The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-06-19

!, 1879.
- carpet baggers and sealswsgs q it wa
for negroes. II, therefore, other whit
people, for whose benefit it was not spe
cially intended, can find q protection unde
ito provisions from the tyranny and cor
ruption of local despotisms, why not in
woke them.f It is but another illustration
OF the old truth, that out of evil gool
cometh. In the present case the practica
effect Of invoking the law is to put tn,
power Of the General Government between
the citizen and the State, which is seeking
to crush him by legislation directed tx
selfish ends and manipulated for private
purposes.
But the question arises, what may be it.
effects hereafter 1t serves a benefcent
purpose this time, may it not be invoked
to subserve q grinding tyranny the next 1
If the General Government can authorize
its courts to protect private rights, whether
express OF reserved rights, against
State legislation, may it not absorb the
whole judicial action of the country Z
Every case in every State court can be re-
moved to United States court by swearing
that the civil rights of either party are in
danger, and thus all Jurisdiction will be
gradually absorbed by the Federal courts,
and State tribunals will become extinct
Is it not but another step in the gigantic
revolution of the centralizing party by
which states are to be reaeced tc I.,1css e "a
and State rights finally extinguis6ed
In the first place We have nothing to do
with the policy of the law when simply
discussing it's Interpretation. If the law is
unconstitutional, let it be go declared by
the proper authorities, but SO long as we
are bound by it's chains let us be sheltered
by its roof. If the law already. violates
the Constitution, if it tramples down State
rights, if it usurps the jurisdiction of State
courts, in behalf of one class of the popula-
ton, the mere extention of it's field of
operation does not render it any more up-
and oppressive than it was
already. Its odious features are neither in
creased nor diminished; the law, as a law,
remains precisely the same that 1t was be- |
ore. The evil principle of Federal usur-
patton of State jurisdiction is not changed
particle by saying that the same law shall
'pply to more people.
1t is strange to notice how circumstances
liter cases. The very partisans of Federal
lsurpation in our midst, the political col
eagues of Mr.. Sumner, suddenly call
alt In their patriotic progress when their
yet doctrines are found to initiate apainst
heir pet schemes. A. virtuous Governor
nd virtuous court of his creation stand
ghast at the application of genuine Repub-
can law and gospel when directed against
heir own deeds. The Judge Of the Eighth
district Court pauses for breath when he {
the enormous revolution {
hat will be wrought if the Supreme !
curt of the United States can protect the q
eople of Louisiana against the we'll laid t
lans of plumber of a State Legislature 9
hich no one pretends represented the :
eople in any sense. Why he exelaims. this r
lpldly opportunities to the realization of
II. Summers scheme of reducing States to .
,unties. :
The only comment possible on this il. i,
'w late it is to find out the odieusness Of t.
'e law when it is first found capable of y
'otecting white people who are not carpet. b
aggers! p
The law may be all that the Eighth Dis u
let Court and the Times newspaper find "
; it may be mighty step in the direction fl
centralized power; it may be another N
ormity of Federal usurpation and an in e. e,
nlous effort to come between the people al
ID their lawful allegiance to their respect re
Q States, but in that case the fault is in o.
9 law itself, not in Mr.. Justice Bradlev's e.
instruction of it. -
In the meantime, the uses of adversity 81
3 sweet. We rejoice to see a dawninp 81
nse of State rights in such unforeseen
arters and even where State action was
egregiously rascally as in this case. and
} must, therefore dissent from our friends w
the Bee, who give up the question of la'
ate rights as totally dead issue. There In
hope yet in Israel. en-
ar
CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANT MISSIONS 90
a recent meeting of q Wesleyan Mis- so