The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1868-08-01
The main Issue in the pending
contest.

ha
assantial features of the Constitution of
tSo eNd United States and of Republican
rarernment sa1 are to be retained The f.
ssoncial ouestion ia subordinate to that
g., ,,ore important one-can a union of
nn,sent. l' according to the principles of
the constitution, be preserved and main
tained on this Continent? There are
nanv- -deep thinkers who believe that so
far from the Union being cemented to-
natber once more, the wall of separation
5etween the sections will rise higher and
bioher every day, and the feeling OF en-
nifv becomes more and more intense.
such an opinion certainly finds support
n the events which daily transpire, and
in the persistent determination of the
Radical party to rule the country or de-
stroy it. The consequences of such a
catastrophe would be felt far and wide,
and in other continents than this-the
clock of the world would he turned back
and the hopes of philanthropists suffer
erievous disappointment. The election
Of Grant--should such an event take
plaee-will be looked upon by the South
AS the deatn-knell of Repnblicanism.
Her struggles to escape from the en-
brace of her enemies will cease, and
renewed impetus to the emigration OF
her people to other lands will be given.
The depopulation already commenced
viii continue. and the fate of the South
will at once be determined.
Our adyices from the North and. West
so far are full of encouragement as to
the defeat of Grant. The people are
said to be thoroughly aroused to the
reeklessness and the revolutionary con-
duct of the party now in power; they
are rebresented to be alive to the inmi-
rent danger of their institutions to see
in the election of Grant continuance
of that policy which has brought the
country to the brink of ruin, and in that
OF Seymour return to the ancient doc
trines through which the country attain
ed to such prosperity and power. 1t
this be the case, and there lis reason to
believe it is, we may hope that the as
perities following upon the war will
gradually be softened, and the distrust
entertained in our sincerity and fidelity
by the Northern people gradually disap-
pear. 4 +-@&
1t il time indeed for the North to be
on the watch lest its own rights be IN
vaded. The wrongs that have been Wis
tied upon us may be visited upon them
tomorrow. Does any one believe the
Radical Party would be restrained from
depriying the Northern people OF their
liberties, should it become necessary for
the perpetuation of its power? They
know little Of Radical human nature
who indulge the notion that any consla-
Grafton whatever would preve II nom
nuttinc its foot upon the necks OF the
people of the Northern States, rather
than Weld the control of the Govern
nr,4o an
subject z...gy q~.a.
Whv are net New York and pensy1va-
MIA interested in this matter Why il
not this for them the only issue tha
gives dignity to the struggle? They arr
30 interested. Congress has exactly a
much right to. rule those States by ths
gwordsas it has to rule Virginia. H New
York soldiers may be used to oppress us
and deprive us of our rights, Virgini;
negroes may, with equal propriety. b.
employed to opFress the people OF New
York. and diyest them of the sam
rights.
In view of the Importance OF this on
grand issue-the supremacy of law owe
force--how small seem the question
which some Of our northern friends ar
discussing, and how insignificant th
dispute as to whether this man or tina
man shouId have been selected to lea
tho Democratic party In the approachin
battle. Men ought not to be regarde
as anything they are really less tina
nothing #in such a contest. The prln
ciples OF free government, the obiigatio
of the Constitution, the rights of tn
people, are at stake. We OF the Sout
objected to no man as man. 1t an
opposed the nomination of Chase, it We
only because he did not seem to repre-
sent the IDEAS which should be those
the Democratic candidate in such COZ
test. Our existence being in peril, v
were compelled to seek assistance FRO
one who could ut least proffer help. Al
f-the northern people are 80 indifferel
as to our unhappy condition, and
blind as to the fate which threatens
he their own, as to quarrel about men
such a time and under such circumstal
ces, then it may be safely assumed th
neither they nor any other people und
the sun are capable of self government
and we of the South may fold our arm
and await IN patience. the collapse OF Il
great American Republic.
THE NEW REvoLUTIoNARY MEAsUR
The bill which has passed both Hous
of Congress providing that the elector
vote of the Southern States not entitls
to representation in Congress shall N
be counted in the Electoral College
the topic of general discussion amor
politicians II was passed by q siri
party vote through each House, and d
purpose of ii, as before stated in u
correspondence, Is clear. IF, for !
stance, the State Of Georgia should 60
her electoral vote for Seymour, befo
this vote can be counted II must be q
termined by Congress that Georgia
entitled 10 q representation IN Congres
just as certain us her vote is cast
the Democratic. tickes, just az certa
viii the Jaeobins determine that she
not entitled ID representation. H M
gitiia should east her electoral vote !
Grant, Virginia will be declared entitl
representation. In other words, Z
precise condition of things Is pruduc
which Senator TrumbuH 80 earnest
warned bis party against as likely
produce another civil war. It sllou
4 he remembered that this III the legisl