The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1865-06-14
State Rights.

State Rights
Rim Van Wrinkle journalists, who, as to all
EXPRESSED opinion, have INDUCED for consid-
erthle time in profound somnolence, seem sur
nrised when awakened to comment on the state
of natioual politics to discover that, during their
condition of torpor, the world has not stooa
still because deprived OF their advice and inter
ference. It was very impolite tor the world to
move and men TO be stirring while old hiP
suored. When his eyes open to the changes
which have meanwhile come upon society, ne Is
very much dissatisfied being. Nothing has
gone right. in the view of such men, when then
favorite theories have not been successful. 4
citv contemporary groans dismaly because the
government of the United States has ehoWh
that it really possesses the power to sustain II
self. It prognosteates evil because the people
of the country are not disposed 10 see that pow
er weakened, and have rejoieed at Its futi eAef-
else
Undoubtedly "the tendency of the war has
been to aggrandize the federal power" tor the
purpose of the insurrection was to diminish That
power. At the beginning of hostilities the Po"
er of the federal government was instantly ana
seriously curtailed. 1t was right TO re-aeq1lre
that lost authority, no matter at what expense.
If the States received detriment by the effort
of the government to resume its rights, then
the States were in the way of the Republic, and
it was the first duty of those lawfully lepresent-
ing the people of the United Ststes to take care
that the Republic received no detriment.' Ot
course, States suffered, and men suffered, be-
cause they threw themselves across the path OF
American progress.
No Intelligent citizen will deny that there are
State rights; that the State has certain pow ers
distinct from those of the general government,
that the separate spheres OF federal and state
authority are fixed by the National constitution
But that doctrine Of state rights developed IL
attempts at notification and secession, IN the
dogma that State cannot be coerced-the dla-
iutegrating doctrine out OF which has come ciVll
wars as finally put down and lrTevocabIy
doomed as its pernicious character deserved,
In it were the seeds of disunion. Attempts TO
pluck it out of the pit Of oblivion, are born OF
folv or political wiekedness. To revive popu-
lar faith in it, is to foster spirit OF discomfort
dangerous to peace, ininncal to loyalty. The
full growth of such faith would be new war
and new sorrow.
The writer who attempts to influence pubic
opinion should pay heed to what are historical
facts Those who loved most earnestly certain
doctrines which have lost ground among our
their political faith thereon, how it is that those
doctrines have lost influence. a war has grown
out Of end eftectually settled them. Does not
our contemporary understand that
BY all means let US have everything restored
to the status ante beIlum. Let Us have seces-
sion advocated anew, and the integrity of the
National government again assailed on the foor
of congress- There is no Providence over us
making mighty evils result III good. The res
ults Of the war are all bad, for they have chang
ed the state OF national politics and buried some
cherished hereaes.
"Ibe duty Of the citizens at this juncture Is
to recognise the changes which time and terri
BILE trouble have effected in our national policy
and politics, in our loca affairs and responsible
ties; to make the best of the existing state Of
thngs-not to run tilt against the progress Of
events. The sooner the people of the south ap-
preciate that and leave repining for what is Tor
ever lost, the sooner we shall find ourselves Oh
the highway of political and social prosperity.
Why should We try to progress Backward
IN Tirnaa