Los Angeles daily herald., 1875-04-01
Letter from An Old Democrat.

EDITOR TER AID: As there is considerable
discussion going on in the journals of the
country in regard TO the probability of Presi-
dent Grants third term, l don't think II will
require much of prophet to decide that
question in the affirmative. The reasons for
such conclusion are very numerous, and
one is that the American people will not toll
crate free discussion of the causes which
have brought our country to its present de-
plorable condition; nor will the journals OF
the country open their columns to such dis
cussions, because this would open the ques-
ton as to the causes of the late deplorable
strife between the Northern and Southern
States. The North sits In Judgment on her
own acts and decides that they were in the
right. The North also sits in judgment upon
the acts Of the South and decides that they
were In the wrong; and because they have so
decided, the Administration has concluded
that the South has no Constitutional rights
that the Government is bound to respect and
they have not only concluded that the South
ern States have no Constitutional rights, but
they have concluded that the Democrats of
the country have no such rights. Conse-
quently we see in Texas Jack Hamilton was
majority, he being very "loyal" man; but a
favorite Of Andy johnson did not please
Grant, and there was enough Hamilton votes
thrown out to eject pevis. who was Grants
favorite; and Grants bayonets sustained Da-
Wis in the GubernatOrial chair. And In Lou
istana we see the same things enacted, and
enough votes thrOwn out In every election to
sustain Grants favorites in Office. The
American people acquiesee IN these proceed
ings and when the election for President in
1873 takes placs, the same election laws will
govern the North as now govern the South:
and If Grant is in The minority they will
throw out democratic States enough to con-
tlnue him in Office. And what will the people
do? The Republicans viii uphold am: the
courts are creatures Of his own and will up
hold him; and If he has right tv do 1t in tho
sta'e OF Louisiana, he has a right TO do 1t In
New YORK, Ponnsylvania or any other State
sovereignty Of their States This would be
strange proceeding indeed. The late war was
for the purpose OF destroying the sovereignty
OF the States, and when General Lee surren-
dered, that sealed the doom of the American
Republic His surrender vas surrender OF
the sovereignty of the States; 1t was a surren-
der OF the right Of State to defend itself
Government. Well, II the Southern States
have no longera right to defend themselves,
II Grant sends an army in the North to DIS
solve their legislatures, can they claim the
to deprive the Southern States of such q
rightY' After having admitted the State of
Georgia INTO the Union in order to have her
threw out her electoral vote for President
and when they throw out three or four Demo-
cratic States on the ground of fraud, intimi-
to think what they have been doing. But.
my poor countrymen, the chains are around
you and they are locked. Many nation has
been In the same pred Icament we are in, and
many nation has lost their liberties years
before they knew it; and If the American
people desire to know whether they have lost
then Liberties or not, let them attempt TO sx-
ercise any former Constitutional right, con-
trary to wishes Of the Federal head and they
will soon find out. In the Territory of Utah
soldier was committed to prison for some vio-
lation OF the civil aw; he was tried by the
court and sentenced by the court The officer
commanding the Federal troops sent file of
soldiers, who broke down the Jail and releas-
ed the prisoner The American people acqul-
esced in that outrage upon the civil authority
because 1t was in Utah The overthrowers OF
our Government are very careful TO set such
precedents in the Southern States and in
the people will prevent them from condemn
Ing the act; but ii they are Justified In doing |
such things In Utah. they are also Justifiable
In doing the same things in any
States have no longer any right to use
force against the force OF the Federal Govern
ment, ofcourse our Republic is destroyed and
our Government is u despotsm, and who can
prevent Grant from retaining his Office for
life? He suspends the habeas corpus in five
counties In South Carolina, and the people
sustain him, and they would sustain him il
he would suspend 1t in the whole State, and
ifthey sustain him In suspendng the habeas
corpus In the State of South Carolina they
will sustain him II he suspends it.in any
Northern States, and if he can do such things
IL Is difficult matter to decide where his au-
thorlty ends or in what our Constitutional
liberties consist We think we are safe In
saying that Grant will he his own successor
not only for Il third term, but fourth term
and a fifth one too If he desires it.
AN OLD DEMQCRAT.
y