New Orleans Republican., 1873-08-31
STATE RIGHTS.

| The American construction oi State
rights is now in full force in this country.
State sovereignty. the anti-American con.
struction Of State rights, has assuredly
become obsolete under q Republican ad-
ministration and honest Interpretation OF
the federal constitution as upheld and
defended by the people. The Democratic
idea Of State rights has in the pas. in.
volved ''sovereignty." The Democratic
party before the shareholders rebellion
endeavored to make State sovereignty
general and we'll settled truth
in this country. 1t was intended to be
the correlative power of slavery. having o
reciprocal and well defined relation to the
slaveholding interest. The Southern
Confederacy endeavored to establish as
general and well settled principles. by
force Of arms. what had been denied class
interest at the ballot box: and the advo.
Gates of slavery and secession having Ut
terly and hopelessly failed in both in
stances. the issues involved in State sov-
reignty and slavery are no longer open
questions. !sny construction Of States
rights that tends to convey the idea
that the disposition Of these 9ues-
tons is not final and irrevocable. SO far
as the American people are concerned, is
a simple attempt to pervert the truth for
the purpose Of reviving dead issues: and
while the REPUBLICAN believes that dis.
cussion Of principle is the best mode Of
forming public opinion. it is certainly no:
disposed to clog public Judgment by the
continued discussion Of subjects tina: are
ini,nica! to The fixed opinion cs tie reu.
pie. When leading Democratic organ
asks ''wheshe, States rights are obsolete
che question has far moss significance than
is willy editor ea,es 10 disclose g the
reop!e he desires to deceive. The Office:
is clearly 70 revive The question Of estate
sovereignty. which is held by Democratic
authorities 90 be che CHIEF r;gh: oi a
State: u .ishs that will enable i to de.
tsrmine wha. axe State sights and uull;fy
the will Of the federal government when.
ever is comes in conflict with State 80.
thority. The Democratic party has long
labored 20 have estate sovereignty re.
cognized as 8 general and well settled truth
in this country; but the people. true to
themselves and the principles G; popular
governmen. have repeatedly and con.
sistently rejected the Democrats scheme
for usurping their authority and sew.
ereignty reflected through = Supreme
government: schema that is ~eiI
intended to break the power .; the
American Union and placed the.s
at the Me:cy Of the petty :yran.s fiat
would soon near their beads under the
rule ct sovereign States. But we will
40: irsul: the people by discussing tie
question Of State sovereignty at this time
Although it is the Democratic meaning for
State rights. The question as 60 viethe.
State rights are obsolete shows moye De.
mocratic irony than sense. Our Democratic
friends might have made the same deep
meaning inquiry about slavery. They
doubtless consider tina. slavery and State
sovereignty have only gone out Of fashion
under Republican administration: that
their use has only been Temporarily dis
continued to be revived and come into
popular use again when the Democratic
party shall be clothed with power; but we
can assure them that State rights. as un-
ders.ood and sought to be put in practice
by them. IS not only obsolete. bu: IS dead
as door nai!--as dead as sia:ery aad
State sovereignty.