The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-09-27
TdE COURIER-JOURNAL AND THE
LOUISIANA QUESTION.


! years with patience absolutely unparalleled il
| history. 1t admits that the Kellogg Govern
ment is pure usurpation. But it says
We know also that the Kellogg usurpatiol
q is the only government recognized by thu
United States; that it is the de tucto govern
ment Of Louisiana, and, knowing this, WI
could not 90 outside the record to doubt that
, having the forms of law on its side, the AID
ministration at Washington would be gui ied
by them, no matter what injustice and hard
ship their operations might work upon al
| already over-afflicted people.
We had supposed that no such complete
muddle Of legal ideas could emanate from any
other brain than that of Attorney General
Williams, or his equally distinguished repre-
sentative in this city, the sapient Beck With,
who, when on examination before the Investi-
eating Committee of the United States Sen
ate, was utterly unable to explain the famous
bill in chancery by which he initiated this
stupendons wrong, but, with candid i'm
partiality, was ready to adopt either Of the
two contradictory theories suggested to him
by Mr.. Carpenter and Mr.. Norton. When
was the principle introduced into American
Law that recognition Of certain men as State
officers by the Government of the United
States is conclusive Of their right as such;
even against the people of the State
Does not the Co,uie,-JOa,1sal see that the
admission of such principle effects com
plete revolution in the Government What
is State? 1t is sovereign, Independent,
autonomous body polite. When it ceases to
possess this character, it ceases to be State
and becomes mere province Of what is in
reality, and will soon be in name, an empire
Such is the condition Of Louisiana to-day,
and her people now appeal to those of the
States which have not yet reached that deplor-
able position, to say whether it shall remain
so. If they shall ans ver in the spirit of the
Coarier-Journal then will it be evident that
the result of the war professedly waged for the
preservation of the Union, has been in reality
its complete destruction as we'll as that of the
liberties of the entire people. ''This L ,uis-
isna fasco" will at least have the effect of
presenting that question squarely and point
eddy to the Northern people for their decision
When in May, 1874, General Gage landed
his troops in Boston to suppress the "rebels
Of Massachusetts, in a revolt against mere
idea, the people of the South sprang promptly
TO her assistance, although every consideration |
Of interest and safety prompted the opposite
sourse. Mr.. Bancroft (vol z. page SOY tells
IS that even in South Carolina, which was
more intimately connected by interest and
with Eng and than any other colony,
he planters declared 'that the whole continent
must be animated bv one great soul, and all
Americans must resolve to stand by one an
,ther, even unto death. Should they lail, tho
constitution Of the mother country itself,
would lose its excellence. They knew the
imminent ruin which they risked but they
the happiness Of many genera
ions and many millions depended on their
pirit and constancy."
When the people of America assemble to
Celebrate the centennial anniversary of the
declaration Of Independence, South Carolina :,
ill be lying PROSTATE under more oppres-
we, rapacious and infamous despo.ism than
ny English minister would ever have thought :.
imposing upon any portion Of the British =
eople. What man, possessed of either
cart or conscience, but will then bow his
ead in shame?
Again, it is said that the Kellogg is the de
cto Government, and, having the forms of 9
W on its side, must be supported by the :
ederal power. What confusion of thought,
;, rather, what an absence of thought, is
ire presented. What is a de facto Govern !,
ent? 1t is one which, destitute Of any legal i
sis, is yet posse .sed Of force sufficient to
the obedience Of the people.
When, then, the Coorier-Jomnal speaks of
v being on the side of the de facto Govern st.
ent it makes an illogical attempt to CO. b
linate ideas which are mutually destructive %
each other. There cannot be legal, lille al
government. We say, further, that this e
mitted character of the Kellogg Government Of
lkes 2ac act of the Federal Administration Fl
restoring it high crime and misdemeanor Il
lie only power given to the Federal Govern
INT over the internal administration of the a. a.
ates, is that of guaranteeing to each OF them OF
epublican form of government. Now de
no government is wholly unrepublican in st
nature, for it is one which exists outside of
4 above the law. Besides, this usurpation
4 lost even its de tacto character when the W
esident, by military force, ousted the legal Is
horities and reinstated it. of
There seems to be some disposition to APP ad
I'VE this act as necessary to preserve this
,ntry from the anarchy which is SO preva- oe
t in portions Of Spanish America. But tic
use who reason thus wholly mistake the
tn Of the case. 1t is Kellogg who is the n rM
xican bandit, who has seized, with military
ce, the government of State and it is SCI SCI
Emery who, backed by the people, has
ght to put an end to this anarchy. The 70
leral Government, by its action, perpetu-
) this anarchy and thus plunges the people cor
. that very condition from which it pre-
DIS that it seeks to save them. We have
wn that it is that power alone which can