Natchitoches spectator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1867-18??, 1867-12-19

Inc southern Cfauest IrOffE WHlcu tHc
North would have deriwedsso great a
languishes, aud can never be revived
until it ceases to be fettered by che arbi-
trary power, which makes all its opera
tons unsafe.
~srhat rich country, the richest in natu-
raj resources the world ever saw, is
worse than lost if it be not soon placed
nnder the protection of a free constitu-
ton. Instead of being as it ought to DE,
source of wealth and power, it will
become an intolerabie burden upon the
rest of the nation. 1850
Another reason for retracing our steps
will doubtless be seen by Congress i'll
the late manifestations of public opinion
upon this subject. We live in q country
where the popular Will always enfOrces
obedience to itself sooner or later. 1t is
vain to think of opposing it with any
thing short of legal authority, backed
by overwhelming force.
1t cannot have escaped your attention
that, from the day on which Congress
fairly and formally presented the propo-
sition to govern the Southern States by
military force, with a view to the nlti
mate establishment of negro supremacy,
evory expression of the general senti-
ment has been more or less adverse to it.
The affection of this generation can
not be detached from the institutions of
their ancestors. Their determination to
preserve the inheritance of tree govern
ment in their own hands, and transmit
it, undivided and unimpaired, to their
own posterity; is too strong to be sue
cessfnlly opposed. Every weaker pas
sion will disappear before that love of
liberty and law, for which the American
people are stinguished above all others
in the world.
How far the duty of the President to
preserve, protect and defend the COnsti-
tuition requires him to go, in opposing an
unconstitutional act of Congress, is a
very serious and important question, on
which have deliberated much, and felt
extremely anxious to reach proper
conclusion. When an act has been
passed, according to the forms of the
Constitution, by the supreme legislative
authority of the country, executive re-
sistance to it, especially in times of high
party excitement, wonld be likely to
produce violent collision between the
respective adherents of the two branches
of government. This would be simple
civil war, and civil war must be resorted
to only as a last remedy for the worst of
evils. Whatever might tend to provoke
it should be carefully avoided. A faith
full and conscientious magistrate will
concede very much to honest error, and
something even to perverse malice, be-
fore he will not adopt forcible measures,
OF such as might lead to force, as long
as chances which are feasible remain
open to him or to his constituents. 1t is
true that cases may occur in which the
executive would be compelled to stand
on his rights, and maintain them regard
less of consequences. IfCongress shonld
pass an act which is not only in palma
10 ot f1,A
will certainly, if carried out, produce
immediate and irreparable injury to the
organic structure of the government,
and if there be neither Justice nor rem
edy for the wrongs it inf1icts, or mower
in the people to protect themselves with
out the official aid of their elected de-
tenders; if. for instance; the legislative
department should pass an act, even
through all the forms of law, to abolish
coordinate department of the govern
ment, in such case the president must
take the high responsibilities Of his of
fee, and save the life of the nation at
all hazards.
aa The so-called reconstruction acts.
though as plainly unconstitutional as
any that can be imagined, were not be-
lieved to lac within the class last men,
toned. The people were not wholly dis
armed of the power of self-defense. In
all the Northern States they still hold
in their hands the sacred right of the
ballot, and it was safe to believe that in
due time they could come to the rescue
of their own institutions.
1t gives me pleasure to add that the
appeal to our common constituents was
not taken in vain, and that my conf
dence in their wisdom and virtue seems
not to have been misplaced.
1t is well and publicly known that
enormous frauds have been perpetrated
on the treasury, and that colossal for
tunes have been made at the public ex-
pense. This species of corruption has
increased, and is increasing, and if not
diminished will soon bring us into total
ruin and disgrace. The public creditors
and tax payers are alike interested in an
honest administration of the finances,
and neither class will long endure the
large handed robberies of the recent
past. For this discreditable state of
things there are several causes. Some
of the taxes are so laid as to present an
'1rresistable temptation to evade the paw
ment. The great sums which officers
receive by connivance at fraud create a
u. e.l, -. =. -.