The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-01-24
SHERIDAN AND HIS PERIL.

Gen. Sheridan seems to think this federacy Of
States great nation, in which, with soldiers under
Grants orcers, he can march from end to end
making peace through war at discretion, or in
| other words, conquering peace wherever and
whenever he thinks proper.
LET Us have peace" still thunders among our
hills and across our valleys. It may once have
sounded hortatiye or predatory, but it is i'm
| perative and consonant with Stewards noted
phrase IF they don't keep the peace, we will
keep it for them!"
sheridan himself is now in the imperative
| mood, and thinks with Gen. Schofeld, Secre-
| tary Of War under Johnson, that "the army is
| the safety Of the republic"
As have said for years, the times and the pub
lie mind do not favor reasoning these subjects,
or even an exhibition Of the faith of our fathers
| but in the way OF a mild protest I beg leave to
| show ,cho Steriddn's real masters are, and the
Standing orders lie is not oay bound, bat srorn to
obey.
| There are lines of jurisdiction he has taken
oath to observe, and Grant can no more justify
him in dis, egarding them than he can for steal
| ing; Tor the oath and responsibility to man, and
| to the al-judging God, are personal.
And as she oath is to use the powers delegated,
and not to use those not delegated, Sheridan ls
actually sworn to disobey Grant If the latter
shall order what the former thinks contrary to
| the aforesaid standing orders" or 'sthe su-
preme law Of the land" Nay more, if Sheridan
violate private right in obedience to Grant, he is
IL
| il subject to punishment He will find all this
out, gradually, il institutional liberty survives. l
! pressed these views on Governor Wells when
Sheridan extruded him from the Governorship
Of Louisiana AID pressed him to act upon them.
| As to this question, simply show by short
| quotations, that the fathers unanimously thought
the people Of the United STATES consisted Of self
governing commonwealths, self-upited, abso-
lutely sovereign, and endowed with full indi-
| vidual rights of self-d"fense, even against the
FA0erQl EOVernmAnt a n
! GEN. WASHINGTON considered the States, undsr
the present Constitution, as united by 'com-
pact or treaty." and the Union to be 'the new
confederacy."
ton OF States, or confederacy."
JOHN JAY said the system is q "Union OF
States
JAMES MADISON said the States are x
distinct and independent sovereigns" in the
Union.
JAMES WILSON, JOHN DICKINSON ard Dr.
FRANKLIN are record to the effect, that in the
language of the first named, the Union is a ''con-
federacy," and the members "thirteen indepen-
dent sovereigniies."
ROGER SHERMAN, TRENCH COKE and GoUvER-
NEUR MORRIS said-in the language of one Of
them-"the Government is instituted by num-
Der of sovereign States" to ''secure their rights"
CHANCELLOR PENDLRToN, JOHN MARSHALL and
OLIVER ELLSWORTH expressly recognized the
States in this Union as "the sovereign power -
to use the phrase of Marshall.
And, finally, Gov. BowDo1N. SAMUEL ADAns,
FISHER AMEs, THEopHILus Parsons, GEoRGE
CABOT, CHRISTOPHER GORE, and others OF the
best minds OF Massachusetts, expressed these
views repeatedly in the Massachusetts ratifying
convention.
It must be stated, however, that numerous
writer's nowadays. 6. Draper, Spocner, Par
ksr, Skinner ct als.-deny the above truths !; but,
as they are matters Of fact and his tory, DENIAL is
only untrutn.
1 trust that with the above lights Gen. Sheri-
dan can see that his real and absolute masters
are s'the people of the united Tor associated)
states"-ds organised and as appreciated to act.
2. The STANDING ORDERS OF HIS sovERsIGNs.-
The Constitution, Art. 4, sect. 1, ] says: The
united STATES mot the GOVERNMENT shall guar
a'atee to ere,y STATE Ii. e., Commonwealth or Re-
hc0ua form Of gore71'mem, H. e., the status, or be-
ing OF q Republic, or absolutely self-goyerning
people:] and shall protect each Of tte,n against H.
tGSi0n. tChancelor Pendleton said this system
course to protect each and all and on application
O the Legislature q tie L.recutice (Crse,. lie
Legislature cannot be cctsreneD agaits. domestic
c;0tence."
Now, the above is precisely what Sheridan
must stand on 1t is the 'suprema law" of his
sovereigns, the people, no matter whether they
be a nation or commonwealth in league.
1t might sometimes be quite desirable Tor
Mayor Leeds to send policeman to execute
orders in Shreveport or Houston: or for Tennes.
recently did do); or for .heridan to kick Wells
out Of the Governors chair; or assume command
OF Chicago 1t a fire; or supersede Won Moitke in
the command Of the Prussin army; or dispense
State Legisla ure; or proclaim men bandits and
hang them with or without trial (a,l of which can
be done as well without as with Grants au
thority); but sovereign craftsmanship generally
marks Jurisdictions and delegates authorities be-
fore sheridans arrive. and it is disturbing, to say
the least, to have these superscde or set aside
the chosen and constituted authorities whenever
they choose.
But will conclude this article with the re-
mark that Gen. Sheridan should ponder much on
the above standing orders, and remember that
every act OF his is = sworn act and that his only
alternative is to do what the above extract se.
quires, and nothing more, or to stand before the
world, and finally before God, black with per-
jury.
Twill next more precisely define the standing
orders his sovereigns mads him swear to obey;
and then show their right Of se!f-preserration to
be complete. He should know his duty and his
peril. B. J. S.
Jennie June saws it is now no longer a secret