New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-09-22

|
fact, justifying such authority, nor was
case reasonably to be apprehended, hence
opposed the provision myself. Presiden
jackson suspended the writ withou
authority from Congress, and wa
sustained by the Democratic party
President Lincoln did the same thing
and was sustained by the Republican
party and all the war Democrats. 1t is &
question and always has been among th'
best legal minds of the country, whether {
President may not suspend the writ by force
of the constitution itselfand without any au
| thOrity from Congress whatever. Presi
dent CT ant had nothing to do with the pas
sage of this law, except to sign II, and he
| did this in obedience to the solemn pledge
made to the people of this country in hif
inaugural address, when he said that ht
should have no will Of his own to enforce al
against the will Of the people expressed
through their representatives; and | submit
that he has kept his pledge, for he has
never vetoed a public bill passed by Con
gress. The Ku-Klux law, excepting the
suspension provision, goes no further than
does Websters force bill which was signed
by President Jackson, considering that
| the late amendments to the constitution
| confer the enlarged powers which | have
n&med upon the national government
Whether the -Klux law was proper or
necessary has been and is point upon
| which men differ. The joint committee ap-
| pointed by Congress to investigate the al
| legged Uutrages in the Carolinas and other
| States report, SO far as the Republican
| members are concerned, that there were
| organizations and combinations formed for
| the purpose Of defying the local authorities,
| denying constitutional rights guaranteed TO
| every citizen, subverting the public peace
| and committing outrages shocking 30 hue
| manity. Their report shows that these acts
| y
| members OF that committee admit the eX-
! istence Of this state of things and utter
| their condemnation IN strong language
| They, however, attempt to pailiate or exs
| cuse by asserting that the local legislation
! where wrongs were committed was Oppress
sive; that the people had been burdened
with debt and taxation to such an extent
as to produce a state of exasperationo
am sorry to confess that what they assert
IS too true, But none can justify reo
sort to the defiance Of local authority
and the snbversion of the public peace
for the causes asserted. Whether this law
was wise or .unwise, charges can not be
made against President Grant and his adj
ministration, which ought not also TO be pre-
ferred against Mr.. Greeley and his Repub-
ican supporters, for they all not only advo-
Gated the passage OF this law, but its execu-
ton as well. While General Grants action
was in the discharge Of his official duties,
theirs was entirely voluntary; and if in
consequence Of his action any fear central
izing tendencies may they not as well APP
prehend the same result from Mr.. Greeley's
election. But it is also charged that Gen
eral Grant has endeavored to control the
action OF Congress through the power of
his patronage and otherwise. / do not be-
heve there is any truth in this. No intlu-
ence has ever been brought to bear upon
me by, the President or any of his imme-
date friends, and L have always felt per
fectly free to vote for measures without re-
ference to the supposed wishes of the ad-
ministration, having been solely governed
by my convictions Of rightand the interests
OF my constituents, and [ have free
quentIy opposed measures which were I'm
derstood to be favored by the President
and am not aware OF mourning his dis
pleasure. Much has been said at one time
and another about the San Domingo guess
ton 1t has been called job and dare
ling, and pet measure Of the President
That he favored its acquisition / believe to |
be true But he did no more about it than |
this: Finding out that the existing govern. |
ment of that country desired annexation. !
he asked Congress to authorize the appoint |
ment of a commission to investigate its |
condition, politically financially ana so. |
ciaIy. and also to- inquire into its geology
and productive capacities The authority
was granted. The committee appointed by |
him was composed OF men among the ablest |
and most honorable in the nationo They
investigated and made their report. !
The President transmitted 10 to Con |
gress with q message stating that |
he had done what he thought to be his duty, |
and that he left the whole question with
Congress, and should take no further action /
II the matter HIMSELF He has been com.
planned of in somG quarters for his Cuban
policy 1t must be remembered that he has
been engaged i'll q grave diplomatic cone
.royersy with Great Britain, Involving nor
only large pecuniary interests Of many of
our citizens, but the more important feature
1f that controversy was the discussion of a !
lew and advanced principle of international
aw, which he was very DESTROYS to have !
.dopted by Great Britain in conjunction
With our own nation. Hence it was prudent
hat conservative policy should be tOl.
owed on the Cuban question, for fear that
10 might be charged with an infraGtiou of
ne very principle that he was seeking to
induce England to acknowledge
Happily. the administration has been s14e.
essful not only in securing the money due
ur cluzens, but the adoption of shat new
nd advanced principle which Lord North.
ote has so happily expressed in saving |
thatitis the rule Of doing exact Justice be-
ween nations as between man and man. |
nd never departing from it except in case | :
[ doubt. and then only SO far as to resolve
lat doubt against ourselves"
differed with the policy of the admins.
alton upon the Cuban question, and voted
OF only to recognize belGgerent rights. but
ar independence, feeling, PERHAPS. that I 4
adj not the responsibility that members of
lc Executive Department felt to maintain
ost scrupulous consistency Of conduct
ward all nations. '
I have always been OF the opinion chat |
lba should at least be free from Spain. if l
1T annexed to the United States, because |
regard the government imposed upon that e
ana as the most eXtOrtiOnate and oppres- U
We in the civilized world. The freedom L
that island would extinguish slavery, Il
ID lead to the extinguishment of the oner- G
Is taxation imposed upon products i'm e
fted tro1h this country, which taxation b
MOUNTS so nearly to prohibition that while q
purchase OF the Cubans $4,000. 900 an, i
Il IIy OF thelr agricultural products, we Il
I them but about $4,000, 900, paving the | Il
lance IN gold or its equivalent 81
Much ado is made concerning the a7reead CT
e OF arms to the French. The President G;
3 been directly charged with being a al
rty TO this. Nothing could be more nm ! te
~ For many years there has been law.
lch is still in force authorizing the chief p;
ordinance to sell old and useless arms til
which the government has had great II
tLtL'J sIHCG ltiG CIOSe OF me war. dheV ~
re sold by the Chief of Ordinance TO ar
lerican citizens, who did sell them to the I'll
'nch. Il can not be expected that the ga
,sident can see every act performed by 1t
his subordinates, or that he can trace SD
destination OF the public property &c
ch has been sold. None but those who Ga
ect imposibilities can ever form such tn
clusion. But why do Americans com We
IN of this. when the Prussian Govern a
1t does not IF any Drincinal If Neutral IN;
has been violated, the government in. th
ID is the one to make the cnmnlaint Al