New Orleans Republican., 1872-03-21
THE ELECTION.

the popular will? An election at whicl
{ every citizen entitled to vote can deposi
: it unawed by menaces and uninfluence,
by military dictation, either of local O
, | national character.
Such an election as thi, we mean to hay
in Louisiana this autumn, despite the ma
chinations of Democrats Or the tools @
federal tyranny.
J The provisions Of the State law relating
to the manner of holding our elections
are ample to secure peace at the polls, as
they also provide the avenues through
which fair expression of the popula,
will can be had. This law is the creature
OF the people. It was made bt their rep
resentatives, and was meant to rehec
their wishes and views That it does SC
is fully attested by the Indignation which
prevails throughout the State at the idea
Of federal interference in our local elec-
tions.
1t is local matter and should be con-
trolled exclusively by the State Legislature.
Neither by the constitution nor any power
delegated or inherent in the national gov
eminent has Congress any right to sur
round our voting places with the creatures
of the federal executive. Such a right
would be the full measure of power to
stretch into absolute monarchy the tenure
of his Office.
The bill now before Congress, the pas
sage of which viii secure this right, en-
powers the marshals of the United States
to appoint deputy marshals in every con-
gressional district, whose duty it shall be to
supervise, or aid in supervising the regis
tration Of voters and the elections
The object of the bill is to prevent the
election of any one to office with views in
imical to the policy of the President of
the United States. Disguise the pretext
as you will, this purpose is prominent
since none other is reasonable.
1t besides involves the exercise of power
that has never before been attempted by
an American Congress- 1t kills at one
blow any prete1t or show of inherent
sovereignty i'll the States, and it is an un-
disguised assumption Of Capitalization.
IF the national Legislature has the right to
define the policy and dictate the terms of
ulr congressional elections (since they are
representatives direct from the people,, it
has also. the right 80 prescribe rules and
regulations for the selection OF our State
assemblies, our Governors. and with equal
force and propriety the Senators that rep
resent us in Congress. Applying the
precedent, Will it end even here? This
assumption once conceded the State loses
the right Of sovereignty within her own
limits, and becomes the creature of Con-
gress. The national legislature becomes, |
indeed, the fountain OF power, and the |
States can only exercise such rights As |
Congress delegates to them. There can
be no reserveI rights. Al the powers |
which the State can exercise. according to |
this doctrine, are lent or delegated for
specific purposes, and are to be used un-
der specific rules.
To say that such Il doctrine is an ab-
surdity, is an Insult TO common sense. 1t
is bad on the face o. it. The dangerous
rights which it conters would only be
exercised by n dictator, or . President
who chooses 10 become one.
But that which appears strangest and
most unreasonable Is the advoc acy Of this
doctrine by the Democratic journals of
the South. TAe Bee, IN particular, sur
prises US greatly. Recognized as the most
ultra exponent OF States rights doctrine in
the South, it has for this bill nothing but
and wonders why people
'object to the interference Of federal
officers in our State elections" The.fact
hat Congress passes it does not make it
constitutional. Nor does the fact that the
ourteenth and fifteenth amendments and
he reconstruction acts are held to be Just.
md wise, and proper, make deliberate
upon our Liberties matter
% which law-abiding people are called on
o submit. The argument Of the Bee that
because the Southern people have accepted
he constitutional amendments and recon-
tructon acts, that they must of necessity
ccept all other laws OF Congress, is an alb
urdity. They are good laws. This is q
ad law.
But tLe Bee says it will secure fair
lection. How does it know that: What
uarantee has it Of the fact? Admitting
or the sake of argument that it will do
his is there any reason to suppose there
i'll be an unfair election without it: The d
ssertion that there has not been a fair
lection during the present administration
f the State government is q I)eTyersion of
le facts. The riots and violent demon
rations which drove voters from the polls
receded the Inauguration OF Governor {
'armoth as executive. The Bee mistakes
le period. It was in 1853, when armed
len paraded the street, Under the banners
Seymour and b:air, shouting death to :.
negroes when night after night the =
YES OF co,Ored Men were sacrificed to the -
ny OF the moD,. When the Bee Office was tt
IlnG with banners and clad in flowers IN l.
onor ct patriotic Democrats" who -
ere shooting citizens down upon the
reefs, when the colored people of this !"
ty did not dare TO leave their homes on II
ection day, and could only vote at the Il