New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-02-27
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE AS 4 WARN
ING VOICE.

SUN as LIS va sA1S
scandal in Louisiana az it has come s(
him through means Of published teSo
! mopy He defers to the power OF Congress
, to decide the qualifications and return u
its own members. as also 70 ehac' Va
amend laws to enforce its own purposes
He assumes that the State authorizes n"''
r;obt IN determine the status OF thelI
own government, and thus recognizes III.
decisions of the Supreme Court OF LOUIS
: lana as prima facie evidence OF leSaL'S.
and so decides to sustain the government!
which they have SO recognized. An 'hlS
tbe President shows q wise and clear sepa-
ration of executive and Legislative power
Congress will decide the contests OF the
Senators and members OF Congress- Inc
executive will enforce the laws OF Congress
and the DEGREES Of the federal courts
individuals may think these laws or de-
crees wrong, his only duty is to see these
laws and DEGREES executed. In this he
has restored the earlier theory Of the gov
eminent, and repudiated the doctrine
temporarily triumphant that the executive
has a discretion and must execute the
provisions Of the constitution as be, and
not the courts. understand them.
Thus We return to the great republi-
can principles, that the only use for
an executive is to enforce the popular will
as expressed by its representatives and
expounded by its Judiciary. No true Re.
| publican ever tolerated the .'one-man
power" or the discretion Of "a single per-
son" at the head of the government. 1t
cost King Charles his head and his crown.
We now see this executive separation and
subordination to the law indicated, and,
we hope, established. The exclusive right
Of the State TO deal with its own affairs,
and designate its own tunctionaries lis like
wise affirmed by the President. He finds
State government installed, and verified
by the decree Of the highes, State tribunal.
Whether these DEGREES be right or wrong,
the President. and every citizen Of the
State OF Louisiana are bound TO respect
them. Neither the doctrine OF executive
dictation, nor Of individual notification
is acknowledged. The one is Yepudiated
by the President, the other is so contrary
TO every principle of republican compact
as 10 find few advocates.
The President. required TO decide which
is The actual government OF the State.
that, III the event Of congressional non
action, he may be required TO sustain the
one or the other Of the contestants, gives
informal notice of his opinion, with the
view to prevent any !nfraction OF peace,
or 70 promote some settlement among the
disputants. It is then clear, tirst-that
the President decides the government ap-
proved as legal by the Supreme Court Of
Louisiana; second-that this government
will be maintained against any domestic
violence, which the State Legislature, or,
in its recess, the Governor, shall invoke.
1t is proper to remind the people that
this decision has been based on the opin-
ions expressed by the President that there
was an original fraud. which rendered the
election void db intiO. We have all along
tried to impress this upon the public. |
The initial iniquity was this: An indi- |
vidual intrusted with the duty OF securing
the right of suffrage and election 20 all !
the people. was 50 far recreant TO his trust |
as to use these powers to advance his own |
interest and ambitions. To cOunteract the |
effect of these special derelictions. another !
coordinate department Of the government /!
reversed the acts of this perfdloUs func-
tionary. The political allies in this con-
spiracy maintain the illegality OF the Su-
preme Judicial authority of the State
They never admit. or refer TO-. the initial |
fraud. Congress has not set aside. SO far.
by enactment. the decree OF the State Su-
preme Court. and it has been shown that
the President will respect, and, if neces-
sary, enforce it. To overlook the initial
fraud in the State election, and throw the
for the local anarchy which
has prevailed. upon the want Of authority
in the Supreme Court. was to mislead the
the people. It was as if, a mortal wound
having been inflicted by the blade or bull
let of the assassin, it should be defended
that some aesthetic in the surgical effort
to save the patient. was the cause Of his
death.