The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-03-29

tRHS al ut tfft tft1t'bH t''ftf'f ''h
ing been taught that they We're the
snperiors of the lawfully appointed
peace officers of the State, upon whom |
the preservation of order in Il large city
depends.
1t was due to the patient foibearance
of the people, and To the earnest en-
beavers and great caolness and discre
ton of the peace officers of the city. |
that order was preserved.
l deem it my solemn duty to protest
now formally against these outrages,
which, it is given ont, will be renewed
at future elections, with preparations
looking to II greater degree of intinii-
daton and coercion. In this protest
| the people of this State do, | am cont
dent, by All overwhelming majority,
earnestly unite. They are not to be
misled by the pretense that military
force is necessary 10 prevent trand.
| For they well know, what all history
proves, that military elections are
never honest FOR free; that military
force at elections has always been used
by ambitions rulers to hin,ler full and
fair expression # popular sen imrnt;
in fac, To perpetrlte and c"vei fr nid,
/ not TO prevent it. II elections are not
honest. they should be made SO by the
! f"rce of p"hic opinion and by law
u military turce asserts its supreme,
rover both, and is itself il fraudulent aud
4 final overthrow of II tree ballot.
/ No State is, or ever was. more devo-
ted than New Yoylsto the Union and to
, the Federal government; none more
Submissive to that governments con-
! ia
tie defend its ri -h,s and yin,licate its
mower; bnt orr Union is IL Union of
States the elements of its great
, strength are the home governments of
the Peep c. 70 weaken the parts is 10
endnprrr the whole.
Half ceutc,y ago, when Federal
!: officers were accused of intri tering with
State elections. not by armed forces
{ but simulv bv eye,ting an influence
iluonrh the distribution of patronage,
d De Witt Clinton. then Governor of this
state. addressed the Legislature as
:, f,l,ows.
/, ,,,,,o, of H.. Ama,ico, con
.s, !. :. ma, ,,Iv ,orr duty I'm.
4 ,.,,. ;,,t,'r,,st :, snstoi,, thn resuec,nbil
i ;t, .nd to nromote the authority of III,
II n,t;nn,l government. by a ,,at,io,i,
= and enlightened exercise of our SUIT
m f,.,ucs. and hv contributing all ON
IS energies to establish ii wise and public.
u suirited administration. But in mt,
y tending TO measures so important. W.
6. ought not TO ovciluuk the duties witici
n. we owe TO ourselves. Our government
ID j. conp,ax in its organization. and it il
q .s.nt;,,,y necessary To nrespryp tn,
or st.,,. rnvar,ments ~ their nnri,y ant
= ,.rarcS free government com,
l,r -, v,.rrxist in a country so extensiv
r. - the United States without a ,udici
be ans continuation of th. Federal and re
~ oresentative p,incip!es. The appre
L. tensions which some of our wises
r. stat, smrn entertained at the tornatio
" of tie Consultations that tie State gov
lac prnmentS wo Ill constantly encloac
he on the powers of the national govern
Ia ,m.nf. appear not to, have been realized
s., The piactical tendency has been in til
nd oppn>ire dirtctirn The power of til
il q neral adminisra 10, h Increase
". with the exle,.,,on of its patronage
s, And If the officers under it's appoint
oi mcut shall see fir. rs AN organized IN
in disrt"i;..o'' ,nins tn iuttrt re in III
4, ,.,a ai,c,;,ns trp.t there will h
IN, fnm,,d q ha.n,iny disn,siti,n in Il,
i, n,..,,l, m ,asist these ,larninu at,em,
We ,.,.,,,ltJa ,,.,,ir A.. md inI,npuI .Au,... ,