American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-01-03
OUR RULE RS.

Iuc NJ'fllutttCt1 NSht w ssSai-
ington to investigate the Louisiana
troubles will have an opportunity
for the exercise of their patriotic
deviation to the principles of right
and justice, aud to show to the world
their adherence of tyranny and op
preston. Ii the investigation is
conducted with a view TO the redress
Of grievances, and to the II ala ain
ance of law, then much good may
result from it, for the evils under
which the State now grOans are too
apparent to be overlooked, except
by such as are wilfully blind to the
usurpat;ons aud wrongs OF the KEEL
logg government. If. however, the
investigation is to be made i'll the
interest of Kellogg, and to sustain
the action of the President in keep
ing a usurper in power against the
will of the people, then will it be an
insult TO the State and disgrace to
the nation. We do not believe that
the result will be satisfactory,
McEnery's lawful claims will have
but little weight against the power
and patronage Of the Federal Gov
eminent, and as that seems leagued
against the rights and interests of
the South, we have but small
grounds for hope or confidence in
any thing that concerns our vel
fare.
If there ever was case of perfdy
and wrong that would have justified
rebellion against the decision of
Ruler, that case was presented to
the people of Louisiana. The doc
trine that "might makes right" is
rs dangerous to liberty as it is false
in morals, and he who governs ac-
cOrding to this theory-as Grant
evidently dOes-is not only IN
worthy of his high trust, but in any
other nation would be depcsed.
DR.. Adam Clarke ,one of the ablest
lOgicians and profuundest theOIo-
CLANS who ever lived or wrote, has
given us his political sentiments in
his mastery comments on the xiii
chapter of Romans, and which it
would be well for-Our rulers, both
Federal and State, TO Rad aud
study. OF the verse commencing,
''Let every soul be subject unto the
higher powers he says:
In all nations of the earth there
il what may be called a constitution
"a plan by which a particular conn
try or State is governed; and this
constitution is less or more calcnla-
ted to promote the interests OF the
community. The civil governor,
whether he be elective or hereditary,
agrees to govern according to that |
constitution. Thus We may consid-
er that there is compact aud cOn- |
Sent between the governor and the |
governed, aud in such case the
pOtentate may be considered i,s com
ing to the supreme authority in the
direct way of Gods providence
and as civil government is of God,
who is the fountain Of law, order
and regularity, the civil governor,
who administers the laws OF State
to its constitution, Is the ,
of God.
Nothing Can justify the opposition /
of the subject to the ruler but overt
attempts on his part to change the
constitution, or to rule contrary to
law. When the ruler acts THIS he
dissOlves the compact between him
and his people his authority is no
longer biuding, because illegal and
1t Is illegal because he is acting con-
trary to the laws of that constitu.
ton, according to which, on being
raised to supreme power, he prom
lsed to govern. This conduct justi-
lies opposition to his government.
1t il tor the benefit of the cOmmu-
nifty, and not for the aggrandize-
lnent Of himself, that God has en-
trusted the supreme civil power to
any man. If he should use this to
rob, spoil, Cypress and per
secnte his subjects, he is not only
bad man, but IA bad prince. He In
Fringes OIL the essential principles of
law and equity, and his doing SO
renders him unworthy of their con-
idence, and they must consider him
not as a blessing but as a plague.
By this argument, which we deem
God has a direct agency
n the moral and civil government
II the world, and will hold all rulers ,
Individually responsible for the
aAnner in which they use the pow
r entrusted to them for the public
veal.
In days gone by, kings and princes j
we're deposed for acting contrary to I
he written constitutions which they I
rsre obligated to administer in !;
'ood faith, thereby defeating the ,
nds of justice, and subverting the {
purposes of government. If the
aSe rafe Of right obtained in cur :.
ay, where would our rulers stand
hey have not only trampled under
Dot the Constitution of our fathers
ut in the arbitrary and tyrancal C
~ ro-n, ,ec,a.l : /,