The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1873-03-26
Louisiana.

New Orleans night before last, and the
neaDs by which order and quiet have
been temporarily restored, demon
Strate the inherent weakness of the
Kellogg ususWti"n. 1t calls itself Il
state Government, and is recognized
as snch by President Grant. But tin
dtpln.ahle occurrences of Wednesday |
night show that it possesses so little
authority that it cannot stand its ground
against two or three hundred assail
ants, and needs to be propped up b.
Federal hayonets in sncl a slight dis
turbance Of the peace IA any genuine
State Government would promptly and
easily suppress by its own militia. If,
us it falsely pretends, the Kellogg Gov
ernmeut was elected 10y majority OF
the people of Louisiana, that majnrit,
would defend it. Having the ply steal
strength q. the State on it's side, 1t
wond not need the aid of Federal
tronps to cope will, so insignificant an
emergency as night attack on police
t"ion by an impetuons handful Of cit
z-ns. Its claim to have been electe!
1 by the people is conspruonSly reiute,l
by it's confessed inability to deal with
such small emergencies u d accidental
disturbances of the peace as are ALWAYS
4 liable to arise under every State gov
.rnmens. If a majority OF the people
recognized its validity. it cGuld sate1.
rel" On them to maintain its authority.
Ii is Il government that canno5 govern;
it is unequal TO the most ordinary
emergencies; if two or three hundred
men rise up and threaten 1t, it must
straight way have the support of the
Federal army 10 save it from disSnln-
:, ton! Ii is IL violation Of common sense
and ploprlety OF language t" call such
IL trail, ricke'y concern Il government
If it had, rs it weiends, the support
and approval Of Il majority OF the peo-
, ple-it would not make snrh an undig-
Ditied exhibition OF helpless imbecIs!ty
aud coMarslice.
Ii Congress had done its duty and
taken proper action, tbs rpgsettahse
E scene OF blo"lShed and Federal inter
=, vrntion wOnld not have occurred The
. President is more blamahle than Con
y grrss. Had he sent in such message
as he onght. message strongly set-
, ting forth the dauger;lni tarnes ~ cal
ling for legislation. his recunsmenda.
ton womb not have been neglected
inst, ad of this, he insiduously convey
ed his opinion that no acton BY Con
:, sress was necessary. The pi'h of hi
~ message vas, that the exposure made
fi,>r tnf. l.. Il n +,
y en- tie view on which he first acted
;, that in spite of the testimony aud The
report OF the committee, he still regart
= ed the Kellogg Government az lrgiu
l. mate: and that he shoaId continue t.
:, npIolI it by military force, miles
:, Congress overrnlel his Judgment an,
. required him to do otherwise. 1t wa
;, evident from such message that h
u did not want legislation, bnt only th
i quasi Endorsement OF Congress for hi
r. PREDETERMINED course; an Endorsement
u, which he took pains to inform thel
i would be sufficiently given 10y their in
r. action. Such amessage was calculate
r., TO nnlIfy The impression which the re
port oi the Senate Committee had mad
IT, on the Republican members, by inform
ing them that it made no impression q
~. the mind of the President. But as Il
II would have heen exposed to censure h
el going on. after such a report. wlthn'
u. hit tacit consent OF Congress, he SET
he in message cnnningly contrived
y. shield him aud shift the responsible
npnn others. Had lie told Congre
-, that he should not interfere further
no Louisiana matters witlonr their gui
~ ance. there can he little doubt that Il
i subject would have been acted up.
~, before the adjournment. There W
!; - no action berause it was evident fro
his message that the President did n
~ desire any.
,at But he is presuming too much on Il
~, mere silence aud pretcrsuission at ca
,d .ress. Its inactinn may perhaps lea
~. him Mt liberty to continne his recog,
;tl Won of the Kellogg government, hut
does not authorize him to violate exis
ing laws. If the President chopses
yo- recognize the kellogg concern as t
3; regular State government, all that
pc. can legally do in consequence is
,ct treat it precisely rs lie would treat al
other State Government in similar c
-, cumstancts. There is a statute viii
isc The mere silence Of Congress has not !
h, pealea, requiring an application to
~ >..l..,k L..