Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1872-11-30
Jurisdiction of Federal Courts.

The Times still endeavOrs to befOg
its readers with section two, article
three of the constitution, and cOnstruc-
tions thereof which belong to the days
of Calhoun aud the States rights is
sues exploded ny the war. 1t refuses
to recognize that the existing constitu-
ton has been materially improved, un-
der the pressure of public necessity,
from that which furnished the text for
fourth of July oratiOns in ante bellum
days.
The people of the United States have
declared since the ancient interpreta-
ton of article three and concurrent
provisions involved the country III
bloody war in favor of a fifteenth
amendment to the old fundamental
law, and this declares that no State
shall abridge the political rights OF the
citizen. 1t also cOnfers the power upon
Congress to legislate appropriately for
the enforcement of these rights. Con-
gress has done SO, and the will OF the
American people finds embodiment III
the reinforcement act" and its amend.
ments.
Under these various enactments
nothing is palmer thar the reverse OF
the Times proposition denying the
power of the federal courts to protect
United States citizens in their pOlitl
cal rights against the agresslons Oh
State authorities.
i In perhaps the first charge under
the enforcement act, Judge jackson
instructed the grand jury in the I'M,
ted States District Court, for west
Virginia that snO citizen shall be de-
MED the same and equal opportunity to
become qualified to VOTE" Can the
Times deny that the Law has been vio-
lated in this respect in Louisiana dur.
ing the late election and registration
The same authority also states:
II is a general principle familiar to the legal
profession, that in giving construction to
legal statute, it is the duty of the court to as
certain the meaning and intention OF its franz
ers from the words employed, and the matter
to which it relates and 80 to construe and in
! terpret it.
This being conceded sound law, We
refer our contemporary to the debates
among that galaxy of able constitu
tiOnal lawyers the United States Sen
ate. 1t will there find that the acts
under which Hon. w. p. Kellogg
. brings his cause before before judge
: Durell were as bitterly and eloquent
5 ly opposed by their opponents as they
were sustained by their advocates Oh
the main principle involved, tO-wit
! that they gave jurisdiction to the fed
i eral courts orer political ISSUES be
e tween citizens of the same State. TIT
burning invective of Senators Thur
! man and Casserly 1.-THE Democratic
senatorial legal GOliahs) was met by
j the indignant and unfiinching patriot
of Carpenter, Morton and COnkling
this effect of the laws which tue form
or declared destructive of, the latter
}. contending was essential to preserve
the liberties of the people, Both sides
concurred in the effect of the proposed
measures; but which fOretOld the re
suit of their enactment into laws is thu
vital question involved in our home
? home contest. We have no fear OF al
!, abuse of power by the courts.
h In conclusion. We can not refrain
n from again suggesting reperusal o
d the constitution by the legal authOri
i ty OF our contemporary, and an Occa
J sional incidental reference to tina
It great political history of the Union
: : the Congressional Gtote.-[N. q. hPut
J. liedn.
d