drugged for Orleans Has lie ever thought of these
4 things? If not, a little careful reflection would do
A no harm.
We earnestly warn the Legislature against rash
proceeding such as are evidently contemplated. We
warn them against doing tylannical act which has
no precedent in the annals Of legislation.s AS true
g. 1 Z ~
friends Of law order, the well being Of society, the
good of the community and as sincere advocates Of
peace and quiet We neseech them not to pursue
pres which may lead to--GoD only knows what! It
will not do forthe majority to break down the legal
barriers which protect the minority and then expect
that minority to obey such laws as suit the conye-
nence and interest Of the majority.
q Immediately after the election Sheriff Hufty offered
II to go before the people, and let them decide the
question This proposition was refused And, should
the Legislature see fit to refer the matter back to the
njusti6able unfair and illegal as such action
, would be-we doubt not his friends would be willing
to again submit his claims to the arbtranent of the
voters But, should the removal be absolute and the
Governor appoint, without consulting the people, we
think it quite likely his successor will find Jordan
hard road to travel" before he gets into Office The
Supreme Court !" still liyes.' r
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