The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1874-10-02
oREaoNIAN,s nouRnoNrsnr.

OREGONIAN'S BoURBONIsM.
In the Oregonian a few days ago
! the editor indulged in a few playful
remarks concerning the tenderness
with which the Governor, in his mes.
sage, handled the late litigant act,
and the "rigidity Of his spinal col
urnn," as shown in his remarks upon
"the Portland police bill, and quotes
from the Message in refert nee to the
latter as follows:
''To meet an evident necessity, four
yearsago, law passed by the Legisla.
ture recognizing the Police Depart
ment Of the city of Portland.
This law is in contravention of the
general principles of local self-gov-
ernment, and should be changed as
soon as practicable"
After giving us the foregoing quo
tation from the Message, the Oregon
ian editor breaks forth with the fol-
lowing remarks, no doubt rubbing
his hands with gleoful joy at the
thought that Coy. Growers "Bour-
bonism" was about to fail him, he
says: ."Why, that is one Of the very
arguments most used by Republican
orators and newspapers to justify the
Reconstruction policy" The Port
land police law is ''in contravention
of the general principles of local
self-government," but it is to be JUS
tilted on the plea "of evident necessi-
ty." "We would not impeach Gov.
Growers Bourbonism, but it looks
very much as if it were hanging on
the verge, and if he shall next en-
dorse the appointment Of provisional
Governors in the South no one need
be surprised" &c.
1t is true, as the Oregonian editor
says, that necessity was tho arguments
most used by Republican orators and
newspapers to justify the Reconstruc-
tion policy, but in all this there is a
a painful want on the part Of
Republican orators and news.
papers Of a proper apprehension
Of the the relations the States bear
to the federal government and the
relations the counties or Incorporated
cities bear to the States. The city
charter Of the city Of Portland was
granted by the State Legislature-it
was the creature of the Legislature,
what laws the Legislature had made
it could unmake, repeal, and such
rights or franchises rs the Legisla-
ture had thereby given it could take
away, without any violation of a fun
damental law. The best policy TO
pursue in any given case of the kind
is all the Legislature need inquire in
10. Not so, in the case of the So
called Reconstruction by Congress Of
The several State governments in the
south. The several States were not
the creatures Of Congress Il owed
none Of their rights or franchises
% Congress-, Congress had no }
lights to give State, possessed no
original powers, ON the contrary, all
he rights or power possessed by the =
Congress or any departments Of the
ederal government We're originally
odged in the several States, and by
hem delegated to the federal govern '
nent in the constitutional creature i,
# their own creation. Hence we {
ee no analogy in the case Of the !
'xercise Of Legislative authority by !
State over city, within the State, !
nd that Of Congressional authority !
yerthe governmental a State to abol- .
sh it, and substitute another in its !
tead. !
If the views herein expressed are, =
n the estimation Of tho 0regoniaa :
ditor, Bourbon Democracy" we !
most cheerfully accept it, and can !,
nd in the Governors Message moth '
ng to warrant well grounded fear G
hat he is drifting from his "Bour- ?
on moorings." q