New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-05-06
THE PROCLAMATION,

of the rights of citizens for political pur-
poses coming to the knowledge of Con-
gress, that body, after mature delibera-
ton, passed the act entitled an act to
enforce the provisions of the fourteenth
amendment to the constitution of the
United States, and for other purposes,
approved April 20, A. D. 1871. Notwith-
standing the law has been published
and widely commented on by the
public press, the President deems
it of such extraordinary pubic
Importance as to merit his official
notice, which was issued on the third OF
the present May, and Immediately tele-
graphed and published on the following
day in the press throughout the country
In olden times, when despots ruled, they
did not care to have the laws promul-
gated, SO that the people might know what
rule of action governed them. They made
oppressive laws, and kept the people ig-
norant of them until they were notified
that they were made responsible for their
violation. President Grants proclamation,
in relation to the enforcement of the
fourteenth amendment, renders it very
clear that he has no desire to play the
despot. His political enemies may say
the bill confers despotic power upon the
President; that it is brutal and stagger-
ing assault upon the States individually.
But the friends of law and order will say
it does nothing of the kind. The inten-
ton of the law is to suppress lawlessness
and secure equal civil and politi-
cal rights to all men living within
the jurisdiction of the United States
For this purpose it is conceded the
law confers upon the President abso-
lutte authority when local authorities
fail to enforce individual rights and pro-
tect persons from the brutal assaults of
men who seek by violence to control the
elections of the country, and, in this infa-
nous manner, become its unlawful rulers.
If it is despotic to put an end to these
acts of violence, we suppose General Grant
will be called a despot, for no one can
doubt his intention to faithfully execute
this law, and all other laws that he has
sworn to execute with fidelity to |
the public interest. But he deems it his |
duty also to call the attention of the |
this embraces all parties-to |
the passage of this law. He enjoins upon
Ill good citizens, and especially upon all
public officers, the necessity of being
Jealous in its enforcement, and warns all |
persons to abstain from committing any
Of the acts the law is intended to prohibit
The law is general in its application,
md the President gives assurance it will
be enforced everywhere to the extent Of
he powers vested in him-"but," in the
language of the President, ''inasmuch as
he necessity therefor is well known to
lave been caused chiefly by persistent
of the rights of citizens of the
United States, by combinations Of lawless
nd disafiected persons in certain local.
les, lately the theatre of instruction and
military conflict, 1 do particularly exhort
he people of those parts Of the country
o suppress all such combinations by their
wn voluntary efforts, through the agency
f the local laws, and to maintain the.
lights of all citizens of the United States,
nd to secure to such citizens the equal
of the laws"
The President exhorts the people of
he States wherein lawlessness has pre-
allied to put a stop to it through the
gency of the local laws. If this is done
here will be no interference on the part
f the national government. 1t is not
latter of choice with President Grant.
is matter of duty. lie would I'M
oubtedly prefer to have the local or
tate authorities secure to citizens every
ght that is given them by the constitu-
on and laws of the United States; but x
/ the event, from any cause, that these
ghts are violated he holds that it is the
IVY VI Vic SupiehiO So'OAhnl0h1 w
ok to the rights of citizens, even
Tough by doing SO it be charged by the
arty favoring violence with disposition
NEEDLE with the local affairs of the
tates; or, to speak plainly, States rights.
he Republican party holds that the
gifts of man are 10 be respected, as well
the rights of States, and that where
lese rights are not and can not be en-
reed by local authority, it is the duty I
the general government to have them s
forced.
1t is believed the Southern people will |
spect the Presidents proclamation upon
lis vital subject, and, needing his advice,
We their aid to law and order, instead of
the desperadoes who have
eated necessity for the passage of the
W known as the ''Ku-klux law"
!