New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-08-22
HAvE WE PEACE Z

line PRESIDENT, IN the eGefclSo " A4SA
executive functions, long since prom ulgated
his proclamation announcing that the dove
had cone forth from the ark of Sta' e, and that
a new era Of fraternity and good will amongst
she people had commenced. He announced
tbat III enbattled squadroD's which so late
had met in
The intestine shock and furious close
OF civil butchery now march one way
The courts of the Ian d, in the exercise of
their high Judicial fur lctions, had, time and
again, adjudicated the question and pro-
nounced invalid snd illegal the arbitrary
decisions of thosfe novel military tribunals
which administer ed mock justice at the point
Of the bayonet.
But notwith standing the official announce
rnent made by the President, and despite the
numerous decisions of State and federal
courts, the military department of the gov
ernment continued, at various points, the
exercise of those arbitrary and unconstitu-
ticnal powers to which protracted civil con-
| test had accustomed them. Power whether
derived from constitutional authority or
whether it is usurped, is 10th to relinquish
its grasp upon its subjects. When welded
/ by those unaccustomed to its exercise ac-
eoFding to the enlightened principles of free
/ government, it invariably becomes oppres-
siye; and the assumption BY our equals under
the law of a superiority to which they are not
Justly entitled, does not fail to beget in the
4 minds Of those who are wronged by this as
Il sertion of superior excellence, feeling of dis
4 like Awrongful appropriation ofpower by one
not entitled 10 its exercise is omore to be justi-
fed in thespublic mind, than wrongful appro-
priation Of property, and is often less hurt
fulto the interests of those who are subjected
/, to such arrogations of authority. Those
numerous assertions of rebellious spirit
which it is charged still preyades the Southern
, mind, may be traced by an attentive observer
to that natural disposition in every ingen-
uous heart to protest against the wrongful
use Of power by those who have acquired it
in contrayenton Of the well settled principles
Of our Constitution. All power is more or less
irritated at opposition. Especially does arbi-
trary power, which has no just foundation in
law watch with peculiar jealousy any mani
festions of opposition Conscious that a
! free discussion would expose the
I LEGITIMACY Of its claims, it is disposed
. hto exert a repressiye influence on
the first attempts to expose the fallacies on
which it rests. It therefore detests reason
and logic as much as Toby Belch hated an
untitled can" Its claims are asserted through
the medium of martial law which represses
discussion and exalts brute force above in
tellect. Before this underlined and indefnable
authority the DEGREES Of Marshall, or the
1 judgments of fancy fade away and the will
i of Butler or a Mcneil, Banks OF a Sickles,
though varying as the uncertain winds, re-
4 places the ablest efforts of the most exalted
intellects which have difused the lights of
reason and law from the judicial tribunals.
Even nearer home these HARMLESS pleasan-
tries Of an unstable will have perpetrated
their fantastic jests in the midst Of a law
abiding people, who are truly loyal to the
Constitution Of the country, who are ever
ready to support its principles and whose OPP
position is manifested alone when the land
marks which have guided the giant statesmen
Of former days are in danger Of being over
thrown by the rude and violent efforts of re-
volution.
| But the President in his proclamation adj
mitting the State of Texas to the enjoyment
Of her civil rights has again enunciated his
views on the subject of existing, peace and
the supremacy Of civil law. 1t remains to be
seen whether peace is reality Or a myth.
We know that in law it exists We know
there is no opposition to the legitimate exer-
| else Of any federal authority We know that
the laws and the Constitution meet with no |
obstruction throughout the broad extent Of
the South We know that Tile Southern peo-
pie seek peace and tranquility, and wish to
devote themselves quietly to their ordinary
ayoeations and to recuperate their shattered
fortunes.
BUTT remains to be seen if this will in all
cases be permitted. The disposition to com
NIT harmless pleasantries has become,
chronic il the minds Of some who have tasted
the sweets of jesting with The rights of their
equals under the law. Some of them will be
slow to recognize the fact that civil law is
supreme For years it was crushed under the
weight Of arms, but the seeds Of the tree Of
liberty are still alive, and under proper nur'-
ture may again oyershadow the land with its
healthful luxuriance and stifel the noxious 3
weeds which have for 50 long time usurped
its place. Civil law and the legal rights of
citizens are beginning to command respect
and the sacred ermine Of the interpreters Of /
law is beginning to enforce obedience to
those healthful principles Of the Constitution j
n whose strict observance can civil liberty {
done be found
The Southern people recognize the binding t
orce Of this instrument of Union, and freely \
held their allegiance to the constituted author
ties Of the Union. The only obstacle to a. Ii
omplete paeifcaton of the country, and to- b
he return Of feeling of harmony between v
he recently estranged sections, is the oppo- 4
ition manifested elsewhere than in the South h
, the restoration of the Union and the SUI ;,
remacy of law, If the military men Of the !,
ountry, instead of setting themselves up i'm n
pposition to the law and overriding the plain d
st interpretations Of the Constitution, viii
lso recognize the fact that their justauthority il
J not Inherent in themselves, but derived Il
rom that charter which guarantees equal d
lights to all, the most fruitful source Il
i discomfort will be removed, If they ii
wish to claim the sympathies Of the Il
people, they must cease that vein of g harn-