The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-12-19
Can the Radicals be Checkmated !?

olutionary objects. The States of tn,
South, which participated in. the struggl'
for independence, are to be declared nj
longer States. but unorganised territories
and governments are to be provided fol
them as in the case of other territories
with executive officers appointed, not by
, the President as heretofore but by the
, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, whose
peculiar opinions are supposed to be in
perfect harmony with those of the domi-
nant party. 1t is useless to throw up to
these men the fact that their present theory
is directly contrary to that which has ever
been recognised by all three Of the coordi-
nate branches of the government, and to
that on which the war for the Union was
fought and won. Those who fought the
war through assumed, as their stand point,
that dissolution Of the Union is on i'm.
possibility, that no State can secede from
the Union, and, consequently that no State
can be destroyed or driven from the Union
against its will. According to this theory
the conclusion of the war left the States
lust where its commencement found them.
On this theory the President has acted j;
the Supreme Court, in different ways, has
recognised it; and this same Congress by
the admission of Tennessee, which had
been as much in rebellion as any other
State, tacitly held itself forth as in harmo-
ny with the other departments Of the gov.
ernment. We say it is useless to remind
the Radicals that they stultify themselves
by their proposed measures, for it belongs
to Radical nature to stultify itself on all
occasions when any nefarious object can
be accomplished by so doing. The only
question for US is how are their purposes
to be thwarted? ~~~,,-. ,.--..--
Our friends at the North are disposed to
take things quietly and to volunteer whole
some advice to the Southern people under
the misfortunes which they foresee must
be borne for the next two years, when they
say they can again appeal to the ballot-box
with a confidence of success. Now we
would simply remind our benevolent
friends that Northern ballot boxes are the
most uncertain Of things, and have proved
a very fragile support to us more than once
within the last six years. And if indeed
the ballot box is still to be our only Deepen
dence, we wish to see a commencement Of
action made at once, as it takes time to |
make such q radical change in popular
sentiment as can resultin any benefit to US.
We think that by a little decided action on
the part Of the opponents of this incendia-
ry party, they may be checked in the career
which otherwise cannot fail to lead the
country to destruction.
The simple question is, is Congress
alone the government? Are the Execu-
tive and Judiciary departments to sit still,
and see the country destroyed without
raising a hand for its salvation? They
would be recreant to their duty if they
should be guilty Of any such condnct. We
10 not think they are powerless by any
means. They can do much if they have
ne will. We have said that the President
Ind the Supreme Court hold opinions con-
rary to those which Congress is attempt
ns to put into operation. Let the ques.
ion as to which is right be tested by the
supreme Court, which is made by the Con. {
titution the arbiter of difficult questions, .
or which the Black Republican party, and 8
he old Federal party from which it q
prung, have ever protested the profound c
st respect and yeneration. Il is the east a
st matter in the world to take the question: /
the Supreme Court. For instance, as b
DON as a State Governor is ousted by one d
t Mr.. Chase's appointees let him sue out o
writ OF quo aoarrant3, and try the title of
he new conner to the Office which lie :
aims. The Court, over which Mr.. Chase =
'mself presides, will then be compelled to a
ecIde the legality Of his appointments, and D
the territorial governments set over the B
outhern States by ramp Congress. The A
uestion once set at rest, and in the man. r,
er which it is not difficult to foresee, Mr.. tt
ohnson, with the army aud navy at his v
ack, sworn to do their duty, can easily d
isplace these hungry vampires whom a p
alignant Congress has sent to feed on the "
fe blood OF the South. We believe that :,
would be perfectly successful sustained =
he would be by the whole mass of the r
w-abhing people of the country. But, d,
opposing he should fail, and should even Y,
Sc his scat, which is not beyond the IL
nge of possibility, the rump Congress bl
ould be he'd up to the gaze Of the world re
a revolutionary body, opposed by the TIA
her branches of the country, and legisla- oi
ng in q manner declared to be Illegal es
nder such circumstances the Conserya- "
fe party would go into the next elections "a. "a
'der such auspices as could not fail to &C. =,
re its success. The attempt is worth r.
aking, and we have every confidence that III
ere is enough frmness left in the country pl
make atleast one effort to save us from wi
dire consequences which must follow GU
g legislation of the Radicals if they are on
rmltted to have everything their own
y.
-.,.,~,....-,>.........., dr
b. We are glad to learn that We were pc
error in Stating that Governor Orr ia.
~ tho Hon,kskuk..-.l 49,, | -,