Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1866-09-01
The Preaident's Interference in Lou.
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The correspondence between Presiden,
Johnson and the Governor Of Louisiana,
which preceded the dispatch Of Mr.. John.
son to Attorney. General Heron, is now
published. 1t does not explain or justify
the extraordinary and illegal assumption
Of power by the President. On the con-
trary, it only shows that his interference
in the State government Of Louisiana was
deliberate, and even more fragrant than
the first dispatch led US to think.
The President telegraphed, on the 2lst,
to the Governor Of Louisiana, it seems.
inquiring by what authority he had issued
a proclamation converting the State Con-
stitutional Convention. Here is the whole
dispatch:
"WAR DEPARTMENT, July 81, 1866.
ITO HI, EzeeReney Coo. Wells:
al have been advised that you have is
sued a proclamation concerning the Con-
ven,ion elected in 1864. Please inform
me under and by what authority this has
been done, and by what authority this
Convention can assume to represent the
whole people Of the State Of Louisiana.
"ANDRRw JOHNSON"
Now, the Governor Of Louisiana was
regularly elected by the voters OF the
State; the civil government Of the State
was regularly constituted, and has been
acknowledged by the President, who
has not appointed a Provisional Governor,
or in any way interfered with the civil
administration Of the State. This being
so, how can he justify himself for his grave
act of interference What right has he
TO take part in the local affairs in Louisi-
ana: Are we to understand that a State
| of this Union cannot hold q Convention
without, the permission of the President Of
the United Statesi Or are we to under
stand that Mr.. Johnson now plants him
self upon the platform Of Thaddeus Ste
vens, and regards the Southern States as
out of the Union, and subject to Federal
interference in civil matters, at the will OF
the President?
We have combatted the tendency to-
wards Capitalization when it displayed
itself in Congress, but il is even more dan
gerous when such a disposition is mani
tested BY the President. In Mr.. Johnson's
Peace Proclamation, dated April 2, 1866,
he laid down with great care certain prin-
ciples, which he now. by his interference
in Louisiana, himself violates. He wrote:
1.-The Constitution Of the United States
provides for constitutional communities
only as States, and not as Territories, de-
tendencies. provinces or protectorates :
''such constituent States u necessarily
be, and by the Constitution and laws OF
the United States are made equals, and
placed upon a like footing as to political
rights, immunities. dignity and power
with the several States with which they
are united :" standing armies, military
occupation, martial law, military tribunals
and the suspension Of the privilege Of the
writ Of hG6sGS corpus are, in time OF peace,
dangerous to public liberty, incompatible
with the individual rights Of the citizen,
contrary to the genius and spirit Of our
free institutions. and exhaustive of the
national and ought not, there
fore, to be sanctioned or allowed, except
in cases Of actual necessity, for repelling
invasion or suppressing insurrection or
rebellion"
On that platform he had che support Of
all men who saw that our only safe way
out Of our difficulties lay in restoring as
quickly as possible the local powers Of the
States, and thus vigorously checking the
highly dangerous tendency to centraliza-
ton, which could only end, if it went on,
in a ~usurpation Of all power by the central
Government, and the degradation Of the
States into mere provinces. But II he
abaudons that ground, he cannot expect
the support of those who sincerely be-
lieved i, the only true and safe policy.
Il is a curious and sad commentary on
the insincerity Of mere political partizans,
tina, we find the very class Of Co~pperhead
politicians who during the war continually
opposed the Administration on the ground
tina, the central Government had no right
to defend its existence against a league Of
some Of the States, and whose cry for five
years was State rights, now submissively
swallowing all their long asserted princi-
Piles, and praising the Presidents unau-
thorized. unconstitutional and dangerous
interference in the State Of Louisiana.
We see in this Of how little value are the
professions Of such men and journals,
who, in the pursuit Of Office, are thus
ready to hing away everything for which
they formerly. and until last week even,
commended. These men and journals de-
grade the great and important work Of
reconstruction into a mere squabble for
office; they play fast and loose with the
most vital political principles, regardless
of the consequences TO liberty, and to the
Union, seeking only their own personal
advantage.
The course Of the President in Louisiana
may have one good result. 1t will prob
ably awaken many thoughtless but right
intending people to the perils Of a central
| lied Government, and the absolute neces-
sity Of q most strict and careful adherence
TO all constitutional forms and principles.
While Congress was, in the interest Of
greater liberty, attempting and sometimes
carrying out a policy Of Capitalization, the
| Evening Post spoke It's warning too often
to deaf ears; for it is but too easy for men
TO persuade themselves that the end Justi-
fees the means, and tina. there lies no dan
ger in a mischievous policy If 1t is pursued
for the ends of right and justice. But
now that the President interferes uncon-
s~titu,ionally in Louisiana, in the interest
| of oppression, and to the encouragement
of the rebellious spirit, it will be much
easier for many to see the dangers before