The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1868-08-12
New Militia Bill.

Tho New Orleans Bulletin in noticing the passags
NJ the new militia bill through the House ~ ssse
,erv vote without any discussion, thus speaks OF 1t
We are BY no means writing in the spirit OF par
;sr whpu We remind tile Senate ct the character ahe
consequence of this act. 1t Is OBVIOUS thas were I
body Of men to enroll themselves who were not po!''
eay acceptable to the Governor he would not author
Use them to organise; would not issue to them arms
or give them pay or subsistence. Nay, more II any
company organised and accepted by theGoFefor shall
meg lect its duty in respect TO discipline the Govern
Or may dsband such company and take from them all
arms and other public property That there has never
been any such one sided organisation authorised oy
,any State of the American Union should have been
reason for deliberate discussion upon the act TINS
fact would be conclusive against its adoption. me
Governor may exclude from military enrolment every
white man. and arm uniform, feed transport and pay
as many eolorcd people as he may choose Indeed,
the whole Loyal League may forward their rolls to the
Adjutant General and it may be adopted as the Gov
ernors army xitln the next month. This Will, ap-
pareutly, rget the rule OF the minority which holds
me offices It will place at Il eir disposal the treasury
5he press and army adequate to execute any com
manu-, It's grand and energetic project. 1t has
been concocted and put in force while our fellow cti-
zens have soaced themselves with the idea that nom
ioation aud platform adopted in New York is pan
soply and panacca for all domestic dangers. While
we approve that nomination and shall support it, our
people should remember that Governor with stand
ing army of bis followers upon us; that If the
electoral vote of Louisiana shall be cast by its Legis
ature these Maelues may block the portals until the
act shall have been contaminated. We should not for
get that the Republican majority in the Federal Senate
and House of Representatives has not yet been over
CONE. This systematic plan tor enactng and enierc
ing partial set Of laws deserves the Instant attention
Of the press and the people. 1t is domestic and inn
mediate danger. It threatens not merely our CON-
.nercal and social iterests bst NAV involve the de-
strucon Of society itself. We must remind our cit
that the right of the people to bear arms shall
not be nfrngcd aud that the citizens of each State
entitled to the privileges and imtnunites of c-
zeGs in the several States" Ang infringement of
either of these rights entities citizens to protection
upon petition to the President 1t is the duty of that
officer TO protect the citizens of every State against
Violence and to guarantee them in their right to arm
aud protect themselves.
1t is not to be supposed that the President would
stand and see preparations msde which may result in
breach at once of the laws of humanity and the
Union, without lnterposing and ordering adequate
force to Louisiana to preserve order and enforce the
laws. We would address word of expostulation to
te powers which execute that systematic subjugation
sge would adjure them to desst There is no purpose
10 obstsuct the exercise of their official duties The
peope are wiling to submit the ballot the redress
Of their grievances. They prepared to give up
Offices, Treasury and State Government; but when
plan of military force, unequal in its operation is to
be enforced by arming onehalf the citizens and
disarnng the other feeling of popular alarm is in
estable The Instincts Of selfdefense will impel men
10 counterfeit tits legalised conspiracy against them
and they cannot b. expected to submit to massacre
without resistance We advise those who think for
the public interest look n hoc'e and those who can
controthe dangerous tendencies OF present legislation
forbear the exercise of any wantop Q" unnecessary
power.