The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-10-11

Grant nave recODeidered his opinion, M
when called upon q second time by Keilog
he might refused bis aid. And unless
when such second application was made
General Grant still labored under hi
original and erroneous opinion that Kellog
was duly elected he ought to have 40 re
fused. Kellogg, to be sure, was ousted b.
force from State office, into which he ha'
been indicted by the President, in the ex
ercise of a constitutional power; and tn
employment of that force was a breach @
peace. But it was the peace of the goOt
people OF Louisiana that was broken. N
law of the Union was infriuged or con
temned. The extreme violence which &C
companied PENIS revolutionary movemen
may have been an evil example. One o
the most ancient and valuable laws which
the wisdom of tleir English ancestor.
transmitted to the American colonies il
that which forbids the lawful owner Of
lands to Dust with strong hand a mul
titude of people the trespasser who, by
| long possession or otherwise, has clothed
himself with color of right. This was
precisely the condition of the usurper Kel
logg aud it would be impossible to main
| tain in any judicial tribunal having cog
| nizance in the case that their act was not
an offence. But, as before stated, their
| offence was against the laws of Louisiana
only. Tho President had no right of au-
thority to interfere on that ground. He is
not the Republics general custos mcrum !;
nor is he authorized to correct by armed
force all violations of good manners, occur.
ring within particular State.
1t is quite certain that if, from any cause
Kellogg had been proven'ed from applying
for aid the President would have possessed
no legal warrant to justify his Interference
Had he gallantly confronted his opponents
and fallen in the vindication of his cause
the President might in like manner have
been left without authority. This should
60 crka \
voived by the constitution on the Federal
government a duty to intervene for the
suppression of evil examples in contempt
of State laws.
After the custer of Kellogg by Penn the
application of the former to the President
presented merely renewal of the same
precise question which arose upon the first
dispute was Kellogg the duly elected
Governor of louisiana II he was duly
elected it was the Presidents duty to rein
state him; otherwise not. If General
Grant still! labored under his original delu.
sion on the subject his interference was
consistent with conscience, and, go far,
morally just. But this would not prove
that he was officially justliable. Presi-
dent cannot wage war against lawfully
elected State government and secure an
exemption from ceDsure simply pleading
as bar to inquiry that his intentions were
pure. Official duty involves RESPONSE
oiity GuS CVElcClEtsS Ol Ill CHe O11cGTS
acts. The censure, if any, duo to official
interpretation against the right, in such
case as the present, may depend on a great
variety of circumstances. The degree of
attention given by the officer to the inquiry
in hand, his apparent motives, and any
difficulty or doubt attending the question
involved, might serve to inculpate him,
extenuate his fault, or wholly to excuse it,
The view taken by the President on KEEL |
logg's first application could furnish no |
reason for q similar course on the second. |
However his original decision might con-
troll others, it was in no degree obligatory
upon himself Individual consistency, in
official opinion or action, is not to be main
tanned at the expense of rectitude and JUS
ice. The pride Of an executive chief
night stimulate him to desire such power
The servility which would accord it was
prevalent in degenerate Rome when that 80
'alled Republic was tottering to it's fall
must hope that it has not yet become
general here. Those who condemn the
residents original interference in Kel-
ogg's favor have even more reason for
ondemning his recent interpostion. 1t is,
t least, equally censurable. Having had
nore time and opportunity to ascertain
acts and to consider the question his last
ct must be regarded ae, if possible, less
than the first. {
The desire that Kellogg may resign aud !
lomlt to talr election is amiable; but {
lrely no one can seriously entertain c
ope to that effect. There seems, indeed, c
'me reason to expect that so many other f
tate officials may resign as to reduce the q
ersoRnet OF the Kellogg government to one
,litary person.. e., the Governor him
IF; and it has been suggested that in h
lch an event the President would have no p
over to supply the necessary corps of o
hcials. He would, indeed, have NO right g
supply them bat, in fact and without d
ght, they could be supplied by kellogg. il
he President would then possess the same 81
power to recognize by his g,
e-sic volo and thus practically to vail h
tie that made-up government which he ii
% already twice exercised to enthrone the W
upper. The only hope can perceive for rs
'uisiana lie that the popular will of the
untry, speaking through it's efficient a,
gan, the independent press, may prevail 81
on the President to reconsider his u
urse. Removing the impression that he IL IL
without power to correct his own mis- az
zes is the first essential step to that de- al
nj ln