The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-01-17
NON.INTERFERENCE.
[St. Louis Times.1


The doctrine of non-interference nv tbe
general government in the affairs of ths
States has been a recognized principle of fine
Democratic party ever since it has had an
organized existence The absolute SOW,
ereignty of the States in their domestic con.
Germs has been recognized by the Federal
Government until the advent Of the Republi-
can party. The abuses which have grown out
of the opposite principle were first illustrated
in reconstruction, and reached their most
odious elimination in Louisiana politics.
The recent events in Louisiana afford the
strongest possible argument in favor of the
dual but distinct sovereignty of the National
and State Governments. Such q conflict of
jurisdiction as has been exercised in Louisi-
| ana, if arising from any inherent weakness of
government, would in itself display the utter
falsity of our republican system. Fortunate
ly, however, for free government, it springs
from no constitutional weakness, but from
persistent usurpation, which is the counter
part of rebellion.
The State of Louisiana, by all the recog-
nized theories of republican government, is
political community in itself, possessing all
sovereign attributes and powers, which any
body of people could possibly exercise, and
only relatively attached to the General Govern
ment so far as that power exists to exercise an
agency for national functions. The State
owes to the grace of the General Government
no power or right that it exercises. The
Government did not create it. On the con-
trary, it is self-creative. The General Gov
eminent stands to the State in the capacity
that representative in Congress does to his
constituents. It is the servant, not the mas
ter of the States
The people, as generic expression cover
ing the sovereignty of the States, have the
sole and exclusive right of forming and con-
trolling their domestic affairs. The only way
in which the General Government can under
any circumstances become identified with the
local contests is through the medium pointed
ont by the Constitution, and only in the spe-
cifc way that it recites.
General Government and its usurpations of
power in ignoring the limitations of the Con-
produce as legitimate fruits the
distresses and disasters which are now cul-
minating in Louisiana politics. It ignores
The right Of the people of the State to form
local governments, except in accordance with
an act of Congress, and the reconstruction
laws assert the prerogatives of the General
Government to be above the sovereignty of
he people.
If these doctrines are allowed to prevail,
The General Government can not only destroy
State government as it was done in Louisiana,
put also destroy States This theory denies
hat there are any governmental rights in
lerent in States, or the people Of the States,
out that such rights are conceded by Con- J.
,ress. Congress defines the franchise in
everal States, and determines who shall ex-
rcise it. In determining who shall be voters,
points out what kind Of laws they shall
make, and whom they shall elect to Office
If these conditions are not complied with,
holds over their heads in terrorem the abo-
ition Of the State governments and the es-
ablishment over the people of a territorial
II provisional government deriving its pow
rs and exercising control by authority of
congress and the Executive
1t is asked can the people of the North
ford to say at this juncture, to the people of
ne South, "ths Government shall not med
lie with anything you do" The question
lore properly framed would read, lean we
ford to let the Government destroy the
earest privileges and rights of freemen in
le South knowing as We do that it will con-
itute precedent for the destruction of our
vn?"
That is the question which not only the
eople OF the North, but of the entire country
i'll be called upon to reply to.