The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-12-15

, presents or professional fees for legislative
services. The Southern representation OF this
army now is q body of dummies. No man ex-
poets from them virtue patriotism, personal
honor, manly sentiment. Subservient tools.
they are always supporting those measures
which most excite popular indignation. In
the con ventions for the nomination OF Presi-
dent and Vice President this army had large,
and in case of any division a controlling in
fiuence. OF the majority to make choice
their voice contributes two thirds. The
power of this army is in its silence 1t has no
discussions, opinions, judgments, or even
thoughts of any matter of general policy. 1t
is ignorant Of finance, foreign relations, do
nestle policy, or qualifications OF men for
Office. All that it knows, all that 1t does to
manifest knowledge is contained IN the small
piece of paper, called a ballot. This small
paper expresses that the man who deposits it
has neither eyes to see, ears to hear, mouth to
utter or will to do, except as he has been
commanded For this army is divided into
| communicates. and is bound by secret OathS
to obedience. PROFESSIONALLY, the most in
terestng question to the people of this coun-
try at this time is the purpose to re-elect the
incumbent of the Presidential office for an
other term. In the convention which deter
mines that question this army Of nine
hundred thousand black voters will exert
potential not to say portentous influence. The
Commander-in-C Chief the Worshipful Grand
Master of this numerous, disciplined and ODE
dent army is Attorney General Williams
The organization of his department, its con-
nections with the marshals Of the districts. its
vast expenditures, its superintendent of pro-
secutions under Ku-klux and other pretenSes;
its employment of the regular army of the
United States in the municipal affairs Of the
States, give this prominence to him IN tha
Southern States. The magnitude of this power
may be illustrated by q single fact. Some
three years ago Marshal Packard collected
ing convention which was to choose the
craftsmanship Of the Radical State Central
Committee. Not a long time after, the same
person, under authority from Attorney Gene
raj Williams employed the army to seize the
capitol of the State, and to place first, Legis-
lature and then Il Governor of the State in
office. Senator Schurz had lately said that
tain Marshal Packard in the employments he
holds and the acts he performs.
This does not sufficiently expose the actual
danger. The people of the United States, if
they value their constitution and their iber-
ties, cannot afford to allow the Department of
Justice to interfere in State and municipal
affairs, to employ the army Of the United
States, either to set mp or pull down State
Governments. The result in time will be
that the existing Government of these United
States will be pulled down by the same agen-
cies and Observation-Disclosures, and o dynastic
government will take its place.
Already we are told that the principles, pre-
cedents, practices of Washington, jefferson,
Madison, Monroe, jackson, ought not to be fol-
lowed; there were men when the Constitution
was made who favored Preside mt for life.
third term, say they, violates no provision
of the Constitution. To crafty one mons
with the obsolete ideas of those men of an
other time. The integrity of the ballot-box
has persisted. The security and safety of
State Governments depend on q telegram
from the Department of Justice. A third term
will be granted to satisfy personal ambition.
What next2 An act OF Congress to indeti-
nitely postpone Presidential elections in
the States, or to prohibit them. Another
gag law, another salary grab law, a law to en-
large the army and to fill its ranks and its
with the marshals and managers
OF the ballot-box then out of employment,
and the work OF revolution is complete by
forms OF law Courts can be packed to sup
port the laws. In one of the cemeteries of
New Orleans there is buried the remains of
'ne who in his day was known to this entire
country as profound jurist, an enlightened
Il Il
polished gentleman. A fragment OF some
itty lines places Richard H. Wilde high on
he list OF American poets. In that freg-
nent we find the expression of what discon-
ent. disorder internal connections. anarchy.
rising from Federal interference with their
political and civil rights, have engendered in
he hearts OF the people Of Louisiana:
his was our country-it is now our grave:
Would we had never lived, or died the land to
save
Sikh Article.
We assume as irrefragable truth, nothwith-
landing some melancholy experience to the
ontrry, within a few years, that the govern
nents In the several States composing the
american Union have no dependence on the
ecognition or fiat of the President of the
lnlted States, or other department of the
ederal Government; but that each State is
Independent, and that the existence, organ
zatlon and administration Of the State govern
lents have their origin with the peoDle If fha
tate, and their power is without limitation
kept from the Constitution of the United
tates: The Constitution carefully preserves
nat independence, by its reservation of
overs not delegated in the Constitution. tn
ne State and the people,
Inc two governments are brought into i'm.
leolate contact In two provisions of the
constitution The one pledges the power of
le omon to maintain republican form of
overnment. This pledge is to the people of
Re State, and the guarantee is collateral
,curlty to the people. The other case is a
ledSe to protect the State from domestic
oience. This protection must be claimed
the Legislature, OF in case the Legislature
'nnot De convened the Governor NAV claim
Imminent. When the President pro-
',;.;s an lns'rrectlon in louisiana he uses
,lltica! and not constitutional lanonaoe
The instructions the United Stotec ,,ov
Ppress are instructions against their own
l ~ and power When the President 10
lied upon by Legislature or a Governor in
e alternative, he must decide that there is
Sc OF domestic violence within the mean
9 OF the Constitution and acts of Congress-
alcn J,lstlfies the requisition. Neither the
aro nor the laws contemplated that
ere was granted any nolice nn,ro. i: H.