The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-08-29
A VOICE FROM THE NORTHWEST.


The following letter from a city in far of
Iowa shows how liberal may be the sentiments
of one who is true American in feeling, anG
how orthodox may be the ideas OF one whit
has made himself acquainted with the funda
mental laws of his country
1t is an illustration of the tendency to unity
in essentials among those who 60 to the
fountain head for their knowledge, and never
lose sight of guiding principles. We may
have chosen other forms of expression fol
ideas substantially similar but the views and
opinions of the writer will be accredited tc
none other than lover of political liberty
and student of the principles, Constitution
and laws by which it is sought to be estab.
lished.
The misfortunes of this republic, so far as
they flow from il-government are and have
been chiefly the results of ignoring the true
relations between the States and that dynas-
ty of which the States are severally the COM
ponent parts. Political reform, therefore,
must consist in a return to true principles
and true relations, and to reassertion of
truths which our people have ceased to hold
as vital Whether we call these rights of
States or the right to home or municipal gov
eminent, the basis of these rights is the same
in fact and in theory. Democrats who are
familiar with constitutional history agree in
their conclusions, because the dominant
principle accepted by all appears to all
in much the same light. No Democratic Con-
gress could countenance or tolerate Federal
interference in the home affairs of State,
nor otherwise drift toward the vortex of that
centralism which threatens the liberties of
States and of the people.
Fractions of the party may be drawn off on
partial or transitory issues, but before any
great schism is effected their doctrine is GER
tain to be tried by the greater maxims of con-
stitutio1al law, and condemned when found
wrong.
Editor New Orleans Bulletin
Str-For the past six months have been
a constant reader Of the BULLETIN the first
Southern journal have ever had the privil-
eye OF perusing regularly. l have also read
the Chicago Inter- Ocean, the prominent Grant
organ of the Northwest, with other Radical
papers, contrasting the sentiments and posi-
tons OF the different sections, which to me
has been a source of interest as well as
The basis on which Our government is
admits of no distinction, and if |
The citizens of the Southern States are such !
Of the United States, they are so on terms of
equality, and have the right of private judy
ment, the freedom of thought, with the free
1om OF speech to express their thoughts, and
ire entitled to the respect due to all those
Who possess the claims of citizenship. But
find the Radical papers of the North charg-
ng the more prominent citizens of the South
With being criminals, unrepentent rebels
lgsinst the government who should not be
to participate in managing the
fairs Of the nation II this be SO, they
hould not have been permitted to come back
nto the Union, much less forced back BY
means of war and Carnage
On the contrary, learn through the Bull
ETIN that the South does not plead guilty to
he Radical charge of the North, but pleads
and honor most those who
ave done most and been the bravest in the ]
Lost Cause which, for humanity's sake,
hey were compelled to yield. For this
onor them. If from their standpoint they
ould not contend for the righteousness OF
1eir cause and maintain their own self
espect they certainly would not be entitled
, the respect of Others.
But, for myself, / never could see where
lere was any rebellion. | understand our
overnment to be vested in the hands of the
3ope. What we call the National Govern
ent, to be the servants or agents of the
eople, with limited powers, derived from the !
tates, each State being component part of
le governing poloer, not a subject of the gov
nment. A State, therefore, In Withdrawing
ON the United States government did not
bel against the government, but declined to
further in gorer1,ing. or being r.
1t of the government But the first prin-
Piles of our national organization are almost
ltirely lost sight of by the present gen. s,
alton. They only see in their minds eye VI
nsolidated central power, absolute, to which al
ey are only subjects. fe
To stop this elimination and recrimination |
tween the North and South and restore peace u
d harmony to the country, we must not ~
ly go back to first principles, but all the
owing causes of the great contest must be
scussed until fully comprehended. al
There Is no safety for American liberty but T
preserving all the municipal regulations in 50
3 hands OF the people, which can only be e.
ne by maintaining State rights through II
ate governments. am glad to see you de- sc
lding not only your integrity, but your prin- P
lies. As far as theseare concerend you must "a
,omplish with the pen what you failed to ~
with the sword. S. STOWE. "
Floyd, Iowa, Aug. "a, 1875. pr