The Louisiana Democrat., 1867-05-22
Governor HEhglish 3 Inaugural.
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GEkITTTT ygaK
The inaugural address of TGovs,Bpglish,
of4Connecticnt,. was delivered loE Gthe .lst
instant. We ,makea brief extract, as tfelr.
lows - - 49, = - a@&'-
The right of a State voluntarily to with
draw fIom the Union has been abandoned
by those who attempted to carry itint6
effect. Fopr, years. Of sapguiDary warfare
brought this result to the- country; ana yet
the great object of that war has, thus far,
been defeated. :, The Union is not restored,
Ten States are, by the actor, of Congress,
denied all participation il the rational
government I tile laws OF which they are re-
quired to obey, Measures such as these
tend to empire mot to- ahioh,dge If persist
ed in, they must inevitably destroy the
federative character Of our government, and
transform the republic ,intola despotism.-
The course of legislation pursued by Con-
gress towards the ten States of the South
is, in my judgment, wholly lunwarranted by
our fundamental law, and as fatal to the
Union and Constitution as the principle
of secession which has been suppressed.
The legislation ofthe Thirtylhihth Con-
gress was, to a large extent, d series of
usurpations and infractions Of athe iCohsti-
tuition, commencing with propositions to
enforce amendments of that instrument, in
the inception of which nearly one-third of
the States and fully one,thifdi of the people
had no voice, and eventuating in placing
that people, iha tine ofprofoundl dlpeace,
under military domination.
The bill to establish military govern
ments over the ten Southern States, and
which assumes to annul the sstatela and 9pu-
nicipal governments and the legal tribunals
of that portion of the country has Justly
alarmed the apprehensions of considerate
and rejecting citizens,l D1Bt I'M effect les
tablishing martial law, oyer those States
But whence doss GoHgfsss derive the pow
er to, subject any portion of'ths citizens Of
the United States to martial lawt Martial
law Is not military law. alt embraces the
citizen as we'll as the, seldier. 1T is the
substitutiolof fhe will Of the commanding
officer in an enepiy's country in thu time of
war forthe municipal iaw Nhish pre- siouslg
prevailed. III, isa creature Of neSessity,
and exists only where no municipal law Is
in force, ;or where the success Of Military
operas Sons renders its. suspension sfor tine
time being necessary. The deliberate en-.
actment 81 martial law by legislature is 9
solecisn. Fora Legislature has time and
opportunity TO enact municipal LAWS 10 be
administered by civil tribunals in conform
| itY to the Constitution or organic law
: Congress has no power not granted to il
by the Constitution, eand martial law is
somethiag wholly without the Constita
tion, existing only by the absence of law
: | It has no power under the Constitution te
J establish military governments id, the South
ern States than to institute an order Of no
bility. .i6 New England & ,d 20Hf'
But the evil consequences Of this legisla
! tion do mol, stop with the establishment o
, martial law Congress has assumed tha
: power only for the purpose of more thor
: oughly accomplishing the subversion 0
State authority. But the military arm haI
: not only stricken down all local civil gov
e ernment in those States, but, by its aid, i
; determines who shall and who shall no
participate Ia forming the governments tina
f may be allowed TO them for the regulation
: of their local concerns. q 1t assumes th
e power to disfranehise the white inhabitant
t of those States and aenfranchise the blacl
o thus condemningt without conviction o
!, trial, q large portion Of their intelligen
/ population, and placing The political powe
: in the hands of those who have never par
ticipated in the affairs of the government
: and large majority cfWhpm cannot rea,
!, the BALLOT they are authorized to cast
i, This is not reconstruction. 1t is not
] measure of peace, bdt'a measure ofIWar--
Local sefgeyernme ept ds the, very corner
stone of our republican fabric. All stabl
governments recognize its, power as o mer
principal of governmental policy. For
= government to discard it is suicidal.
If Congress can thus legislate for thos
States, it is not difficult to foresee, in tn
! not distant future, like interference in othe
States. If these powers, thus exercised
have been rightfnlly exercised, then tn
Constitution of Connecticut and the an
oient right ofIthe people,, so often asserte'
when colony OF Great Britain, to sregu
late their internal affairs in their own way
are henceforth shHectto TIE Win Or capfie
? ofa Congressional majqrityyiig
The Constitution requires that the Pres
3 ident shall take care that the laws be faith
fully executed; but Congress has seen f
; toichange the prescribed atime of Injecting
(; so as to- secure a continuous session for tn
r purpose Of enforcing laws BY its own dc
J erees, and to- hold nthe constitutional at
! tbority of the Executive subject to it's viii
For this change, 2 uncailed' for and anea
. pected, the country was ,uHprepared. I
!, consequence of This, Connecticut was .ur
e represented in the popular branch durin
+ the late session. convened at an extraord
nary time, during which laws 50fI ilpmer
J tous interest were hurriedly passed in th
! absence Of the REPRESENTATIVES Of seventse
t of the thifty-seven States Of ;tae Uhion.A
D So. broken and depleted was g this fragnael
r tary Congress thatuitt did, notI venture
+ appoint the regular standing committee
though adopting without hesitation LAWS
4 vital censequenpstoc o large seCton fpf OF
: common country, and in conflict with I'll
5 settled policy Of ous republican system !
d A NEW FEAruRE IN Social L1FE.-Tt
/ New York Home journal, Which lis u
i organ of society and fashion in that cit
says that1a d fashionable and wealthy lad
e living at Murray Hill, lately gave ,"crimsso
i dinner Jpatty." lfttthus dsscribssit:Ji
! at was literally crimson dinner party
9 Every thing was crimson ;the table-clot
Q had crimson border, q foot deep, wit
2 bordered napkins to match fend ialt Il
g plates, dishes, platters, coffee cups, frui
}. standards, sngar-bo#ls, &cs were, of'ctimse
s glass or china. The dinner was served
t the most elegant and expensive style, al