The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-02-11

now boldly usurped the great interest and
prerogative of the people" If the Kellogg
Government is not the lawful government O.
the State, how can these Conservative mem
bers, sworn to support the State Constitution
enter into an agreement that the General AS
sembly shall not disturb that government,
and will henceforth accord to that so-called
Governor all necessary and legitimate support
in maintaining the laws?
If Kellogg deserves impeachment how can
! these Conservatives, sworn to faithfully per-
| form their duties, bind themselves not to i'm
peach him? Compromising felonies is not
regarded by the law with much liberation,
but how does the law look upon this COM
pounding of usurpation and treason to the
State, without even the palliation of restitu-
ton Certainly such course, in the words
of the mass meeting, ''would be to condone
an unparalleled wrong, and to acuqiesce in
arbitrary, illegal and oppressive acts, whereby
constitutional liberty has been imperiled."
The Conservative members Of the Louisiana
Legislature who have been made prominent
by having been expelled by Gen. De Tro-
brands bayonets or deprived of their seats
by the fraudulent action Of the Returning
Board. are no doubt worthy gentlemen, with
very sound politics and very good Intentions
but they seem inclined to the erroneous
opinion that the country is extremely anxious
to see them individually occupying seats in
the Legislature. The generous sentiment
that has been awakened in the breasts of
the people of the United States by the
outrage perpetrated at New Orleans on
January 4th would be panied at any one of
these gentlemen being deprived of his rights
and the opportunity for an honorable public
career but the outrage aroused more
powerful sentiment of indignation which
quite ignores personal considerations, and
even merges the names of the Conservative
members into that Of the State of Louisiana.
Conservative Representative marching out
at the point Of the bayonet was only passing |
spectacle; the lasting picture is that of De |
Trobriand with bayonet at the throat of |
sovereign State
The Louisiana outrage cannot be COM
promised The Federal Government has
overstepped the limits of its power and has
invaded the domain of another
power that, within its sphere of action, has all
the attributes of sovereignty. Reparation is
all that can be sought and all that can be
given So far as the dignity of the Legisla-
.ure is to be indicated against the usurpa-
ions and wrong of the Executive of the
State in introducing a foreign power for his
OWN purposes, that is matter for the Legis-
allure to determine for itself. So far as the
rights OF members are concerned, as against
he Returning Board, that is matter for de-
under the State laws
This view of the situation may not lead to {
he most expeditions settlement of pending '
difficulties, personal or public, but this is the
Jew which the people of the United States |
lad in their minds when they uttered their 5
rotests last month. 1t would be just as we'll
or Conservatives who are assuming the pow
r to negotiate away the rights of Louisiana
nd the misdemeanors of Kellogg, to inform
themselves OF the real views of the people on
he subject of their troubles before they pro-
eed further. They may find that public
pinion no more approves their usurpations
power than it did that of General Grant and
heridan and Beforehand.