New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-08-09
APPEALS FROM THE COUNTRY.


The executive department of this State
is in constant receipt of letters from the
country parishes describing the daily out
RACES, extending TO murder and robbery,
that are being perpetrated upon Repub-
licans by unknowR men, banded together
as White Leaguers. These bands are repre-
sented as very bold and dangerous in the
northern parishes of Louisiana. Regard
less of all Law ful authOrity-State, municipal
or federal-these rowing and lawless des-
peradoes. are In the habit of visiting the
homes Of peaceable and industrious citizens
and shooting them down in cold blood; or,
perhaps, under the pretence of giving them
the benefit of a hearing under the Lynch
code, take them from their homes, and
after the mockery of trial, hang them to
the must onvenient tree. The main pur-
pose OF this diabOlical conduct is to in
timidate the colored Republican voters
of this State, and prevent them from
organizing and taking part in the
approaching political canvass and cleo
ton. And to this main purpose
tempting to drive away all white Repub.
licans VINO can not be forced TO take sides
with the Democratic White League organ
iZatioLs.
We reiterate these facts now for the es-
pecial benefit of the very lvrge majority Of
voters in the United States who have
steadily maintained the integrity of the
Union and its government ever since its
administration passed into Republican
hands. AS it Was the resOlute will Of the
majority that saved the Union from the de-
stroying hand of rebellion, and afterward
decreed the manner in which the work of
reconstruction should be done. it is not un-
reasonable to believe that that same reso-
lutte will OF the majority will be exerted to
see that the reconstruction laws are faith
fully and rigidly executed in the South
even if their execution has to be enforced
as prescribed in those laws, by the aid Of
federal bayonets. We must not be
told at this late day, and at q
time when q Republican administration is
charged with the responsibility of seeing
that the laws are faithfully executed, that
the government has no power to suppress
rebellion, or authority to punish domestic
violence growing out Of the enforcement of
national laws. 1t is the undoubted duty Of
the government to see that it's laws are
executel-much more SO now than in 1882
when President jackson took his gallant
and patriotic stand against the nullitiers of
that day. There is now a determined dis
position to nullify the reconstruction laws,
and the President of the United States is
bound to put down the nullifiers; is bound
to see that the laws are faithfully executed.
Governor Kellogg is doubtless good
States right man, but we are quite sure he
does not believe State has the right to
nullify national law; nor, in our opinion,
does he believe in the right Of citizens OF
State to nullify national laws, through re-
peated acts of domestic violence, without
laying themselves liable to be tried and
punished in accordance with those laws.
If we believe that a citizens first and para
mount allegiance is due to his country, it is
difficult to determine why the supreme
government of that country should hesitate
to secure to him all the rights guaranteed
to him by it's constitution and laws. The
government guarantees to all its citizens
without distinction of color or previous
condition-the right to vote and hold
office. But, if in the face of this
guaranteed right, armed bands of men
rise up in this State determined to nullify
it, whose duty is it, under the constitution
and laws comforting the right. to defend it
and see that il is not even interferred With
1t is very clearly the duty of the general
government. For, if it is left to the subor-
dinate State government-where parties
were divided upon the subject-to enforce
the national laws, the task becomes a very
difficult one for the reason that parties are
divided upon the subject-one party, as in
this State, being determined by force OF
arms to resist the State government in its
efforts to enforce the rights of citizens
guaranteed by the constitution end laws
of the supreme government. The only way
in which the supreme government can
efectually secure the rights it has guaran-
teed citigons of this State is to place law
fui force here sufficient to keep down any
unlaw force disposed to commit violence
in order to prevent citizens from exercising
their rights.
Accompanying the accounts that are
daily received by Governor Kellogg of the
many outrages that are perpetrated for
political reasons are constant appeals for
protection. We are not advised at present
as to what course he has determined to
pursue. 1t is to be hoped, however, that
he has not failed to Keep President. Grant
advised as to the true condition of affairs
here.
Recent letters from the parishes of BOs-
sier and Caddo represent matters as daily
growing worse there. The letter from aBos- |
sier states that about two hundred White |
League citizens-Dany of them al med with |
pistols-visited the town.ef Bellevlew on |
the first of the present month for the purpose |
of debating to the board of assessors
how their property should be appraised.
They are represented as having sub
mitted their schedule of assessment, |
and swore they would not submit |
to any other without tight. They are fur I
ther represented as having beer very jubi-
liant in the evening, and being much under
the influence of whisky, talked freely of kill
ing Republicans and having white mans
government.
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