The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1868-11-04
1.-THE so-called Government Of Louisiana. 9

or title which alone embodes the sentiments and opn
ions Of the people Of Louisiana to the nature and
character of their present government. Popular
phrases are always significant and full Of meaning.
During the war it was the universal custom in the
North to alude TO the Confederate Government the
so-caled Confederate Government, and in describing
officers soldiers Of the Confederate army they were
described as now or late of the socaed Confederate
army. We have never heard that anybody raised any
objection to these phrases They were understood to
involve and mean the part Of those who used them,
simply an unwilngness to recognise the legality Or
existence of Confederate Government and to deny
it. This question was settled by the results Of the
war. srzz ...ss
Now the New Orleans Republican dislikes this use
of language as applied to those whose organ it is
seems to smart under its infection and has recently
asserted that Gin the face of the certain election Of Gen.
Grant, it is useless talk of the socalled
of Louisiana"
Let us argue that point q little. The people of
Louisiana style their present State Government $50
called government because they do not recognise it
as government which ever has been or can be
recognised by them the government Of the peo-
pie of Louisiana" If not the government of the peo-
Pile, it is not the government of the State It
to be- and it is g so caled;n but it has been forced
upon the people of this State by certain reconstrne-
ton lays which we believe to be unconstitutional
Since its Inauguration it has not commended itself to
the acceptance our people, but, odous in its origin
it has become still odious from its adminStra-
tion Now does the Republican believe that we ever
to recognise it having any claim to legitimacy?
We have hesitation in asserting that under the Con-
stituton ofthe United States the people Of eap State
and organised political community have the right
govern themselves, and regulate their internal
and domestic Institutions to sut Themselves subject
only to the Constitution of the United States. This
is the principle upon which any claim of legality, Of a
righu existence, of legitimacy, can alone be founded
Tried and judged by this great principle Of the Con
stitution, Illustrated by every page OF history,
deny tic legitimacy Of the present State government
and therefore, with one voice and one acclaim pro-
nouncc it socalled government
But does the Republican think that the election of
Gen. Grant Will in any way change our convictions
upon this subject? VIII the sentiments and belief of
the people of Louisiana be any way modified, ipso
facto by that cvcnts will the law upon the subject
be any way altered?
While the Constitution exists General Grant will be
poweiless to interfere in any way with the people of
Louisiana, long as he admits that they are IL, tie
pniofe, and would like to know by what precise
process he intends drive the State ont of the Union
To naugurate war upon the people of Louisiana lie
viii first have to tramp|c upon the Constitution and TO
destroy it. Now the people Of Louisiana do not in
tend that he the party he represents shall have any
plausible pretex to violate their rights or to Cypress
them. We simply mean to keep united in conviction
and opinion, to deny the legality of the present State
government-to refuse to recognise it, but We do not
intend to overthrow tby violence CT to establish by
own action and different government Of our
own. we me an to devote ourselves to the develop
ment of our resoIrces-to preserve peace, harmony
and good order to the extent of ability-and to
wait patiently for the day and hour when by the ord
nary process of popular action, admittedly had
under existing laws only to avoid the semblance
of revolution disloyalty, Or resistance to the Cons
tuition, gain the power to establish govern
meHt Of our own?
VIII the 60 called Governor Warnoth and his Lcgis-
luture hold after their constitutional terms have
expired? II they attempt it, then and not till then
will we, by presenting the question of two govern
mcnts existing at the time, give the party in
power any lawful right to inquire into domestic
affairs Or to attempt any interference.
We will avoid any of the conti' gcnccs contcm-
plated by the Constitution, authorsing action on the
part Of the national government. We regret that /
the Republican, and in fact its entire party do not
quite to understand this QUESTION. Having frankly
stated our position would like TO have it answered
If by securing tic admission Of the State of LOU
isiana into the Union by Radical Congress under
Constitution Which they thought would give them
perpetual lease of power, they have made mistake,
and lalnentabIy failed, why not be frank enough to
admit that failure. IF we comners. ther own pos-
oned cluce to their lips why refuse to drink Is
this magnanimous?