New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-09-28
OUR EQUINOCTIAL ROWS.

pathlza with the natural atmosphere, and
just when poor Indianola is blown into
fragments, the blatant orators and organs
of political discomfort perform the same
kind service to the commercial interests
of New Orleans.
1t seems we still inherit the Partisan
idea that no act of government is binding
unless it meets the approval OF tie politi.
cal clubs and indictments, and SO the acts
of our public bodies are submitted for
review to the White League central CON-
mittee with right of appeal to people in
mass meeting assembled. The Board OF
Health, endeavoring to protect the good
name and good health of the city, have
used a quasi disinfectaut, considered by
many who have had the yellow fever as
unsavory. A representation OF the opin-
ions of those who do not believe in this
disinfectant was very proper, but the dis
content went far beyond this. A meeting
Of obviously less than the whole people OF
the State denounced the use of this
particular purifier, and added this resolu.
ton
| Unauthorized to expect Justice from the
| Board of Health we affirm here our d.. t r
| mioation TO put au end to its despOtism by
resorting to all means capable OF crushin Z
| tyranny.
Here is al undisguised intention to de-
feat an act OF the lawful authorities By
violence if threats prove insufficient.
There comes next the proclamation OF
those who call meeting to condemn and
reverse the action Of the School Board.
In this proclamation it is said that
The meeting is called in view OF the ur-
| Just and improper composition of said
| board and Its notorious lncapaclry im-
| morality and partisanship. and in order to
enable the people to express in fitting terms
their disapprobation OF said board, to re-
monstrate against its perpetuation, and to
demand its resignation.
1t would seem strange that in a country
protesting to be governed by the forms of
law, right should be affirmed to exist in
a meeting of part of the people of city
to demand the dissolution of board con-
stituted by the authorities of the whole
State
We find in an intense organ of "the au-
tumnal outbreaks and equinoctial rows
this argument in justification Of club law:
Laws contrary to the spirit of the State
for which they are made lack a very essen
tial element, and when made without the
consent OF the people, without their con
currence, or without their participation by
their lawfully chosen representatives, they
are void and Of no binding effect. Officers
who shelter themselves under the forms of
laws which are revolving % the people and
which have never had their assent are in
the highest degree criminal, and il their
aggressions and plumber can not be pun.
ished in their own tribunals they are fit
subjects for popular denuncation. When
such men provoke forcible resistance they
and they alone are responsible for all the
trouble that may result. A tyrant is the
worst of cuiprlts. the worst of law break
ers. because he violates the grea. turda-
mental law of liberty.
The school laws by which this CITY il CD.
pressed were made without the consent of
the people, contrary to their well known
wishes. by pretended Legislature, which
had no right in the premises, and those
pretended laws are executed by men who
do not, in any respect, represent the masses
of our citizens.
Who is to judge whether q law is ICON
trary to the spirit of the State?' Is it the
club of outsiders, or is it a mob of revo-
lutionary indictments? Who can say that
law is ''void and Of no binding effect"
SO long as the tribunals do not suspend,
nor the Legislature repeal such laws?
"Officers who shelter themselves under
the forms of laws which are revolving to
the people" are criminals, and subject
to popular denunciation. Is, then, the
civil sheriff of New Orleans, or the clerk
of any court in tie city, liable to these
terrible consequences, il the one issues q
process and the other serves it?
If the school laws were made "without
the consent of the people, by pretended
Legislature, which had no right in the
premises, pray how is any act of an in
competent body obligatory? By what au-
thority did Mayor Witt and his COL
leagues hold Office under commission from
acting Governor Pinchback? Why did
their corporate successors accept commits
sions under the same laws? How comes it
that the Representatives of Louisiana in
the next Congress hold credentials from
"usurpation," and above all, why is
the existence of that "usurpation, and
the authority of these nullified laws ad-
mitted by contest before Congress for
authority under them?
We suffer greatly under this hopper.
grass logic which assuming assertion as
truth skips at once to denunciation as the
decree of justice. Why predicate ety.
ranny" Of law or administration which
exists by form of law and subject to the
construction and correction of law? Has
it ever been held outside of New Orleans
that the contestant for an office was right
and the incumbent ipso .facto wrong?
Has it ever been supposed under repub-
lican form of government that because
The contestant denounces the incumbent
as tyrant he has, therefore, right to
evict or destroy him and occupy his
placer This is exactly what this govern
ment was made to prevent. 1t was in
tended to substitute for assassination and
refusal to obey the government, tribunal
to which questions of disputed authority
L