The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-02-05
THE ORGANIC LAW.

i Let me say in conclusion : ''Stand by the
Constitution Of the whole country - ["That's
right, Andy stand by the Constitution,
both State and Federal, maintaining the Fed
eral Government in the exercise of all the
powers that have been delegated to it, but NO
further mo further. 1t is all for want of a
lack Of observance of the Constitution that
brought about. The time has come when we
must return to first principles, or the Govern
ment, State and Federal, will be controlled by
rings and cliqnes. Let the people govern
let Us cease to be partisans. This Govern
ment was made for the people, and not the
people for the Government. But how is it
now? Why, the Government is running the
people instead ofthe people running the Gov
eminent. Let us now as a people return to
an o -servance of the organic law
So said Andrew johnson in the course of
his brief rema ks at Nashville in answer to
the congratulations OF his friends. The
advice is worthy of veteran legislator of
enlarged experience. His invocation to the
people to 'sreturn to an observance of the
organic law" contains the whole programme
of the tremendous political contest that is to
end in November, 1876 The American peo-
pie having gone astray must again learn to
follow the guiding pillar of cloud and fire.
The Constitution, forgotten and despised,
must be brought from the corners where it
has lain for many years and again be hung
upon the walls of the temples of the law.
The people of each of the States must resur- |
vey their respective patrimonies, tramp!e
down the weeds and brambles that have
grown over and hidden their old corner
stones, get out their old parchments by which
their rights were willed to them through their
overhaul the deeds, bonds and tes-
'aments by which they have and hold their
political rights as free-born men, and make
III needlul preparations to quiet themselves
n their sacred titles. The American people
lave gone astray. They have wondered from
he ancient and beaten path. They have for
,otten to read the warnings of their fathers.
They have followed false guides and fallen
nto grievous trouble.
The first thing to do is to go back to the ,
'onstitution-back to the organic law and ,
ven beyond it, to the principles and reason s
n which it was founded. They must dis {
buse their minds and memories of all they
ave heard about the necessity of a strong 7
entral government. They must repudiate +
very act by which their agents, whether .
glslative or executive, have exceeded their =
athorlty and invaded the reserved rights of
le States or of the people. They must re- "
IKE and send to the background those un- L
lthful agents who have assumed to them q
Ives the function Of judging of the extent p
Id AZURE of their own powers-who have. Is
their own accord and without authority, u
llarged the scope of their agency, and who g,
rogated the power which belongs to their il
incipals, their constituents and their mas
rs-the people. The people must be re- r,
lnded that they rule, that they own the y;
untry, that they are the masters, and that d.
cir legislators judges, governors, cabinets, cl
esidents, generals soldiers, ministers and al
nsuls are all their servants merely, desti- ~
to Of any rightful power except what they M
le people, have seen fit to confer for certain Nc
l-defined purposes. They must study the w
'rganic law and therein learn what was
en- to their governments and what was re-
we'd to themselves. Affairs have gone very o,c
wrong in the past few years, and now the Oh
'ple are about to call their servants to a
koning. These servants have violated the VI
damental law, and by that law the people Br
l. judge them and condemn them to retire. s
Mt and obscurity. Ma
'ut the people must prepare for this day of -. 7
koning and retribution by learning the at
rmity Of the crimes which have been Sec
united against the American complex but att
It equitable system of government The J
failures to adhere to the traditional and ski
My prescribed distribution of governing L
'ers and functions have endangered the
liking down Of the Constitution and the
OF the political liberties of the States. 1t
me for the patriots of all sections from
Aroostook to the Rio Grande, from Cape - -
to the Golden Gate to rally in defense of p M.
organic law of the Republic. nj
A BIG FISH.