New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-09-17

4
Leadership in the subsequent Congress o.
1865 6, in which, and IN the following Con
| grese, the constitutional amendments ani
the reconstruction measures were devised
and passed. Here, in my judgment, wal
the great mistake of the Southern people
1t wac in listening to the policy of johnson
and in lending their assistance to the re
vival OF the old Democratic party. II Wal
. most fatal step. 1t has kept the NORTH
alarmed about yonr purposes, and has KEEP
open and unsettled the questions whict
most vitality affect your peace and pros
perity.
| WHAT THE WAR HAS SETTLED.
This alliance Of the Southern whites viii
the Democracy of the North results, in my
opinion, from y failure to appreciate in It'll
full significance the effect of the late wal
between the sections. The Democratic ides
Of it seems 20 be that the war was only t.
hold the parts together, and that all thai
was to be done when it was over, was fol
the Northern and Southern Democrats "tC
| shake hands across the bloody chasm,
call the Union restored, and letting "by
cones be by-gones," joytuily march arm in
arm to take possession of the government,
which they had SO long before controlled
The Republicans are not only to be turned
ont, bnt made to apologize for having
csneed the original disturbance. Instead
OF disqualification for places OF controlling
power IN the national government, service
in the late Confederacy ia TO be called an
honorable badge of devotion to true con
stitn,ional principles. Uniopists to the rear
and Confederates to the front! In some
manner, directly or indirectly, the constitu
tiOnal amendments and the enforcement
acts ere to be made practically imperative.
through Democratic ascendency. Repub-
lican ideas and principles are to be discard
| ed, and Democratic ideas and principles sub
| sfituted. This may be q very cheerful view
! of things to the self-complacent Democracy.
but, uniucklly for them, the people of the
| country have not yet been able to take the
| same view, and don't believe they ever
| will. They knock this party in the head
every time 1t comes to the surface in any
important contest 1t appeared in 1864 in
the alluring habiliments of peace, with Q
broken down Union General at its head, but
the people said there was no peace, and sent
it back to the rear in doubt of It's loyalty
L. appeared in 1868 with the constitution on
it's lips but reaction in it's heart, and the
people said they would take no steps back
ward. but persevere to the end. Ii appeared
in 1872 with q lifelong Abolitionis5 at it's
head, and reconciliation" "a its rallying
cry, but keen popular judgment pene-
trated the disguise, and saw nothing but
Democratic trick. while the worst conss-
of the best men that ever lived.
1t now appears in this year of grace
1876. under the mask of reform" but the
empty pretense has already been exposed,
and the people fsil to see anything in view
but plumber. They will bury it again un-
der an avalanche OF indignant votes. Ny
Southern fellow citizens, fear your Demo
cratic teachers and leaders do net inform
you Of the full force and effect of the
M hv a / faap ia
some policy in reserve which is not dis
closed; fear there is something kept back
which you ought to know, for l am per.
susded that if the intelligent and patriotic
white people of Louisiana could be made to
realize the situation as it is, they would
have but little use for the Democratic
party.
This war Was something more than test
OF strength between opposing battalions;
more than the suppression of q rebellion;
more than the conquest of the seeding
States anu the overthrow Of the Confeder-
acy. 1t was a revolution of the most radi-
cal character, by which the Federal system
has been materially charged. and Southern
society torn up by the roots. The civil
wars of England were long and bloody, but
they made no change in the fabric OF So
ciety. The revolution in France sprung
from the conflicting interests and passions
of caste, but the warning elements were ali
of the same race, and it was not long till So
ciety was again crystalized into shape and
order. With Us the slaves have not only
been made citizens, but q despised race has
been raised to equality before the law,
while one social system has been supplant-
I'd by another.
The country has always been divided
into two schools of Interpretation; the school
Of Jefferson aud Calhoun, " no main tanned
the theory OF confederation or State rights,
with the remedies Of notification and eeces-
sion for State wrongs; and the school of
II amiltOn and Webster, or "Federallsm,"
AS 1t was called At the time, which insisted |
upon the opposite theory OF nationality, or
the doctrine Of social compact among all |
he people within the jurisdiction OF the |
lited States, or a single political commu
hlty, divided INTO States CEiy as States are |
divided into counties, constituting para
mount and su.reme government OF the |
L liOS, in which the maj Jr1ty has the right |
20 rule, and that If the minority has grew |
sucs, or complains, II has not the right OF |
or Sc cassirn. but must seek re
dress at the balo! bex, in the courts. or he |
1rivon into revolution. as in all other gov
,rnments. In briefer words, one school |
ED that sovereignty resided in the people |
Il the States, separately, and the other held
hat the sovereignty resided in the people
# the United States ia their aggregate
apacty.
The Democratic party, "a rule-cer-
alDly ii has been - i'll the S0uth-has al
Ways held to the doctrine Of the school Of |
ate rights. though some of the Demo- |
ratio leaders in the North have not agreed
. to the extent Ui power in the practical
pplicalon OF the doctrine. They admitted
be premises. but denied the Conclusions.
he Democratic candidate for President, !
Owever, seems TO have stood pretty square.
7 IN this doctrine. He speaks, in Ills letter
, Mr. X n, in 1861 If "oiganized revolu-
on III STATE, with pure ana sword al
eady provided, prepared to ''snap the Tie
pDiedrration.' and ITO resist cnerci IL as |
ivaaiOn." "OrganlZed revolution" is out |
mother nsms for State sovereignty.
Tnis irreconcilabe antagoulsn between |
nposing schools of construction OF the con- |
tuition OF the United States, was really at
Is bottom of the late conflict. The acts of /
ces,l0n we're occasions rather than Causes. |
The war WAS primarily to decide, and to I
eide forever, what mad always been a | 6
after OF Glapute-are we nation, or g. |
Moderation OF distinct soversigutias? | I
DC var has settled THIS question through
3 fourteenth amendment. which ACCOM- |
iah6s q complete revolution Ia the Fed. 1
al system from the Democratic States
shts stand point. l. creates 1, single body
'iitic OF the people Of the several States, f
: msklog tbe cttitaDs OF the several States ! {
Azens OF She United States; whereas, be- C
re they -ere citizens OF the United States c
cause they were citizens of the several | '
sfas. The language is: ALI persons born c
Matnralized IN The United States are '
.izeus OF the United States and of |
G States ,ehereit they reside" First an
herloau clnZer, aud theo d citizen of the | I
ate is 70 be hereafter the doctrine. This 1
ings tie peopie directly under the para d
Junt authority oil tho nation for ali the t
Iroses OF government. Nothing now b
mains Ill the WIDE range of Legislation G
, hi ~ s.rnl ihtfnd INV ha cnp .fitu. | i