The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-04-04
The True Position.

The True POSITION.
Tits strange that people who perceive so
clearly what the Presidents duty as to
South Carolina is, cannot understand that
the application OF the same rules Of action
will work Alright in the case Of Louisiana.
We have persis,ently placed before the
country the true doctrine. A settlement
upon any other basis will be merely tenn
porizing expedient which will not in the
future serve as precedent, and which VIII
be hereafter the source OF troubles OF SINH
lar character to those which now afhict the
country. It Is shameful spectacle, that OF
the State-Housc OF South Carolina garri-
soncd bv Federal troops. and Federal SOL
d,crs walking their rounds with muskets
in their hands. to compel not only inc PR
yate citizens of that State but the rlShtlui
authorities thereof to keep the peace to-
wards usurpcrs and traitors. \ mere sham
cIs;m;np. to he State Government has for
three months been quartered in the capitol
OF South Carolina, and upon the people OF
that State, by the President OF the United
States. This outrage upon the principles
Of republican government. to say nothing
As to the rights OF State, is about to cease
to exist. but it ought never to be forgotten.
r, however, it ceases only because the Ere
sidcnt so wills, and not because the true the
orv Of our Government is to be recognized,
then the outrage is liable to be repeated
any dav. And such would seem to be the
prospcct. South Carolina is to be set free,
bat Louisiana is to be kept in bonds as long
as the President shall choose to keep her so
chained. Why: Not because he has any
more right 10 interfere iii Louisiana than IN
New York or South Carolina, but because
he is fully possessed OF the notion that ne Is
the Governor OF every State III the Union
We cannot point to any word that Mr..
HAYES has uttered or pcnned which would
justify Us in inIerring that he knows the
limits Of bis own powers. or has any correct
conception OF the relative powers OF tho
General and State Governments; but we
see proofs every day that the northern reo-
ole are rapidly coming to right under
standing OF the questions involved III the
Louisiana aud South Carolina troubles.
Here follows az illustration in a paragraph
from the last issue Of the New York Iri-
bune:
"The point Of the Presidents determine
lion is not that Hampton has the better
claim to The Office: his decision is merely
that il is not his place to decide. South
Carolina must arrange tins matter Tor her.
self. II she can arrange it by q lawsuit,
good: if she prefers merely to acquicScc in
the assunIption Of the disputed dignity by
Hampton. that is her affair, not the Presi-
dents. Whatever pledges may have been
given bv either side in view OF the removal
OF the troops, have been given volun-
tarilv. and not III pursuance OF bar
gain: and II any arrangement Is TO be
made hereafter between the two claimants,
or between either of them and the Presl-
dent, that too. will be voluntary agree
ment and not bargain. The troops are to
be removed only because they have no busi-
ness in their present position. The prece-
dent thus established OF refusing to employ
the army in the settlement OF State contro-
yersies, the southern question at once puts
on q more cheerful face. There will no
longer be one law. for New York and an
other for South Carolina, one Interpretation
OF the Constitution north OF the Potomac
and another south OF it,
Now IL the President were only governed
by these. considerations, he would have no
more trouble in or with the southern States.
1t surely sis not his place to decide y
whether: PACKARD or NICHOLS is Governor
il the two are so nearly equally we'll sup
ported at home that he has doubt on the
subject. The troops ought to be removed
from Louisiana "because they have no bust
ness in their present position -; and then
there will "no longer be one law for New
York and another for Louisiana" These
outgiyings have peculiar significance az
coming from journal which onlya few days
ago declared that genuine reconciliation
and an enduring peace could not come unless
the President provided for securing the
rights OF the negroes. &c, &c. Let us hope
that they will ind a Judgment in the minds
of many northern men, including Mr.
HAYES. ~. -.