New Orleans Republican., 1872-11-29
rEerrEa THE WORK.

TESTIKG The WUhG'
The interest that has been excited IN
the Northern States in the great trial now
pending before Judge Durell does not
arise 50 much from any sympathy with
either Governor Warmoth or Senator
Kellogg as from the conviction that the
reconstruction laws are on trial. The III
teenth amendment was adopted to secure
certain purpose. the achievement OF
which has been resolved upon, and Will De
persistently urged This purpose vas to
place in the hands of the colorct people
Of the South the means to deten0 their
own rights and interests against local op-
nressions. They we're admitted to the
! RIGHT TO assist in the election Of Their
rulers. and anything that can defeat that
intent will nuIlify or render imperative
the reconstruction laws. For instance, If
State is permitted to "omplicate the
process Of voting in such manner that
only tho expert. the de&terous and the
acute can comply with the complex pro-
visions of the law. it would virtually
| amount 10 denial Of the rights Of .;iti"
| zenship TO all who are not 50 highly IA
vored. If irresponsible agents Of State.
| who look more to white public opinion
than to the laws for instructions IN their
duties can be permitted to throw out what
ballots they please and substitute such as
they please, the actual right ot decision is
vested in them, and the prior popular ace
ton is rendered a vain thing. :. vote is
Of no use TO man unless j: IS honestly
| counted, and 10 give him the right % put
| it into ballot box, and at the same time
to another the right to withdraw it, or re-
fuse to count it, is to vex his car with
vain promise. The fifteenth amendment
means something more than this. 1t
means that the negro shall have the
right to vote. and his yote counted. It
directs Congress TO see that this intent is
carried out. That high authority in its
turn, has exercised its wisdom in the adop-
ton Of what it believed the necessary rules
and directed its judges, district attorneys
narshals, commissioners and all its agents
to enforce them to the end that no man
! shall be cheated or tricked out Of his vote.
The amendment .emits the whole matter
Of carrying out its mandate 70 the discre-
| ton of Congress- 1t is not cOmpeten: for
the courts to inquire into the manner in
which that discretion has been employed.
| If it shall be found that duty has been
| imposed upon Congress- it must be left to
! that body to adopt the appropriate means
for discharging it. Thus. the people Of
the United States have acted, Congress Las
responded to the demand made upon it,
and il now remains for the federal courts
to determine whether they have done the
worl. well, or whether it has ali to be
done over again. Whether the charge
| committed 70 them to protect voters has
received the proper sanction. Or whether
they are still helpless until the whole po-
! iticai fabric Of the Tnfted States IS pulled
down and built up again with the point in
| dispute incorporated as tho leading idea.
/ We hope and belioy. the statutes will
bo found sufficiently c!eag as they are
/ without TIE necessity Of sending the cues.
ton again before Congress FOR revision.
Tha: ;he legislative WORK in the plan OF
| reconstruction has Necu well done, and
| tha: nothing 1cmains but Cor the agents
changed ".,h onfogo:n: tie laws 50 do
t!lsiE duty.