The Shreveport weekly news. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1861-1861, 1861-07-15

place HI the government O1SpOoal
at least 100000 men and 100000
900. OF that number of men 1OO,.
900 are now available. Within the
willing region that sum is but TWEEN
ty-third Of the wealth of men who
seem willing to devote their all. Six
hundred million ia less per head than
the Revolutionary proportion. Sure
ly the motive now is as strong "a
then; a right result now will be worth
to the world ten times the men, and
ten times the money. The legisla-
tive sanction only is necessary; ma
terial for work is abundant. The
greatest Government perplexity il
the avoidance of receiving men fast
er than prepared.
The people will save the govern
ment if the government will but do
its duty. While there is percepti-
biIity, but little difference between
secession and revolution, the traitors
knew they could never raise their
treason to the responsibility of a re-
volution, by name implying viola
ton Of law; they could advance in
directly in the teeth of the noble
sentiments of the people, they COM
menced iusidiousIy to dehauch pub
tic sentiments, invented ingenious
sophisms-of which, if considered
logically, followed incidents to des-
truction Of the Union.
Their sophism is legal, peaceful
withdrawal without the Unions con-
sent, thus sugar coating rebellion, the
public mind has been drugged during
thirty years, and good men are in
arms against the government. Their
sophism derives currency from the
assumption of some omnipotent gu
premacy belonging to a State. States
are no more nor less than reserved
powers, no one Of them being a pow
or out Of the Union; the original ones
passed in to the Union before casting
off British colonial dependence, new
ones came in from a conditional de-
pendence; even Texas during tempo
rary dependence. was never designed
as a State, the word sovereign State
is not III the constitution, nor is it be-
lieyed in any State Constitution.
Here follows an elaborate argument
against the right of secession.
1t is questioned whether the peo-
pie of every State, except South Car
dina, do not favor the Union-the
contrary has not been demonstrated
Our adversaries have adopted some
declarations of independence, where
in ''all men are created equal" have
been omitted; their constitution, in
stead Of 1--WE the people" has ''we,the
deputies" of the sovereign and indie
pendent States. Why ignore the
rights of lnen-the authority of the
people!
This is essentially peoples con-
test. am happy TO believe that
the plain, common people understand
and appreciate this. 1t is notewor-
thy, that while in the nations trial,
officers have resigned, no common
soldier has deserted the flag.
1t remains to be demonstrated that
those who can carry an election, can
also suppress the rebellion; that bal
lots are rightful and peaceful sue
cessors Of bullets, and that when
ballots have fairly and constitution
ally decided, there can be no success
full appeal back to bulletS-no appeal
except to ballots themselves at sue
ceeding elections. Such viii be the
lesson of peace, teaching men that
what they have by an election, they
cannot take by war.
Lest there be uneasiness regarding
the course of the government toward
the southern States, after the sup
preston of the rebellion, it is assured
it will be guided by the constitution
and laws. The executive desires to
administer the government as admin
istrated by the government makers.
Loyal citizens everywhere have the
light to claim this, and it is not per-
ceived that there is any coercion in
conquering on these terms.
The Constitution guarantees each
State a representative form of gov
eminent. If State withdraws, it
may change that form to prevent its
going out, indispensable to maintain
ing guarantee. With the deepest
regret the Executive employed the
war power in defence Of the govern
mcnt but it was forced upon him !;
he could but perform his duty, or
surrender the government.
No compromise in this case could
cure--not that compromises are not
often proper, but no popular govern
ment could long survive a marked
precedent, that those who carry an
election, can only save the country
by. giving up the main point upon
which the people gave their decision
at the election. The people them
selves, not their servants, can reverse
this decision.
AS private citizen, the executive
could not consent to see our institu-
tons perish, much less betray so vast,