New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-04-10

TAXING THE Law IN OUR OWN HANDS.

TAXING THB Law IN OUR OWN HANDS.
Our neighbor of the Bulletin will ex-
cuse us for reminding it that it is not
proper to give such advice as follows in
regard to Mexicae depredations in Texas
And if our government will not extend
proper protection TO its own citizens, these
lass should take affairs in their own hands,
ana mete out to these Mexican banditti
stern and rigorous justice, and, if need be,
toilow and punish them on their own soil.
1t is the duty of all citizens of repub-
lie to abide by the laws of the country
which they have pledged themselves to
support. To give to citizens of Maine,
wronged by public or private act of Can
adams, the right to take affairs in their
own bands, would be to deprive the
United States of the power to declare war
and place it in the position where it
might be compelled to make causeless
war or an unsatisfactory peace. 1t is the
highest duty of government to protect
its citizens-all of its citizens. It by no
means follows that, because some citizens
have been wronged, in their own opinion,
the whole American people should be
involved in foreign war, which might
have been avoided by redress
to those injured secured by cor
respondence between the peoples We
will give an instance. The property de-
rectly destroyed by Confederate cruisers
was estimated at twenty million dollars
No doubt Boston shipowner suffered
from the loss of ship, and cargo of tea,
as Texan could from the privation
OF stock. Suppose the Boston man
wronged, perhaps ruined, by this act of
war, should have said, MY government
gives me no immediate redress for this
wrong and loss, am assured the Eng
lishmen who built the Confederate cruis-
ers, and the English government, which
allowed them to quit port, are response
BILE, therefore, will take the affair into
my own hands, fit out privateer, and
capture value of English property equal
to that which 1 have lost" 1t certainly
would be national calamity to have a
war with England, if the consequence
should be only cotton blockade.
The Bulletin will, therefore, look again at
the principle of taking the redress of
private grievances into the hands of those
injured in their own estimation. The
TACT that Mexico is a feeble and friendly
power will by no means justify any as
'ault upon her integrity which might be
avoided or adjusted. It was the Roman
maxim to war with the powerful and share
with the weak. Do not let us reverse it.
Let our citizens abide with patience what
'oever wrong may, in their own opinion,
have been done them. The government
will no doubt do its duty in the premises.
But let them in no case assume to re-
lgess their own wrongs by violating
he laws of their country or the |
aw OF nations; that is, by levying ''private
var" upon the people of friendly ma
ion. 1t is delicate matter to refer to
he evils which have resulted from the
doption of the same doctrine of in
lividual redress against alleged injustice
# which we have had such memorable
in Louisiana. This is govern
nent of the people, by the people. Each
itizen who chooses to live under this
government is party to its obligations.
lie has agreed to be bound by its laws
nd to submit his differences to the
legislature and the courts. He has in
DING SO renowned his right to adjudi-
ate his own interests to obey law if it
e profitable to do so, and to resist or
wade the execution Of the law if it does
OF suit him to abide by it. This is
ort of pocket notification very handy
have along in case a man should have
an affair with justice" but it is very I'M
afe and wholly incompatible with the
leory of republican elective govern
tent. We must hope the press will re-
lew this doctrine and teach the duty of
7ery man to obey his own law, and the
lshonor of having pledged himself to
'ide the decision of his own government,
I'd then taken the law in his own hands
scause the award of his own authorities
,es not suit him. In the view which we, {
republican citizens, take of personal
'ligations we deem any combined resist !
ice to law as either thoughtless or dis
,norable act