Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1872-11-16
The Public Will.

The highest human authority in the United 1
States has again ratified the principles OF re- |
publicanism. The only despotism known in |
this country has for the fourth time condemn |
ed the old Democratic, aristocratic, sectional
policy with its one-sided construction OF the |
constitution, and selfish craftsmanship. The
competence and jurisdiction OF the tribunal
to whoIn the appeal has just been made and
by whom it has been decided, can not be
questioned. 1t is composed of the people OF
great nation, acting in their individual ana
collective sovereign capacity. This power Is
superior to all statute law, to the constitution
itself, for these latter are merely the crea-
lures of the popular will, framed Tor the
guidance of public servants, and for the pro-
lection of individual rights against the exac-
lions and expressions of the strong hanh,
whether official or private Inc const,tn.icn'
whether written or traditional, depends sole
| ly upon this same popular will for its exis-
| tence. for without it it could not endure Tor o
dav A constitution is defined to be system
| of laws adopted by community 1or It's own
guidance. 1t is not sacramental or uncnang-
| able in its character, but may De Altered
amended or abolished altogether by the pow
| er that gave it being as readily and properly
| as NAV an ordinance or statute founded upon
| il. The legislative. executive and judicial de-
partments of the government are strictly
bound by its mandates A; but the people rise
superior to it, and control it. Even polltl-
| cal parties are not bound by it. In their plat
form they may propose measures without
limit. even though they strike at the essential
features of the written instrument, which Is
Justly regarded as supremely binding upon all
| until repealed. For the popular will u mere
ly mandatory, bnt in no respect executive or
ministerial in its character. The people, when
represented in their conventions by delegates
duly chosen and clothed with the proper
authority or at the polls, speaking through the
ballot-box, address themselves to Congrt 50,
to the President, to the States and to the Leg
islatures of States in the language ofparamonnt
anGhority. Their voice is the utterance OF
sovereign power, and establishes the rules for
the guidance of all. AS the popular will thus
expressed is supreme, it is despotic, and that
is all tn despotism we can have in this coun-
try, for despotism is nothing more nor less
than irresponsible power. 1t is the privilege
of every citizen to assist in directing this ,opu-
lar will; to instruct the people, and to argue
before them any cause that the advocate may
deem for the best interest Of all, or without
limitation. But to rail against adverse de-
cisions and arraign the free voters OF America
as despots, because they reject what the do
not like and adopt measures that appear to
them to be wise, is to defy lawful authority
and stir mp sedition.
The constitution is our highest written law,
but yet is subject to mutations when il fails
. TO satisfy the popular expectations. The
|
construction laws enacted to enforce them,
: being the latest expressions Of the popular
!, will upon vital points, are well defined charts
for cur Guidance, Practically, they are para
mount, and for the present, at least, not likely
to be changed. They are to be obeyed IN
letter and in spirit, and should be respected
r by every well disposed citizen on account OF
the high source from whence they emanate.
1t is idle to indulge in post norton refiec-
lions. To say to eight millions of voters that
6 they have departed from the Virginia and
Kentucky resolu lions of '93 is to subject ones
t self to rldicule; for three-ffths of them are
unacquainted with the profound carnations
: SO long and dearly cherished by the friends o.
: oligarchy, while half of the remainder under
stand and repudiate them. What was done
by the old statesmen eighty years ago was
well enough at the time, and perhaps wisely
:. done, but their sons and grandsons of the pre-
sent day are entitled to the some privilege:
a they enjoyed. 1t can not be possible that al
| the political wisdom persisted from the eaItf
, with the last of our revolutionary fathers
e And it is more than doubtful whether they
could, if alive at this day, organize bette
Z system of government than their posterit.
d have built up. Ii the will of the American
people be really despotism, so be 1T. 1t II
e one that must be submitted to until those wh'
Y do not like it can have 1t changed by common
consent. There is no appeal to any othe
l. tribunal-no revisory power to listen to com
, plants and reverse the high DEGREES.
But we deny that there has been an.
D. abridgment of personal liberty since the wal
, That is, no person has been deprived uT
= natural right There has hvrn an extensiy
It leveling of inequalities. The down-tro3de
y slave has been elevated to the same politica
! plane with his former master. The tongue G
Y, his pnilanthropic friend has been loosened
- speak in his behalf whenever and whereve
y he may think proper. Thought has been sc
h free by the war for the first time in the histt
/, ry of the nation. There is no penalty eve
W for assailing the government in the most III
a Just and unreasonable terms. Special an
class privileges have been abolished, and th
So road to preferment and prosperity is open I
N all who have the industry to struggle for an
the intelligence to achieve higher position
CT There is nothing like tyranny or oppressio
ys fostered by our laws OF encouraged by ii
- dominant party. Never before in the histoi
of America have we approached nearer to
condition of general prosperity and happiue
: than We are now since the seal of condemns
u ton has been placed upon the system of pet
il tyranny that afflicted portion of the countl
during the first half century of our existeni
u as a nation. The nation and this State,
no well as others, are burdened with heay
debts which were incurred in purchasing tl
Dy liberty we not enjoy, and which bears all
h. upon the innocent and the guilty. The latte
however monopolize the business of complai
te ing of the taxes the rebellion imposed. II
N. former rega the advantages we have obtsi
" ed as cheap at any price. All that there is
III tyranny and oppression in this burden is f.
n; by those who are not responsible for it equ;
>" ly with those who are, and yet do not col
ch plain, though they have the better reason
20, do so. Time, however, will eventually soft
al these asperities, and gradually the people W
On consider aud adopt further plans of progre
and Improvement, taking care, however,
guard with jealous care the great reforms tn
=, have already secured.-(N, D. Republican,
,te
ZEN TRIcKERY WILL AVAIL NOT.-By fgul
mt that are hourly proven incorrect the Times
ms deavors to impress on the public mind a &C