New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-11-29

and entered upon his duties-has been
the work of Congress, it may well be sup
posed that that body is thoroughly familiar
with all the legislation it has passed upon
the subject, as well as the condition of the
Southern States during the time the work
of reconstruction has been going on. No
laws have been passed in reference to this
subject without being duly considered
and their necessity understood as of vital
importance to the establishment and con-
tinQance of republican government in the
States to be reconstructed. These laws
were required to give effect to the new
amendments to the federal constitution
declaring slavery abolished and comforting
the ballotupon the enfranchised race. None
know better than members of Congress
the bitter opposition these changes in the
constitution met with in the South among
a class Of people who had formerly been
Shareholders; and this opposition was en-
couraged and emboldened by the course
the Democratic party took in 1865
through Mr.. Blair, its candidate for Vice
President. He made the .nost prominent
issue in that canvass-his denial that the
thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth
amendments to the constitution had
been constitutionally efected-and was
beaten by the people. They fully en-
| dorsed these amendments by electing
General Grant President And this was
done without the vote of Louisiana, one
of the States in the South that was de-
prived of its electoral vote by Democratic
violence. The failure of the Democrats,
in the election of 1868, increased their
opposition to reconstruction, as marked
out by Congress, and elections in the
South became source of great danger
to all Republicans who would enjoy the
elective franchise. In many of the States,
bands of Ku-Klux were created, to deter
the colored people from voting or taking
part in politics. This condition of things
continued to grow from bad to worse,
until, finally, Congress was compelled to
pass what are known as the Ku-Klux and
enforcement laws. These were passed,
making it incumbent on the federal gov
eminent to enforce that section of the
constitution which guarantees to every
State a Republican government. This,
several Of the States had been deprived
Of by force, organized in opposition
to law. The Republican voters OF
Louisiana were deprived of their right
to vote in the presidential election
of 1868. So were the Republican voters OF
other States, particularly those who were
colored. The Ku-Klux and enforcement
laws were specially designed to secure the
choice to the majority Of voters of those
who were to administer the government.
This being the fundamental principle OF
republican government, Congress deemed
it duty to enforce it by federal authority
wherever the authorities OF q State were
unable to do so. The application of these
laws has preserved the rule Of the majority
in Louisiana, and defeated those who
would have usurped the government by
| oNEPASooAASS tAAOu6h thS fhllOuo hlSdLs
set on foot, the voice of the people. BE.
fore the passage of the Ku-Klux and en-.
forcement laws men could band together
with impunity for the purpose Of prevent
ing by force others from exercising theil
right to vote and make choice of those
who were to administer the government
and without these laws. properly admins
tered, there could be no continuance O.
republican government in Louisiana Of
any other Southern State, and the worl
of reconstruction in conformity to the
will of Congress and the nation at large
would have been rendered impracticable
In finally disposing of what is termed
"the Louisiana case" Congress has only
to remember these things in order to max,
the work of reconstruction in Louisiana
et4ectual.