New Orleans Republican., 1873-08-30
"ARE STATE RIGHTS oBsoIETE?"


taunts the latter with want of combative
ness. The Tribune says its little hand!
were never made to disfgure the fair fea
lures of its late friend. The World hav
ing recoiled upon the Democracy, desires
to show the public that it has nothing il
common with the Liberals, but the Tribun'
not having decided where it is to 60, still
holds on to its unwilling coadjutors One
thesis proposed for discussion by the
World is whether estate rights are obso'
lete?"
As the mild hammered Tribune will not
take up the gauntlet, We suppose any one
else may. We agree with the World that
discussion of principle is the best mode Of
forming public opinion; We propose to
"talk q word with this same learned
Theban" in regard to the article referred
to. The World maintains that State
rights are not obsolete. As this is one ofthe
tatters that holds the Sham Democracy
together, it may be well to show that the
World deceives itself and its readers by
even asking such question. It must be
promised that the World expressly re-
nounces the right Of secession in the
States. With this remuneration goes the
whole doctrine Of State rights. Men may
differ honestly about what is orthodox.
We do not doubt but the Hebrewsswho
worship in their magnificent temple, are
as well convin ced Of their doctrine as
those who worship the Saviour in
the equally splendid church dis
tant but few squares. Men have gone
to the stake and scaffold with equal sin
cerity on opposite sides Of theological
and political opinion, each convinced that
he is"right. Now all such questions de-
mand an arbiter. Under our institutions
We have decided to remit all questions of
religious faith to Him alone who can de-
eide them. In regard to our political re-
lations it has been necessary to appoint
some arbiter among daily disputants. At
the adoption of the Union there was
naturally question as to who should de-
termine the limit of reserved power in the
States. One school contended that each
State should decide for itself in the last
resort, and that this right might be con-
frmed by the unopposed withdrawal Of
the State from the Union. Another school
contended that the Supreme Court was
the proper arbiter, and now it is
the doctrine that this court can not
traverse the political decisions of Congress
and the executive. Congress then con.
strues the rights Of the States and pre-.
sczibes the mode and measures Of redress.
Suppose the State does not acquiesce in
the acts Of Congress. Wha, is the rem.
edy? Clearly, none. except revolution.
This being denominated treason by Con.
gress, there can be no Yightful remedy by
which State may enforce its own con-
struction of its own rights. Let US sup.
pose specific case: Congress enacts a
general law Of quarantine. Texas claims |
the exclusive right of the State TO fx its
own sanitary regulations. An appeal is
made to Congress for relief. Then the |
State Of Texas submits her rights to
an adjudication by the whole peo-
pie Of the United States. and by the
whole council Of thirty-seven States.
This is not certainly the doctrine Of State
rights as defined by all the doctors who so
ably maintained it. Indeed. that can not
be called right that depends on the as.
;ent of another for its exercise. No, the
'nly right Of State upon which all others
depended was the right of State construc-
ion and of State withdrawal from the
Union. When the World. with other
Northern State rights Democrats" re-
lounced and denounced the doctrine of
ecession--when they took federal boun-
les. commissions and contracts-when
hey boasted that their men and money
lid as much oS more to conquer the State
lights men Of the South-the World and
'ther Northern State rights Democrats
the rights of the States. They
new and felt that they did so. They
now that in now agitating the rattle of
'tates rights il is harmless, because its
angs have been drawn. 1t may be played
nth as safely as with any other torpedo
those fuse and charge have been extracted.
let our aggrieved Southern States apply to
his blusterer Of the World for remedy, and
would be told to file memorial before
congress, OF exhibit its right Of action in
be courts. So the rights OF the States
ave dwindled down to the right OF Pc
tion And yet the World has the cheek +,
, inquire if they are s'obsolete." The ,
World and its compeers deem they have
vested right to quiz and mislead the I
eople of certain Southern States. Blair, {
Pendleton and others Of c
lis clique held constant correspondence Z
ith Mr.. Davis during the war. They c
ould come and 60 through the blockade
) they wished. Every one else in the Il
osth we're yankees. They were true r
emocrats and therefore friends Of the ?
outh. Do these srickstess love the South h
o:e than. others doe Look az the battle q
cord Of the Northern State rights Dem. {.
rats. as they claim it. Were Nc v
elan Q. General Butler less intent s
,on the conquest Of these people e.
an Gran: or Sherman: Did the a
smocratic State rights hummer +,
are a watch o, piano. more than any y
her camp follower: Il would have | -,