New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-09-16
least disturbance to their tender con-

sciences from State right qualms.
The rule which was established under
that reconstruction was that no man
! should suffer political disability for par
ticipation in the rebellion, and that the
emancipated class should have political
rights. This reconstruction failed. A
grave constitutional question agitated the
country Not question between the na-
tional government and the States, but be-
tween different departments of the ma
tional Government. One party con-
| tended that the President had assumed
| unlawful powers in the matter OF recon
struction-th when the government is
charged with duty in its nature requir-
| ing law. that law must be enacted by the
Legislature, and not by the Executive
in the form of proclamation. This par
ty prevailed. and provided by law in 1867
for the reconstruction of the Southern
States The rules of this latter recon-
struction were that certain classes of po-
litical offenders should be disqualified for
office until relieved, and that the eman-
lied political rights as other citizens.
When these rules were announced the
genius of State rights broke from its
slumber. Assumptions Of authorized
power by President had passed uncen-
sured, but assumptions of power by Con-
gress, precisely the same in principle and
fully warranted by the constitution were
received with cry that alarmed the land
There was danger now to the rights of
the States as soon as some gentlemen
were in danger of losing prescriptiye
right to office, and the colored man was
likely to share in the government of his
country. The rights of the States grew
precious in the eyes of our Democratic
fellow w-citiZens. The cant--tO be respect
fll l will constrain myself to say the
reasoning-of the nullitier of 1882, of the
Southern rights man of 1850, and of the
secessionist Of 1861 was again heard in
the political forum, and flowed freely
from the mouth of the conservative of
1867, who was soon transformed into the
Democrat Of 1868. This interest in State
rights thus revived by those two notable
circumstances, the depression of the old
politics still professed by our Democratic
friends, and they assert that the doctrine
of State rights is the prime dogma of
their creed They find fault in con-
gressional reconstruction, because it mas
denied Office to the old politicians when
unrelieved; because it has established the
political equality of the colored men, and
because, they say, it has encroached on
the rights of the State. The Republican
party confronts them and is bound to
meet them in the coming campaign upon
all the issues which are really involved.
l say really involved, for we are under no
obligation to consider questions which
exist only in Democratic imaginations.
Whatever may be the case elsewhere, the
greater part Of the votes tha: will be cast
| III the Southern States this autumn, will
express the sentiments of the voters on
| the subject Of reconstruction, which in
cludes the late constitutional amendments
and all kindred matters, What in some
| parts of the country is established and
laid up among fundamental rights, is here
in controversy Among us there is little
discussion of free trade Or protection, OF
heavy OF light taxation, OF speedy or de-
ferred payment OF the public debt, Of q
! large or small public. expenditure, of neU-
trality or Intervention, OF the repeal or
maintenance Of the navigation laws, OF
| the enlargement of our territory or ad-
herence to present limits. The opinions
| Of our citizens on these matters viii not
| control their votes upon the record. :,
far as the record is made up by the Demo
Gratis, the controversy is in part about
State rights, so called, and in part about
| human rights-the asserted right of g
| State to oyerrule the national authority,
| to discriminate in political rank between
the races that compose its own people
| the right Of mar otherwise qualified tC
L. -f-,I h, o+
| to testify, to sue, to vote, to hold office
| to be educated, without regard to race
| color or previous condition of serVitIlde
| and to do these things under the protec
ton of law, Notwithstanding the adverse
lumors of these bodies polite.
There is. too, an element in the contest
which ought to be obsolete but unhappily
is not Many a vote will be given fol
! Democratic candidates from resentment
against the power that prevailed in the
war, and crowned its success by causing
the emancipation of slaves. Though this
feeling is weaker than it was two years
ago. it has not yet disappeared from oul
/ Southern country. In great measure
then. the contest is between the spirit o.
the late confederacv and the spirit OF tn,
| Union. The Republicans take the side o
the Union. Some Of us adhered to tht
| cOnfederacv. but when it fell We gave i
up wholly We thought that honor re
| Uuired US when we surrendered to surren
| der all that had been involved in the con
| test. When we submitted to the national
authority after the temporary alienation
we carried back to that authority our al
| legiance. our attachments and our patri
| hat
| our submission to it had been from neces
sity, we would hencetorth be faithful to i
from choice We thought that so tre
mendous a war should settle something
and conceiving that it had established
union and liberty, We took union and lib
| erty. with all their consequences. Hence
we have no hankering after {; separat'
government, after a policy with SLAYER,
| for a corner stone, after domination o
master over slave, of the white race oyel
the colored race-State rights illustrated
Some of us were unable to command any
| admiration for the doctrine of Stat
| rights when we saw it reduced
to practice in States right govern
ment, SO called. We were promised
wealth, and We found poverty, We wert
promised liberty, and We experienced
tyranny. At this day we have a reminis
! cent horror of confederate CONSUMPTION
of Imprisonment, of enormous taxation
| Of discrimination in favor of the mos
prosperous classes of society, Of q depre
cif.ted currency, swarms Of useless mill
tary dandies lounging about our town!
and cities, and upbraiding the people 70,
not engaging more heartily in caus'
from the hardships of which they wer,
themselves unfairly exempted, of military
IN ounr,,- iilrOa1 cal. Of tha 1laca.