New Orleans Republican., 1873-08-30
TIE LAST STATES RIGHTS HOBBY.


Mr.. W. L. McMillen, the Fusion Sen.
ator elect from Louisiana, has been spend.
ing quiet summer al his home in Ohio,
undisturbed by the contentious Of his con.
stituents, and unmoved by the anxieties Of
the chief his party. Bat he has recently
been disturbed in his repose. Senator
Morton, the good governor, has travelled
down into Athens and made q charac.
teristic speech. He said good deal
about Louisiana. which reminded Mac
that he owed something to that State. but
that he had almost forgotten not only his
duty. but his senatorial district. Our
carpetbag representative Of the old popu-
lation of Louisiana, our champion of States
rights thereupon arouses himself, gives his
name a menacing shake, and begins to
cfiticise Senator Morton's position.
The States rights Democrats are singu-
larly fortunate in their choice Of Sena.
tor. Mac affords them an opportunity to
prove to the world how complete a change
may be wrought in political party in
few years. l: is not very long since
nearly the whole South subscribed to the
Georgia doctrine tha: a decision Of the
Supreme Court Of sovereign State was
final in all matters. Mac, the champion
Of the Louisiana States rights party. sub.
ordinates the authority Of the highest
tribunal in his State to the opinion of four
members of federal Senate committee,
and quotes Mr.. Carpenters report. which
three Of the members refused to sign and
the Senate peremptorily rejected:
In the opinion of your committee the Su-
preme Court had no jurisdiction Of the case
in which they made the decision.
Pray. who asked the committee on
Privileges and Election for their opinion
in this matter. If the Supreme Court Of
the United States is denied the right to
review the decision Of State Supreme
Court, with how much more force may
we deny it to fraction Of committee
Of one Of the legislative branches Of the
government? The opinion Of the Senate
committee respecting the decision Of our
Supreme Court is of no more weight
than would be :ha. OF any four
intelligent gentlemen whose interests
required them to dissatisfied with it.
They were charged with the duty Of
taking evidence as to the election of a
United States Senator. and instead of
giving full faith and credit to the consti-
tuted authorities Of Louisiana, they as
sumed judicial powers, reviewed Judge
Durell's judgment. which no power less
than the Supreme Cour: can revise, con-
temptuously Sc: aside a solemn judgmer.
Of our State tribunal, were proceeding at
very rapid rate and under high pres
sure Of steam when the Senate snuffed
them out
Every Fusion orator and writer who has
since discussed the Louisiana question |
has quoted the sepor: Of the Senate COM
mittee as conclusive on the subject and |
invariably omitted to add that ths absurd |
p'CetS WcAO hA AeJcCtcO Dy tAo . -uhte,
and would have stood no chance in the |
House.
When Senator Morton tells the people
of Athens that the Kellogg administration
has received the sanction of the executive,
legislative and Judicial departments ofthe
federal government. and of the Supreme
Court of this State, General McMillen en-
deavors to answer it by quoting from a
report signed by four members of Sen.
ate committee, which was rejected. 1t is
Is though ono were to quote from the
brief Of = defeated attorney 10 show the
opinion of the cour. on principle of law.
Surely States rights has beer stabbed
n the house of its friends.
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