The Republican journal., 1875-01-21


TIE law authorizing the United States SOL |
der t. 10 The bidding OF a state governor
VINO attempts. 10 decide VINO "re t. be t.lA
members OF :, legislature regularly e',n-
rcncd II Q ulaoe and ut the time tiX"a y
law. Il i, sain that ttoUble was threat, :
ci between the cortert,.ng parties in
Louisiana Suppose that had been 10,
bi; that - net the question.
Ina question IS. where is the law from
nbih t"e natiooal government, IN case If
threatened trcrDie ii state derives its
power to Invade . legislative body b,
ar.nra iotro ana 70 drive out persons seat
Ell is members ct state legislature hat
others NAV tsao their pieces? Wh6ie Is
tnc Law, / ask ? You wiil search the c0nSti-
tuition ana statutes il vain IL is my de}lo-
crate Judgment. cOnacient.ous}y f"Imed.
that the decd dove on the an Of January
in Louisiana constitutesa gross ana mani
fest violation OF the constitution and laws
We have an act before lis indicating
spirit in our government which either
ignores the constitution and laws, OF 50
interpret5 them that they cease to be the
safeguard Of the independence Of legisla-
ton, the rights and liberties OF the people,
and that spirit shows itself more alarm
ing still in the instrument the executive
has chosen t. carry out his will. No
American citizen can have read without
regret and equally profound apprehension
the recent dispatches Of Gen. Sheridan to
the Secretary Of War, in which he sag
gests that a numerous class Of citizens
should by wholesale be outlawed as ban
ditti by mere proclamation OF the Pres
idert, 10 be delivered over to q military
command for summary judgment Ly q
military commission,
No one respects Gen. Sheridan more
than do for his brilliant deeds upon the
field Of battle The nation he's delighted
in b0noring his name. and the nation
would sincerely deplore to see the hero
If Winchester and the charge at Five
Forks STAN his name by an attempt tC
o-erride laws and lead charge agans
the constitutional rights of his country
men. The policy be has proposed Is sc
appalling that every American cltlzei
who loves his liberty stands aghast st The
mere possibility Of the suggestion. 1t !:
anotaer illustration how great y man may
bQ as a soldier and how conspicuously I'M
able 10 understand what civil rights an(
constitution mean how glorious III fight
no for you, but how little tit to govern
YOU. and vet Gen. Sheridan Is not only
kent in Louisiana as the instrument OF th'
Executive will, but altel all that has hap
pened encouraged by the enHphatic APP
p~0val vi the Executive branch Of the liz
Ionai government.
/ eoniosa all these things have alarmed
me and Lot me alone. tor in all parts o
the country the press is giving Voice t
the same feeling.
What learn by private information
coavnces me that the press IS not eNag
geratng the alarm Of the people On al
sides we hear the question asked, i TIM
can be done in Louisiana, II such thing
be sanctioned by Congress, how long be
fore it will be done in Massachusetts ant
Ohio. How long before the constitution
Al rights Of all the states, the self govern
rnent OF all the people will be tramplet
under foot? How long before a genera
of the army may set IN the char you oc
cupy to decide contested elections IN ordel
10 make u majority in the Senate ant
before soldier will stalk into the House
OF National Representatives, and, point
ing to the Speakers mallet, say, "Iaki
away that baublo."
Wild and exaggerated as these appre
tensions may seem yet these are the feel
iDqs YOU will hear expressed Tnen the
voice OF the people penetrates to you, anc
/ would ask you, can you say what Is pos
sble and what not. Who is there among
Us who but three Years ago would have
expected to be called upon TO approve tn
most gross and uniustiiable usurpatlon
Judge Durrell, and the Presidents enforce
Dent of it as the lawful origin of stat'
government and who f You when per
hitting that to be done would have eX
peeted 10 sc the United STATES soldi@
march into a hall Of state Legislature Il
decide It's organization Permit that to
day and who OF you can tell me what w
shall be called upon, nay, forced to per
nit Tomorrow.