The New York herald., 1874-09-30

nau oeen prevented from applying for aid the
iresioeht would have possessed no legal warrant
" Jus'ny ns interference. Had he gailantly con-
irohIeu MS opponents and fallen in the vtndicaton
OF MS cause the President might in ike manner
have been left without authority This should
suffice TO refute the idea that there is deyoyed by
the constitution on the federal government a
duty to intervene for the suppression Of evil ex.
ampes in contempt OF State laws
After the custer OF Kellogg by Penn the app,ica.
tion OF the former to the President presented
merely a renewal OF The same precise question
which arose upon the first dspute-t.e e., was Kel
logg the duly elected Governor OF Louisanaf II
he was duly elected It was the Presidents duty to
reinstate hun otherwise not. II General Grant
still labored. under his original delusios on the
subject hts interference was consistent with con-
science, and, 80 far. morally just. But this would
not prove tina. he was Officially justidabie. A
President cannot wage war against lawfully
elected state government and secure an eXemp-
ton from censure by simply pleading as bar
to inquiry tnat his Intentions were pure. OH
cial duty involves responsibility for the
correctness OF all the onicers acts. The
censure, II any, due TO oticial interposltion
against the right, In such case as the present,
may depend on a great variety OF circumstances.
The degree OF attention given by the oticer TO the
inquiry IA hand his apparent motives and any
difficulty or doubt attending the question In
VOWED. might serve to nculpate him, e1tenuate
his fault, or wholly TO excuse 1t. The view taken
oy the President on Keogg's first application
could furnish no reason for similar course on the
second. However his original decision might con-
troll others, II was in no degree obligatory upon
himself Individual consistency In Official opinion
or action. is not to be main tanned at the expense
OF recttude and justice. The pride OF an execu.
tive chief might stimulate him to desire such
power The servility whcn would accord 1t was
prevalent in degenerate Rome when that so called
Republic was tottering TO It's fall under the
despotism OF the Caesars. We must hope that Is
has not yet become general here. Those who
condemn the Presidents original interference in
Keilogg's favor have even more reason for con.
demning his recent interposition. 1t is, at least,
equally censurable. Having had more time and
opportunity to ascertain facts aud to consider the
question his last act must be regarded as, If pos
sbe, less excusable than the first.
The desire that Kellogg may resign and submit
to fair election Is amiable; but surely no one
can seriously entertain hope to that effect.
There seems, indeed, some reason to ex.
pect that so many other state officials
may resign as to reduce the personnel
OF the Kellogg government to one solitary per-
son-t. e., the Governor himself: and it has been
suggested that in such an event the President
would have no power to supply the necessary
corps OF officials. He would, indeed, have no right
to supply them; but, in fact and without right,
they could be supplied by Kellogg The President
would then possess the same constitutional power
to recognize by his mere sic rOlO and thus prac-
ticaly to validate that maAe.up government
which he has already twice exercised to enthrone
the usurper. The only hope can perceive for
Louisiana is that the popular will OF the country,
speaking through It's efficient organ, the indie.
pendent press may prevail upon the President TO
reconsider his course. Removing the impression
that he Is without power to correct his own MIS-
takes Is the first essenta! step to that desirable
end.
am, dear sir, with great respect, your obedient
servant CH. O'CONOR