New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-08-15
1 bRlfocKaffC pRE0EDEST ron PE

We find much condemnation on the
part Of Senator Eaton and Others - TO
the language employed by the President
| in his letter to Governor Chamberlain
with an especial -zemonatrane ~e0aanss
the detail of troops to secure on the call
Of Southern Governors the preservation
of order and the guarantee Of law in the
coming elections In reply to these OBJ
jections, wholly Democratic, We have
turned to the historical action of Demo-
cratic President upon similar condition
of affairs, and propose to show that Presi-
dent Pierce, like Abel. ssbeing dead yet
speaketh," and that his words are 80 APP
plicable to the Southern problem that we
wonder why President Grant has not
adopted and msde.his own, so admirable
precedent
The occasion upon which these memo
rable words were uttered was this. The
question of right to carry slaves into .
Territory was to be settled by the decis-
ion of the people of the Territory them
selves. Both the pro and auti-slavery
parties had sent men into the Kansas
Nebraska Territory, and each party was
charged with the use of revolutionary
means to effect their purpose. During
January, 1856, the condition Of Affairs
had assumed $50 frightful mien" that
President Pierce made it the subject Of q
special message to Congress. he thus al.
ludes to the causes of bis action in regard
to Kansas:
The organization of Kansas was long de.
layed, and has been attended with serious
difficulties and endorsements. partly the
consequence Of local maladministration,
and partly ct the upjustldsble interference
of the inhabitants of some Of the States
foreign BY reeidence interest and rights
to the territories. The Governor (Reeder,
Freesoiler) himself SGT IN example Of the
violation OF law in the performance of acts
which rendered it my duty, in the sequel,
to remove him from the Office of chief mag
istrate Of the Territory.
The Democratic President Pierce pur-
sues this subject, expressing his opinion
Of the situation and avowing his purpose
to perform his duty in the premises. We
quote now from his message:
In tact, what has been done is Of revo-
lutionary character. It il sv0wedly 30 in
motive end in aim - respects the local laws
Of the country. It will become IRRESPONSIBLE
instruction If il reach the Length Of organ
ICED resistance by force to tho fundamental
hGn~ EAAn Il AsN6 In thn n
ity Of the general government.
In such an event the path of duty for the
executive 10 plain. The constitution re-
uuires him to take caro- that .ae laws of the
United States be faithfully executed. If
they be opposed in tho Territory of Kansas
he may and should place ct the disposal Of
the marshal any pnblio force OF the United
States which happens to be within the juris-
diction, to be used - portion OF tho posse
oomitasus; and if that DO not snfhce TO
maintain order, b may call f0rth the militia
of one or more Etates, 50r employ for the
Same object any part Of the land or naval
forces of the United States. And If the
Territory be invaded by the citizens Of
other States, whether for the purpose Of
deciding elections or for any other, and the
local s0th0ritiss find Themselves unable to
'repel or Withstand it, they will be entitled
to, and, upon the fact being fully ascer-
tanned, they shall most certainly receive
the aid at the general government.
But President Pierce proceeds, and
strengthens the Federal arm as he pro.
ceeds:
But it il not the duty of the President Of
the United States to volunteer interpretation
either in Q State or Territory. To do 90
would be subversivs of public freedom.
And whether law be wise or unwise. lust
or unjust, is not question for him to Judge.
II it be constitutiOnal-that il, If it be Z
law of the land-it ia his duty to cause i: to
be executed, or to 'sustain the authorities
of any State or Territory in executing it in
opposition TO- all insurrectionary move
ments. R at. t.r 80 "a
No metaphysical refinement could draw
any distinction between the duty of the
President to sustain the authorities of
Territory or of State. Since his day the
doctrine has been executed that the Fed
eral government may enforce the laws in
q State as we'll az in a Territory, and if
the constitutional amendments mean any
thing they make it the duty Of the Federal
government to protect its citizens at home
as we'll as abroad; nor can even the agis
of State more exclude the protective in
tervention of the Federal government
where the rights Of citizen of the Union
are invaded, than could wife or child
beater plead marital or parental authority
against the process Of law.
We repeat our surprise, therefore, that
President Grant did not take the excel
lent text of President Pierce, adopt and
apply it to the case of South Carolina.
Should it become his duty, however, to
issue any proclamation in connection
with the preservation Of the public Or
der, or ''to sustain the authority Of any
State or Territory in opposition to any
insurrectionary movements" we would
respectfully recommend the proclamation
of President Pierce as model, covering
exactly the case Of the Southern States:
1. Indications exist that public tran.
quillity and the supremacy Of law in the
State of - are endangered by the repre-
hensols acts of persons both mthin and
,vit'out the same, who propose to control
its political organization by force. -
2 1t appearing that combinations have
been formed in the said State to resist the
execution of the Federal laws, and thus in
effect subvert by violence all present con.
stitutional and legal authority.
1t appearing also that persons residing
without the State. but near its borders con.
template armed Intervention in the affairs
thereof.
4. 1t also appearing that other persons, in
hsbitants Of remote States, are collecting
money. engaging men and furnishing arms