New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-04-17
STATE RIGHTS.

STATE RIGHTS.
Well may it be said that ''time works
wonders" This was never more truth
I fully demonstrated than within the past
few years. 1t was to carry out the ultra
doctrine of State rights, as understood by
Southern shareholders, that the war fol
secession and slavery commenced. The
Democratic leaders of the South led the
Southern people into rebellion against the
national government, teaching them that
their first allegiance was to their State.
This was the doctrine they promulgated
to save slavery, and make it the leading
power Of the land. But the people of the
United States-a large majority of them
were opposed to this Interpretation Of
State rights, and would not consent to a
peaceable dissolution of the Union. And
the consequence was the Southern Demo
cratic leaders Slidell, Benjamin, Davis,
Yancey, Toombs, and host of just such
men, plunged the Southern States and the
Southern people into rebellion against the
national government, simply that they
might be permitted not only to own and
have slaves in the States where slavery ex-
listed, but to extend it into the Terri
tories.
The growing tendency Of the slave power
before the war was to make slavery national
and freedom sectional; and this was to be
accomplished under the Southern States
rights doctrine, which taught that the
power of the States was superior to the
national government; that the national
government derived its powers from the
States, and that, therefore, the national
government had no right to enforce its
laws against States that refused to obey
them. The people of the United States
large majority of them-were in favor of
the enforcement of the laws by the national
government, and the consequence was re-
bellion on the part of the Southern people,
who were taught by their Democratic
leaders to despise and rebel against national
authority and uphold States rights and
slavery.
The rebellion cost the shareholders their
slaves. And now what do We behold?
Why, these very same Democrats, who
were contending for the right of secession
in 1861, now invoking the power of the
national government to subdue lawful
State governments! Not only this. We
find them ready to rebel against lawful
State government and actually preaching
the non-payment Of taxes to the people,
and advising them to join the 'Iron House
military organization, and be prepared
to resist by force and violence the enforce
ment of the law! Was ever a people SO
humbugged and outraged by set of
shameless political demagogues, who are
everything in turn for political purpose.
In 1861 they denied and defed the authori-
ty Of the national government, and assert
ed the supremacy of State governments.
In 1872 they advise the people to rebel
dOaiuSe d CIate SONeIuueul IL ~ dtleulptS
to enforce the law by civil process, and
calls upon the national government to aid
them in their rebellion. 1t is not strange
that colored men-formerly the slaves of
these inconsistent Democrats should
worship the power of the national govern
ment and honestly feel it is right to do SO.
That is misplaced gratitude on their part,
for if they owe gratitude it belongs to the
American people and not to their servant,
placed temporarily at the head Of their
government. But the thought can not be
reconciled that the fre-eating Democrat
and STAKEHOLDER of 1851 should turn up in
1872 the ally of his former slaves in ad-
vocating total subversion of the rights
of States by an armed Intervention of the
national government. We are satisfied
that but small portion of the Southern
people can ever again be made to follow
such leaders.