The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-03-25
No Compromise.

Is Louisiana for salef flour State Gov
ernment is a perquisite of the Presidenti
Office and can be awarded by him at biz
option and for q consideration, it is better
that the fact be known at once. Fail
dealing and national dignity require that
relations of this sort be not hidden under
veil of hypocrisy. Either Gen. Nicholle
| is Governor of the State or he is not how
can his title be affected by the Willingness
or unwilIingness of the Legislature to elect
some specially indicated man United States
Senator Z The acceptance of such theory
would be the virtual and total abandon
ment of States' rights. The right of local
government, instead of being in the peo-
pie, would be 10 the Federal President,
and he could farm it out to the highest
bidder.
This result ia absolutely included in the
new tangled Grant doctrine of "recogni-
zing" the State Government. Usually
there are two or more candidates for the
GovernOrship of State; according to the
Grant theory, no matter how the vote
stands, that man ia Governor whom the
President "recognizes," and he is to be
sustained in that position by the United
States army This makes the President
the ultimate "Returnirg Board" 1t gives
him dictatorisl, a more than imperial,
power which the Constitution never
dreamed of comforting upon him even act
ing in conjunction with Congress
If the idea of State sovereignty is to be
finally and completely abandoned, if State
or local government is 20 be made an APP
pendage of the Federal Government, then
tho subject ought to be disposed o # in some
more formal manner than the mere hap
hazard OF a Presidential usurpation. Why
should the President take charge of the
abandoned field and add it to his depart
ment7 Is it not of sufficient importance to
merit national legislation The Indians
are taken notice of congressonally, the
Territories and the District of Columbia are
legislated for, and shall the whole vast ma
chinery of State government quietly pass
away from the control of the people with
out being disposed of by an act of Con-
gressf
Yet the logical meaning of "recognition"
in the Grant sense. is nothing less than the
absolute dictatorship of the President over
State governments. Before the day of that
brilliant legal luminary, U. S. Grant, the
Presidents " recognition" was limited to
the de .facto aspect of the case Chief Jus,
tice Grant Thoughts his recognition ought to
include tho dejure question. This made
him absolute umpire, aud he did not hest
tate to enforce the decision of his tribunal
with the power of his army.
II this precedent is to be followed, the
country ought To know it, certainly Lonis-
lana does not consent to it and abe ought to
protest against it just now. She ought to
say to President Hayes q" Sir, you and all
men see TIE Governor and Legislature of
my choice. They ask for no =" recognition"
Your troops occupy my State House or it's
Immediate environs demand their in
| slant removal"
1t may be that this demand would work
no Immediate result, but it could be 30
framed that all men would understand the
protest to be final and any compromise to
be impossible. If Louisiana is entitled to
self government there is no right anywhere
to dictate her choice of Senators, and there
must be no tacit surrender of self govern.
ment by submitting to such dictation.
! We will not believe and we do not in
sinuate that the delay already experienced
! in electing Sen ator has proceeded from
any desire to hold in reserve this important
interest as factor in some possible com.
promise or bargain. We are satisfied thai
the great body of our Legislators are ut
terly averse to any such policy. They are
determined to hold all, or lose all. They
will not be Influenced in their proper indie
pendence of action by any offer, no mat
ter how tempting, of federal good hu
NOR and liberation. They say that Louisi
ana must have her rights as such aud not a.
a concession.
BIT would it not be we'll to put a quietuI
on the matter Would it not be graceful