New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-01-03
A RBpuBLIoAN POEM or aOVERNMENT.

form consists of one executive, with |
Legislature and judges chosen by the
people, according to the forms of the
constitution. There can not, then, be
republican form of government where
there are two organizations each claiming
to be the government. 1t is obvious that,
in the choice between two conflicting Or
CARNATIONS, that one must be regarded
legal which has been chosen in compli-
ance with the forms of law. Should
there be actually illegality in any depart
ment of that government it must be
shown by appeal under the forms of law.
Tried by this test the government certi-
fed according to these forms is legal.
That outstanding and claiming authority
through q duplicate of the departments
of government is in technical in
surrection against the regular and
formal government. Upon what ground,
it may be asked, does this revolutionary
organization claim authority? Upon the
assumption that the formal acts Of the
legal authorities are void. And why
void? Because the revolutionary organ
ization says so. Nothing could show
suspension of the forms of Republican
government more clearly than that a body
of citizens, calling themselves represen-
tatives and officers of the government,
should assume powers contrary to the
forms prescribed by law, and obstruct the
execution of the laws by any pretended
authority of their own, or any alleged
want Of authority in the formal govern
ment of the State. This revolutionary
organization, as we understand it, claims
authority as representatives of the people.
1t stands in open opposition to the gov
eminent claiming to represent the people
according to the laws enacted under au-
thority of the people.
This precise condition of affairs has &C.
casionally occurred in the history of our
country. The most prominent example
is that of Rhode Island. The question
arose whether convention to amend the
charter or constitution of the State could
be called except upon the authority of
the government organized under the ex-
listing charter or constitution. The mass
of the people determined that they had
an inherent and inalienable right to
change the forms and powers of govern
ment They elected representatives to a
convention, who reported constitution,
under which a government was organ
lied. There were then two political Or
CARNATIONS The one claiming under
the laws enacted by the people; the
other claiming under the people them.
selves. The revolutionary party attempt.
ed to organize their government, but
were "resisted by the legal State govern.
ment." A portion of the party as.
sembled under arms aud attempted
to seize the arsenal, but dispersed
on the approach of the State
militia. The governor elected undel
this revolutionary government was ar.
rested, tried and convicted of high trea
son, in having levied war against the forms
of republican government. He was sen
fenced to Imprisonment for life. He wal
some years afterward released and re
stored, under an act of general amnesty
to all his civil and political rights. W.
may add that, in our opinion, the right o
the people to change their form of gov
eminent is inherent and inalienable, We
! | xubanayar - 10 do,,a ,Y;tbort a. eo-,oo
authority of law, it will always be at tn
risk of those who may undertake it. I
successful, as the declaration Of our an
cestOrs, it is revolution; if q failure, a
in the case of the Rhode Island attempt
it will be called a rebellion, and thos
who levy war against the republican form
of government may be arraigned, tried
convicted and punished as technical trail
tors.
The relations between the State gov
, eminent, according to the form Of repub
lican government, and the organization
claiming power without the sanction G
law, are rapidly assuming status whicl
must receive solution. Two organizations
each claiming the allegiance Of the people
/ can no longer be tolerated. The DANCE
to life and property, the suspension Q
business, the arrest of travel, the socis
hatred which pervades the city and State
demand a decision. Whether this de
! cision may be forced upon the Republica
: form and fact Of State government by th
! programme proclaimed by the Democrat
organ, will be known later than the hou
at which we write. That programme !
this:
Tomorrow morning, at the legal hour {
assembling, the members OF the legal Legi
3 latufe must proceed to tie State House an
: occupy It. Il lAwless rufiians, claiming {
| be policemen and militiameD, attempt
interfere with them thesa rufiiane will b
swept from their path. Nothing Tnst prs
vent the Legal Legislature Of Louisian
9 from assemb bling in the Sanfte chamber an
= | hall Of Repre- senlafiY Of this Stare exeeF
the bayonts Of the Federal government
4 There is thus tender Of issue upc
. the question of revolution or rebellion
It will be met If the revolutionisss 4
not make the attack, the Republica
: government, in form and in fact, viii
Q SECTIONAL PEACE.
: Whatever may be the current of ind
yidual opinicns upon the legal resuita ,