The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-01-12
= voice sron Massachusetts.

a Voice from Massachusetts,.
AsIsst we have from the leading Republic
ran paper in Massachusetis--the Boston
DAILY Adcersiser-a fair, judicious, and con-
s,itutional view CT the wrongs OF Louisiana
and the power Of the Federal Government
in he premises. We read this candid ana
s,aissmanl;ke article from the Daily Adoer-
.;ser with ipfiai,e pleasure, aud say, very
SINCERELY. that its appearance Is one OF the
mos. cheering Signs of the day.
..Wbat is IL TO u>!" inquiries the Adcer
,jser. and il answers its own inquiry. The
eist Of the answer is that the treatment OF
Louisiana nay be with equal authority meted
ont to any of the other States. This IS the
great point to be impressed upon every
State. They may be wanting in fealty OF
oniniou and of action to the Constitution,
but assuredIy they should not be traitors to
themselves 10 regarding with indifference
that tyranny over sister State which may
be exercised oter them all at the will and
pleasure of The Federal Executive.
The Advertiser evidently places the duty
OF the S ates on higher grounds than mere
selfprotec,on. That paper sees the gross
outrage upon the Constitution committed by
General GRANT and bis officers, but 1t strikes
a sensitive cord when 1t tells the States that
each OF them may share the fate Of Louisiana
by the same authority whenever it may be
deeuiAd proper by the Federal power.
The Advertisers article Is rs sound as any
UTrue Republican" could desire. We meaD
by the term True Republican any man
who understands the theory Of our fedora
tive system and would confne the Central
Government to its constitutional authority
and leave to the States, under the Constitu-
ton, the administration Of their own affairs
We earnestly commend what it says. We
cannot but hope that the views OF so promi-
pcnt and il fluential journal, printed in 50
famous locality, may have great weight at
the North. May we not now hope that Mas.
sachu:etts will have her say on the subjcctI
WHAT IS IT TO Us?
The invasion Of State Legislature by
armed forces of the National Government is
the fact about which the people of this coun.
try are thinking earnestly. 1t Is not to be
coufouuded with the long array Of Iawless
acts charged by angry partsnus upon one
another. The riotingat Vicksburg. the MUIR
dels at Coushatta, fraudulently voting in dis
tart parishes, 1.-THE action OF the returning
board, are separately part of the history Of
the COZ flct now going on, and may we'll
confuse the most just and candid minds. But
The breaking up of Legislature while in the
process Of perfecting its organization by a
body of Federal troops taking upon itself the
right to judge of its returns Of members, and
executing lis judgment at the point Of the
bavonet, that is an act Of high.handed ty.
ranny.
The responsibility for this act has been
boldly assumed by The Administration. Why
it has been done is very clearly understood
by all who have kept informed of the events
which led to IT, But no official explanation
has been given, and the friends Of the AID.
ministratioD, by their action in the Senate,
have thus far successfully prevented any
such explanation from being asked for. The
public mus. theI efore, form its opinions
upon the only evidence attaiuable-thc briet
dispatches passing to and fro, the helpless
protests Of citizens, and the summing up
given by the newsgatherers from day to day.
This is unsatisfactory evidence in matter
of such serious import; but there In nothing
else to proceed upon: and our lawmakers
in Washington seem to have determined that
there shall be no authentic publication until
it can be Offset by Il catalogue OF lawless acts
committed by other persons and at other
times and places.
But all this does not blind the judgment
or stay the thinking Of that portion Of the
country which is interested above all other
l. .,,.t s., fhn In ~,
every section of the Union. II the soldiery
may be employed to reinforce minority
marty in Louisiana, how long will 1t be, they
are asking themselves, before the same means
may be found useful 10 Missouri, in Virginia,
in New York, or in Massachusetts? Aud
there are mlny more, Tot in the habit OF
Withholding their opinions tilt they them
selves bave felt the sting Of injustice, who
see that the helpless condition Of Louisiana
calls now for the expression OF their sympa-
thy for her, and OF their demand that this
great wrong shall be redreSSed.
Fer years the great State Of Louisiana,
whose people have as good right to be left
alone 10 manage their own affairs as the pee
pie of Massachusetts,, has BEEN ruled not 10y
its own citizens, but by two carpet-baggerS
holding Federal office, and having the adreit.
ness to enlist oil the power Of the Govern
ment upon their side in the inevitable cOnfu-
sion which they provoked. Whenever the
elections have not been carried in their favor
they have oyelthrown the returns by some
jugglery like Judge Durcl's midnight order
or the manipuations Of returning board
aud when that has no. succeeded, orders from
Washington have reinforced them, and the
people have bad no alternative but to protest
and bide their time
Under such state Of things it Is not be-
coming to be silent. This is the tme when
the voice Of the Republican States should be