The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1874-09-30
THE SITUATION IN LOUISIANA.

THE SITUATION IN LOUISIANA.
The troubles which exist in Louisiana
are doubtless owing, primarily and prin-
cipally-as they are equally so through
out the entire South-to to the principle OF
universal suffrage which has been i'll
corporated into the various State Con-
stitutions under the system of recon-
struction-a principle which at all times
and under all circumstances unWlse and
impolitic, becomes tenfold more so in
the present disorganized condition OF
society at the South. The natural anC
necessary effect of its operation is to
make pauperism and ignorance ruling
powers in the State, and to turn over
the property and intelligence Of the
white race into the hands Of the colored,
who are themselves merely the tools of
artful and corrupt demagogues who use
them to advance their own selfish pnr-
poses.
The past experience of every Southern
State demonstrates what might have
been anticipated from the beginning as
results-grinding taxation and hydra
headed oppression under the forms OF
law, until the burden becomes almost
Iintolerable. Under such state OF
things, people are not to be expected to
observe very closely the forms of law,
or the limitations of Constitutional pre-
rogatiye, and naturally exercise that
instructive right of self-preservation,
which rises above chartered privileges or
constitutional forms. But after all, the
use of force is to be deprecated as long
as evils are tolcrable, and the calm,
Judgment must disapprove what the
heated passions dictate.
If Louisiana is to be redeemed, it
must be by some other agency than
armed resistance to the General Govern
mcnt, and indeed there wonld seem to
be better hope for her in the arms of
the Federal authorities, and sustained
by the United States bayonets. Were
the alternative presented to her people,
they would gladly prefer military
government to the present fraudulent
and oppressive State administration.
But of this there is no hope, as the Pres
ident stu liously abstains from anything
like interference with the civil authori-
ties, and from anything which would
give supremacy to military law, and
treat tie State as conquered province.
But whilst the President has refused
to interfere directly with the control of
the State: he has taken upon himself to
sustain the Kellogg government, regard
less of the fact whether or not it had
been elected by majority of the people
of the State, and basing his opinion
simply upon judgment or decree of
the United States District Court. This,
the Hon. Beverly johnson, in q recent
letter 10 the NcW York Herald, has
clearly shown to have been an error.
The question of what was the Legitimate
State Government was political, not q
judicial one, as was decided by the Su-
prcme Court in the case Of the Rhode
Island troubles, and it rested with the
President to determine the question,
and his decision is final. AS Judge
Durell had 10 authority to pass upon the
question whether Kellogg was legally
elected or not, the decision of the Presi-
dent, grounding his opinion upon this
decree, was All error. But having o"ce
recognized the Kellogg government, his
decision became final and absolute, and
the people had no right to subvert the
government, neither had the President
himself. His decision is as binding
upon him as upon the State. Any other
conclusion would place the State Gov
ernmcnt at the mercy of the President,
andlegalize anarchy whenever the people
saw fit to rise against their rulers.
Such are the conclusions of the dis
tinguished jurist, and he finds ready
solution of the difficulties, in the resig-
nation of both the Kellogg and the
McEnery governments, and the ordering
of new election. Ben Butler in a
recent speech asserts that the case is one
calling for the intervention of Congress,
and that the State needs to be reeon-
structed again. 1t would bea good idea,
we think, that the whole South should
go through the process of reconstruct
ton, and something like qualified suf-
frage or minority representation he en-
grated upon the fundamental law.
What we want is something to shut
down the flood-gates of Ignorant and
corrupt legislation which flows necessa-
irily from the uninstructed ballot. Bet
i ter 90 back to state of colonial vassal-
age, or military rule, than be plundered
under the forms of law. The situation
calls for prompt measures, and if Con
gress is to interfere, we trustit will be
in in a way to justify the necessity of its
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