New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-11-24
CITIZENS NOT SUBJECTS.

AouioA1an 40 AAAS6aAAS e'NN .
been deduced that it lie a sacred duty ana
an imperishable right to resist and throw
it off.
The fate of any ephemeral administra-
ton. with its patronage and its short lease
of authority is nothing, but it is Of greater
Importance that q people intrusted with
their own political destinies should act
on the basis of logical reason than that OF
passionate impulse. To shorten by poison
or the pistol the mortal years Of an aver
age political incumbent. might be IN
itself q matter Of small moment. It's
physical effect would be but that OF q
stroke of lightning or Of apoplexy. but
the wound on the character and the breach
in the safety Of the State would be OF
infinite consequence. 1t would be tell
forever in her future, SO long as murder
should be accepted as an agency in deter
mining the political destinies Of q State.
This brings us to consider an unfortunate
difference between the political doctrines
Of Louisiana, as taught by the Shreveport
Times and its coadjutors, and those who
joined the Republican government OF the
Union.
1t has been the practice Of Americans TO
bear what they deem misconstruction OF
the laws until they could repeal the laws
by the same process that enacted them.
1t is thus that powers claimed by some
administrations, but deemed by its oppo-
nents incompatible with the common coz
stitution, have been practically annulled
by the election of statesmen who adopted
different construction. The American
people have submitted alike to the one or
the other construction, as the majority OF
voters manifested their opinion through
the appointed and legal organisms. Only
once in American history was there de-
parture from this rule. A bloody and dis
astrous civil war substituted the exposition
of armed force for the peaceful practice
which had pre- vailed before. The Amer
lean people have, however, resorted again
10 the pacific mode of their ancestors,
and an impo rtant change in the
legislative administration has resulted.
We pause a moment to contrast the re-
suits of these two modes Of adjudication
The decision by arms caused the death of
q million OF men. the imposition Of several
Al s,,,1fI0vo Nc fSnhf fhn loss of
labor for some years. with perplexed
problems Of reconstructing the lacerated
antilles Of embittered sections. The de-
cision by votes has not impaired the
action of the laws nor the industries of
the people. Yet still we have party that
thinks laws may be repealed by armed
force and officers controlled by threats of
murder.
We need not do more than refer to
the difference III the ancestral teachings
of the different peoples who compose the
American nation. Some have been edu.
Gated to obey the law as their own act.
Others seem persuaded that each citizen
holds reserved right to violate any law
that he would not have voted for had he
been in the Legislature that passed it.
OF she latter opinion very striking
example was gwen in the GRAFTON Of Mr..
Ryan before the White League. In this
it is said
According 20 .h" principles si.u.ei in
the United States by all political writers.
{ he government rests IN the consent vt the
governed. ! wonder it you ever consented
to this government.
Now. according TO American principles.
this is no government at all. and when /
make my argument ] come to the cOuclu.
sion that this is NO government at all. and
that in any State there exists the grand
right q revolution.
TO this reserved right Of disobedience
\ correspondent Of the REPUBLICAN. over
the signature Of IAN American Catholic"
takes exception. though. we think. not
upon grounds as purely American as they
might be. Our correspondent thus COM
ments on the position Of Mr.. Ryan:
The duty Of obedience to the law il pre-.
c;sely the same under republican govern. |
ment as under any other torn OF govern.
ment. and can no more be resisted with a
safe conscience than elsewhere.
But is there no limit to the obedience 10
law: Have l not the right TO judge the acts
of authority and decide for myself whether
they are or are not such as l ought TO obey:
That is, does or does not the law depend on
the assent OF the governed for it's salidity!
To make the law depend on the assent Of
the governed, that is on the assent of the
subject. is to deny that the law is law.
that the subject il a sWbjecf AMI TO assert
that one is bound by 10 Jaw. but tree to
do wha, he p!eases.
1t is exceedingly unsafe to arouse a
people 10 :esist the laws unless the
teacher is entirely sure Of the ground he
stands ON. The phrase used by Mr.. Ryan
is apochgyphal. We viii give the true
text. In tho argument used by Mr.. JET.
.e.son 70. tie equality Of man and the
right Of self-government. he EN-.
bodies in the Declaration Of 1ndepend.
.nce the following dogma: "All govern.
men. derives i:s just powers from the
consent o; The governed.
The meaning Of this doctrine is found
III the application thereof" The States.
the people OF the States. or the people Of
al the States. consummated this d.cla:a.
ton by :o:m Of government which was
proposed and submitted 70 then: Cor
adoption. and accepted. The powers Of
the government: then were conferred and
recognized b. tie consen; o. the gov.
..nei. sa.c!. :nciadss the majority as we'll
~ IL. :u,no..:,. On nil questions which