New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-08-27
THE DEMOCRATIC ENFORCEMENT RES0-
LUTIONS.

1U11VN0s
If there be any question as to the ex-
tent to which the Federal executive may
go in employing military force in execut-
ing the laws we may recur to the Demo-
cratic example of President Franklin
Pierce. Congress had passed law to
constitute the Territory of Kansas. The
President of the United States was
advised by Robert J. Walker, the
Democratic Governor of the Territory,
that lawless men we're organized to
impose one constitution on the people
of Kansas, and other lawless men were
organized to impose another constitution
on the people of Kansas. The Demo-
cratic Governor, Walker, was also appre-
hensive that armed men would come
from the States to interfere with the
elections of Kansas. He, therefore, in
formed the Democratic President;
Buchanan, that cat least two thousand
regular troops, under the command OF
General Harvey, were necessary to main.
tain the existence of the Territorial gov
eminent and secure the execution of the
laws"
The Democratic President Pierce an
nounced the duty which we have hereto
fore quoted, and pledged himself "to take
care that the laws of the United States
be faithfully executed"
The Democratic President Buchanan
was ''obliged, in some degree, to inter-
fere with the expedition to Utah to keep
down the rebellion i'll Kansas" He sent
the Federal troops into Kansas.
There is one pledge which the Demo-
cratic President Pierce gave to maintain
the laws, upon which We would like the
opinion of some of our contemporaries.
1t is found in this phrase:
So, also, if the obstruction be to the law
of the territory, and it be duly presented
to him as case OF Instruction He 9as
defined such instruction IRRESPONSIBLE, IT 1t
reach the length of organized resistance to
the fundamental or any other Federal law.
and to the authority of the Federal govern.
ment]," he may employ for its suppression
the militia of any State, or the land and
naval forces Of the United States.
Well, the Dem ocratic President Pierce
was right. He stepped in the tracks of
the law. As early as February %, 1875,
it was enacted:
Whenever the United States are invaded
- do of yocsO m
any foreign nation or Indian tribe, or OF
rebellion against the authority OF the gov
eminent of the United States, it shall be
lawful for the President to call forth such
number of the militia of the State or States
most convenient to the place of danger or
scene of action, as he may deem necessary
to repel such invasion or to suppress such
rebellion, and to issue his orders for that
purpose to suon officers Of the militia as he
may think proper.
When the militia of more than one State
Ia called into the actual service of the
United States by the President, he shall
apportion them among such States accord
ing to represen tative population.
This enabling act was intended to carry
into effect the constitutional provision
that
The President shall be commader-in-chief
of the army and navy of the United States,
and of the militia of the several States
when called into the actual service of the
United States.
This ancient provision, with that re-
curing the militia to be placed on the
same footing with regular troops, has been
nightly touched up by the legislation
Of 1876. If President Pierce were now
alive, and acting, he might issue his
and there would no doubt |
be volunteer veterans enough to render any
army order unnecessary. Were the DEM
ocratic President, Buchanan, in Office he
might protect the citizens of the United
States by the militia of the States, and
let the two thousand regular troops go to
keep order in Utah, or exterminate the
savages on the frontier.
Now, whenever the Democratic journals |
deem it in order to explain the difference
between the orders of Democratic Presi- |
dent and Republican Secretary Of War,
We will call their attention to serious |
of the doctrine OF the Demo-
cratic President Pierce.
Suppose, upon the information that any |
one OF the Southern States is threatened |
with invasion by the citizens OF other
States, wheth er for the purpose Of deciding
elections or any other, President Grant
,all forth the militia of one or more |
States to maintai n order and execute the |
avs. Suppose that in the exercise Of
hat very large discretion assumed by the
Democratic President Pierce, President
Grant may call forth the volunteer militia
If zone State called Iowa, or of
mother State called Massachusetts,.
suppose that, in the language of the
Texas resolutions, it may be said by the
republicans of these States
WHEREAS, Owing to the overwh Ginning
Republican majority in this State there will
,e little or no necessity for prOsecu ting q
rigorous canvass or for expanding either
much time or money upon the same in
his State; and
Whereas, Our sister State, Louisiana. for
many years under the iron heel of ku-klux
ind White Leaguers, and now weak from
he continuous and incessant sapping of
Ter lte-blood by the massacres and pro-
only needs the helping hand OF
his, her sister State, to rise in the strength
IT righteous Indignation for her many
wrongs to enable her to shake loose the
hand of violence and intimida
ion; therefore, be it
ReSOiced, That we earnestly urge uDOn |
he veteran soldiers of the Union to look to
he completion Of work to which they
ave devoted so much toll and blood. to see
hat fha aunrAmacr of the CON stitufinn and |