The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1875-01-19

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outrage upon constitutions liberty. He
added that after what had occurred lin
Louisiana, we were not only confronted
with the possibility that free government
in the State of New York might be sub
yerted by the army, acting under orders
from the War Department, but we were
without guarantee that the President
might not, upon the election Of his sue;
cessor, attempt by the same instrument
to disperse even the Congress of the Uni
ted States, and to establish himself as
Dictator.
The Mayor read the following tele-
gram: M
+ Louisiana sends greeting to ght. Her
people will not be goaded into conflict
with United States troops. A committee
is preparing evidence to refute the SLAM
ders of Gen Sheridan. We rely upon
the moral support OF our sister States to
restore to us our right of self-govern
ment. JOHN MCENERr,
Governor of Louisiana.
LOUIS A. WlLrz, Speaker Of the House
Of presentatives: RI II
LOUISIANA AND SPAIN.
The venerable William Cullen BRYANT,
who was greeted with storm Of ap-
plause, was the first speaker. He sai0.;,
A few days since the intelligence was
brought US that the armies Of Spain, had
turned against the, Republic, had over.
thrown it, and placed Don Alfonso, the
son OF Isabella, on the throne, ejecting
the President, Serrano, who had fed to
France. We rel ,iced that we belonged
to a country. where such proceedings
were unknown, and where. the Govern
ment changed hands only in obedience to
the,will Of the people, peaceably express
ed at the polls. We were, however, al
most at the same moment astonished to
hear from New Orleans that Gen. Sheri-
dan, lately semitic New Orleans by the
President, had occupied the hall of the
Louisiana Legislature and purged it OF
the Conservative members, as they are
called, by thrusting them into the street.
My friends, such method Of changing
the government of State may do for
Spain, but it will not do for this country.
A few years since, while Isabella was yet
on the throne, Gen. O'Donnell, dissatis.
fed with her Ministry, sent his soldiers to
turn them out, and they did it. He re-
placed the obnoxious Cabinet with one ol
his own, and the Government went on in
new hands, We are in the habit of man
5aging. things differently here, add BY
Gods help, we shall continue to,do SO
hereafter. We have a Constitution. my
friends, and by that instrument the Presl,
dent has no right to intermeddle in the at
fairs of State, save in two cases, 6rst,to
protect tue State from invasion, and, sec
ondly, on application, of the Legislature
or the Executive, when the Legislature
cannot be convened, to protect the State
against domestic violence. s 5ar
What authority, ,fellowrci,izens,is there
in these provisions for the President tc
set himself up as judge of elections, ,ant
drag from the legislative chamber those
whom he chooses to regard as having ne
/ right to their seatsp He should havelef
4 this to the courts of law. He might al
we'll, if he should be candidate for thir(
term of the Presidency, send his minion'
to disperse the electoral colleges in thos'
States which shall refuse him their vote.
| How happens it that men educated L
the profession of arms at oar nationa
military school seem not to understand
what are the rights of the citizens unt
what the due limits OF the military pow
era I II Gen Sheridan, that daring sol
!. dier, but despiser of civil rights, had eithe
been properly trained or had not forgot
ten his training, he never would hav
obeyed the mandate which ordered hin
to New Orleans on that guilty errand.-
He would have said /: "l owe my educa
ton to this Republic; wss brought u
to be its soldier and servant, and not tn
yassal of the President"
A INDUSTRIOUS PRETENCE