The New York herald., 1874-09-17
The Crisis IN LOuisia ma.


troll of the State The new Governor shows
great diligence in the administration of his
sudden and rudely-won power. Order is pre-
served to such degree that even Collector
Casey testifes to the fact promptly as to
make us fear that he is trying to hedge and
cultivate friendship with the new masters of
the Pelican State. Kellogg and his comrades,
who seem to have ignominiously surrendered,
are hidden in the Custom House. Kellogg
refuses to resign, and informs us that his fate
is in the hands of the President and
that he will do nothing until he
has instructions from Washington, The
United States troops in New Orleans are quiet
and practically helpless as their commander
reports the impossibility of combating the
usurping party. In the meantime large acces-
sions have been made to the Penn forces.
When we remember that these forces consist
of the soldiers of the Confederate armies,
thoroughly drilled in war aud only too anxious,
we fear, to welcome an outbreak, we can I'M
derstand the helplessness of the small force
Of regular troops now in New Orleans 1t
would be an exceedingly difficult task to re-
capture the city from these men. Unless
Penn and his party yield to moral pressure it
will be hard to dislodge them
In the meantime, wherever there is an ex-
preston of opinion from the Southern people,
it is in favor Of the Penn revolution Happily
there is no echo to the sentiments Of the mad
man Toombs, as reported yesterday. That
noisy chief does not seem to make good his
threat to bar the road through Atlanta to any
federal troops that may be sent to New
Orleans The valor of a man like Toombs
unfortunately not of the quality that necessa-
rily disturbs the peace. He had thousand
opportunities Of showing his gallantry during
the war, but his proceedings were never
calculated to terrify the Northern armies.
Toombs is mischief-maker now, as he was in
Montgomery, when he opposed the purchase
of arms for the Southern troops. saying that
the Yankees would run before the Confederate
riding-whips. His title of General must repre-
sent warlike services in time Of peace, as he
certainly did not earn it by actual war; The
effect of speeches like those of Toombs will
be to rouse the Northern sentiment, fire again
the spirit of Sumter, give the administration
an excuse for new severities and the republ-
can party pretext for continuance in power
We are glad to find no echo to his opinions in
the South.
In the meantime the President continues
his preparations. There was Cabinet ses-
sion yesterday, and the Louisiana question
was elaborately considered The conclusions
reached have not been made known. In such
matter, however, requiring military or naval
action, the proceedings of the government
would naturally remain secret. 1t is generally
understood that all Of our available military
and naval forces are on the way toward New
Orleans. The federal commanding officer
in that city has been instructed
in no way to recognize the revolu-
ton. Lieutenant General Sheridan has
not left Chicago but he is under orders to
take the field if necessary. The proclamation
of the President gives the revolutionsts until
Monday to lay down their arms and recognize
the federal authority. Unless this is done
there will naturally be a demonstration of
force. The President is so thoroughly COM
mitted to the recognition of Kellogg that he
showed yesterday, the law, as laid down by
Chief Justice Taney in the case of the Dorr
rebellion, leaves him no alternative. The
words of this Judge should be carefully consid-
cred, so pregnant is their meaning. eff, says
Chief Justice Taney 'there is an armed con-
fict, like the one of which we are speaking,
it is case of domestic violence, and one of
Al l..
the lawful government. And the President
must of necessity, decide which is the gov
ernment party, and which is unlawfully ar
rayed against it, before he can perform the
duty imposed upon him by act of Congress-
After the President has acted and called out
authorized to inquire whether his decision
was right? Could the Court, while the par
ties were actually contending in arms for
the possession of the government call wit
nesses before it to inquire which party repre-
sented a majority of the people? If the
judicial power extends so far the guarantee
contained in the constitution is guarantee Of
anarchy and not Of order. 1t is said that this
power in the President is dangerous to liberty,
and may be abused. All power may be abused
if placed in unworthy hands ; but it would be
difficult, we think, to point out any other
hands in which this power would be more
safe and at the same time equally effectual
When citizens of the same State are in arms
against each other and the constituted authori-
| ties unable to execute the laws the inter-
position of the United States must be prompt
or it is of little value. The ordinary course
of proceeding in courts of justice would be
! utterly unfit for the crisis and the elevated
Office of the President, chosen as he Is by the
people of the United States and the high re-
sponsibility he could not fail to feel when
acting in q case of SO much moment annear