New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-01-21
passage Of oppressive or injudicioua

tho passage Of oppressive or inIuolcious
laws.
Bat, - We have said, the most judicious
and best intended laws may be perverted
opposite effect from that intended. A law
should be enforced according to ito true
spirit and intention; and - oil laws are re-
quired, bv the consnstitutlons both of the
United States and the State, to operate
alike ON all citi1ens, they should be en-
forced alike against or in favor Of all, the
rich and the poor, white or colored.
two sets of officers, the one Judicial. and the
other executive and ministerial. The judi
cial officers have the most difficult and deli
cate trust to execute of any officers of the
government. 1t is their Office to c0nstrue
the laws, and supervise the mode Of exrcu-
ton, according to the forms of Law. From
the very character of their duties, it is
plain to be seen that they may, If ignorant
of their duties, or actuated by any improper
and citizens. The essentials of the char
acter, therefore, of . judge. should be
that of scrupulous integrity, profound
legal attainments, and high sense of
Justice, together with such . degree of
industry as will prevent any unnecessary
delay in parties attaining their rights: In
this latter requisite it is our experience
that most of our judges are lamentably
derelict in duty, which often operates the
ruin of litigants, and rarely ever to their
advantage. They should be held to strict
accountability for this latter duty, as it does
not require any particular talent to per-
form it.
The executive and ministerial officers
have q much less difficult duty to perform
in their part of the enforcement of the
laws; they have their duties go plainly
marked out by the law itself, or by direc-
ton of the court end precedents. that any
man of ordinary intelligence with industry
may perform these trusts. Although even
these Offices may be abused by unscrupulous
officers. hence it becomes necessary
even in these offices to have men of
high order for honesty and capacity; in fact,
no person should be allowed to fill any
Office of any grade who had not the essen
tial requisites of honesty, and the capacity
adequate for the discharge of the duties OF
the office to which he may be elected OF ap-
results from failure of the people in
elective officers, and of the appointing
power in appointing persons to office not
nOssessiug those essential requisites. Our
State furnishes many lamentable examples
of . violation of this rule.
We have endeavored in this address to
show YOU what the word "Union" means in
our platform; that it means one sovereign
government, the United States, also the
fnnctions Of the State organizations in the
Union, and the duties of the citizens to the
United States and the States, all one har-
monious whole. We have also shown you
what is meant by the word "oonstltutlOn"
in this article of our platform, to DO the
form of government for the United States;
and we have also shown what il meant by
the pharse, 1.-THE enforcement Of the lave,
in the same connection. We have shown
what are the paramount laws. OF the land, to
which the cltizen owes allegiance, and the
manner in which and by whom the laws are
executed. This embraces the whole theory OF
the government, and is q subject that can
onlv be cursorily treated in ono address;
vet it is useful, and hope will interest you
to the extent, at least, of recalling to your
minds the theory of our government, and
the basis of our allegiance to the govern
ment.
II ia fair to assume, and We believe it to
be- a fact, that the laws of the United States,
and of this State, are fully adequate, II
properly enforced, to accomplish all FOL
which Government is instituted. The an
nual sessions of Congress and of the State
Legislature enact all laws necessary to Keep
up with the requirements Of ADVANCING
ciyiliz alton; hence, it is only necessary that
these laws should be enforced to secure to
the people AL IAos "oo A"Soo~ ~ o.
| eminent.
The question may lbe pertinently asked
| whether in this State the laws are enforced
80 as to carry out the object of government
Before answering this question We mus'
| see what are the essential objects OF gov
eminent. Certainly the first and most es
sential function of government 10 to guar
antee to the citizen liberty, which means
| that every citizen should enjoy equal rlghts
1 L. 90 do 0af
| hibited by law, and be protected IN his per
son from unlawful violence, and IN the pos
session and enjoyment of his property.
| government tails in any of these partlcu
| lars, the body polite is injured to that OK
tent. and any general failure to execute thu
laws amounts to revolution.
We have thus far only discussed the sec
ond article in our platform, a. it seemed t
US as naturally first in order. we now re
vert to the first article. which rea9s
Louisiana first and party afterward." IS.
this we understand it is not meant that w
owe our first or highest allegi ance to Louis
lana. but that, as citizens of Louisiana, VI
shonld labor to build up and protect he
great material interests, and that we shoul'
subordinate party to those great interests
This is an idea that no patriot would op
pose.
Those who organize and compose POI
|
idea that the course Of policy recommends
is the best to promote the public welfare
No political party of any influence in thi
country could be organized and kept tt
gether for any length of time on any othe
principle. This is the idea announced
this article of our platform. This o.
ganization was gotten up expressly I
promote all the great interests
this State. The only question Is Whethe
/ of recommended
our organization is best calculated
promote the great interests of the either
of this State? On this point, we challene
the closest analysis of our platform. II
ia not perfect, it is our desire to make 1t o.
and cl ose investigation may lead to amen'
ment, which is our object it defects
found.
It is not necessary to attempt to amplif
this article Of our platform. The idea q
nonnced by it is 90 evidently patriotic an
correct as not to require amplifcatlon.
The object of this address is introduction
and as explanatory of the principles I
this organization in regard to the theory
our government, and the foundation {
which our institutions mainly rest, an
! which lie at the basis of good cover
ment.
: The other articles of our platform desi
! nate the policy of our organization IN 7
.. gard to particular matters. and which vi
! be explained and smpliied by eentlemt
of our organization in addresses which the
have promised to prepare and deliver at o.
. subsequent meetings.
Nleteorological and River Report
The following statement OF the wealth
', and rivers is furnished by the sigma 5
, vice Office stationed at New Orleans:
ArrrpNooa REp0R1ST43 p M.