Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-01-10
I.OUuSlIAN
Federal Ty ranny--Overthr .
Republican Governments.


now turned to New Orleans. 4 des-
perate struggl.s-peaceable as vets
going Oh between the friends of good
government and the laWless usurpers
who now control the affairs of the
State of Louisiana.
Our readers are we'll advised az to
the situation and the causes which
have brought it about. How much
the true people are Interested i'll the
establishment of law and order was
manifested by tie overwhelming meet
ing held on Monday. The remarkable,
absence Of noisy demonstrations proves
how terrible and earnest is the popular
Indignation. We believe there is n
determination upon the part of the
best citizens to brave every danger
even armed collision with the negro
rabble, rather than see their Constitu-
ton overthrown, their laws and their
rights ruthlessly violated. 4 conflict
is, indeed, imminent
The New York Xcrdld. anticipating
trouble, gives the Administration good
advice. 1t says-::.We~ desire. III ad-
vance OF this disgraceful and cruel
butchery. to warn the Federal authori-
ties that they are treading on perilous
ground. There are facts which no
amount of plausible sophistry and no
bold falsehoods i'll partisan organs can
alter or conceal The Republican
State Convention in Louisiana was
presided over by the head of the
Federal Custom House at New Orleans:
its members were, three-fourths Of
them, Federal Office-holders: its doors
were guarded by Federal marshals and
their deputies. The nominees for
Governor and Lieutenant Governor
United States Custom House Collector,
and large portion of the Legislative
candidates were Federal officers
When defeated at the polls Federal
Judge, in violation of law, OVERRIDE
the State courts, issued orders sweep
ing away the legitimate State govern
in authority, scattering the State Legis-
lature and proclaiming State canvass
without having a single official return
on which to base it. To enforce these
orders Federal marshal called in the
sid of the Federal army, cannnns were
! pointed OH the people from the State
House grounds, the halls of Legislation
were made the camping-ground of
; Federal troopers, and the doors of the
Capitol We're guarded by Federal bavo-
! nets, SO that none but the ,lsurpers and
| their friends might enter. These are
stern facts, and no American worthy the
enjoyment of free government
! no Christian man who loves Justice and
hates oppression--ean afford TO ignore
them or to hold blamelcss an admins
| tration that lends it's authority IT,
sanction such reasonable and tyran-
nous acts. The people are slow to
move, but it would not be safe to
! brave their Indignation in such a ease
as this Louisiana infamv Should any
hoodshed occur in New Orleans
should the Federal troops be ordered
| to fire on defenceless citizens, who
bseek only to do those acts warranted
| by the constitution and the laws OF
their State should the Federal power
attempt to decide by brute force Il
contest that belongs to the Courts and
that must be settled by the test OF
law-the American people will exact Il
reckoning from all, however high in
authority, who may incur responsible
ity for the outrage. ..'. .,.I-s.'
| The assurances given by President
Grant to the representatives of the
people OF Louisiana evince his sense
of the improperly of Federal inter
meddling with the affairs of that State.
His subsequent determination not to
allow Federal Office holders to become
candidates for State offices shows that
! he understands the extent of the mis-
chief done by the Custom House clique
! in New Orleans. But the Presi-
| dent is responsible for the official acts
OF his Cabinet officers, and it is well
| that he should recall the singular
course pursued by Acknowledgement
! Williams in this unfortunate matter
before the bloody issue threatened
! is reached. The Attorney General g
first dispatch to New Orleans ap-