New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-08-20

Mississippi, because it was important 4
know upon what terms he proposed Il
obliterats the color line We therefore
republish an extract which shows thu
standpoint from which he views this sub
ject:
If any one thing is true, said he, the poe
pis of Mississippi have pledged Themselves
to sustain the three amendmenss to the
constitution, and have NO power or desire
to change them. They confer upon the
newly -enfranchised race the sacred rights
OF free men, aud their rigbts are our duties
Impaired by any act OF yours. your duties
by that came act are violated and the COB
stituti0n of your country is violated. The
speaker felt it his duty to ascend to this
high position on this subject. Any effort.
said he. looking to an Infringement of his
lighte. is frsught with disaster and burdens
and ruin to tti, people. The color line was
talked Of. He declared it would be ruinous
to ite victors if victory could be won that
way. II is not right 1t is not republican.
One OF the principles of democratic gov
eminent is that all parts of the body poiitic
shall contribute to its support AMI control
sert the exclusive management of coun-
try may have good government but can not
have liberty. 1t is tyranny unmixed and is
fraught with disaster. Woe be unto yeu if
yOu find yourselves confronted on such sui
cidal policy by the powers of . vindictive
government brought upon your defenseless
heads.
l. Here is the pledge given to acknovl-
edge the constitutional amendments.
2. Any effort to abridge The rights given
and guaranteed by the constitution is not
right.
This is sound doctrine. Every citizen
Of the United States is bound TO maintain
and obey the constitution as expounded
according to the terms of that instrument.
No one can rightfully accept the protec-
ton Of the government, and reserve to
himselfa right to violate or evade its laws.
Mr.. Lamar lays down principle which
indicates the whole theory, as it involves
the duration of this government We are
surprised to see mind SO clear qualify
this recognition of right and definition of
duty. He is subsequently reported as say
ing
That the freedom and enfranchisement Of
the colored men was fixed in the constitu-
ton. but that the responsibility of govern
ment should rest upon the hands that would
be most affected and are most capable.
Here the official qualification of prop
erty and intelligence is distinctly taught,
and the consequent exclusion Of many COL
ored people from any participation in the |
administration ofgovernmenti is inevitable.
MI. Lamar has, we may suppose, been
always . Democrat. This will prove the
often repeated assertion that these Demo- !
Gratis were always the advocates Of prop |
erty as against persons, or did not |
comprehend the true character |
hat they had assumed. With this in
consistency We regard the opinions and
ldyice Of MI. Lamar as just what our own
would have been. But MI. Lamar adds
o the admonitions Of justice some sug-
,estions of policy. He reminds the white
people of Mississippi that course of
prescription and persecution toward the
legroes must be followed by ''the powers
f vindictive government" brought upon
heir ''defenseless heads" We do not
now that a government called to enforce
Is own laws must, therefore, be vindictive;
ut we can see, however, that the people OF
ther sections, thinking tina { the white
eople Of Mississippi manifest their hos
lily to the Union by wreaking an impo-
mt vengeance upon the helpless blacks, |
Jay order the laws to be enforced in such
way as to put stop to this disturbance.
o one can complain Of the proposition,
That mercy We to others show, that
ercy show to us" The suggestion that
the white people Of Mississippi will not
t the black people live in the peaceful
'joymeut of rights which the people OF
le United States have given and guaran-
ed, they may be made to do SO, comes
roperly from Mr. Lamar, q Southern |
1t is not to be expected that the white
sople Of Mississippi will acknowledge
is doctrine. They will elect Mr.. Lamar
Congress, and continue the proscrip-
On and intimidation of the colored
'ople. A man will be INDUCED in any
ncy philanthropy, as in any theory upon
e increased temperature of the earth in
e ratio of the depth of the excavation,
divided he shall vote the Democratic
raight. Gas much lore as you please,
phew," said a French King, ''but no
atrimony." As much platonic afilia-
IN with Republican principles as you
ease, Mr.. Lamar, but do not commit
urself to any more permanent OF re-