The New Orleans daily Democrat., 1877-03-13
ACTION.

none OF the responsibility Tor the
delay Id settling the Louisiana ques-
tion should rest upon the executive or
Legislative branch OF the legal govern
ment Of the State. A community OF
eight hundred thousand people. with
their vast commercial, property and IN
dustrial interests, are on the verge Of
anarchy, and every horr that this peril
ous and extraordinary situation 10 pro-
longed causes incalculable loss; invites
TO his fell work the murderer. the rob-
ber and the incendiary, and encourages
the institution OF Lynch law. TO any
extent that this state Of things is pro-
longed, the responsibility should rest
upon the Federal Administration,
whose hand Of power instituted 1t. Our
local government should extend its pro-
tecting hand to every nook and corner
OF the State, and vigorously manifest
its power to the point where 1t may
meet with repression from the Federal
arm.
This is the feeling OF the great mass OF
the people who are growing impatient,
and demand that they shall have gov
ernment which can, without its author.
ity being questioned, protect society,
enforce the laws and dispense justice.
When II was announced Saturday that
the Legislature would proceed Monday
to elect O United States Senator, there
was a general feeling Of rejoicing among
the people. They feltencouraged when
they learned that step calculated to
assert the existence of their govern
ment before the American Senate was
to be taken. On Sunday after
noon, when 1t was learned that
the Legislative caucus which had
Assem- bled earlier in the day, had re-
solved to take no definite step, there
was universal feeling of disappoint-
ment and we may almost say disgust.
The desire OF the people is, that the
Legislature hall act In this important
matter without delay.
The government Of which the Legis-
lature Ia part Ii as much the govern
ment OF Louisiana as the government
OF Governor Robinson is the govern
ment Of New York, and the Legislature
should act upon that theory. The Legis-
lature Of Massachusetts,, or OF Vermont.
or OF any other State In the Union would
resent as an impertinence any dicta-
tion In such matter as this from poll
ticians In Washington. It is sad sight
indeed to see the Legislature OF q free
State. in republican country, hesltat-
ing to perform one OF It's most important
duties and listening with eager ears to
learn what effect aetion or non-action
will have upon the disposition OF the
President towards them, and discussing
the policy OF eleeting man to one Of
the highest and most honorable posi-
tions In the State, because his politics
are different from those of the people
the Legislature represents.
IL there Is any reason to leave this
State still longer without her rightfnl
representation in the United States
Senate other than apprehension that
we may disturb the equananimity OF the
tempers OF Blaine and Morton, or that
we may elect to that position some man
who has not been compatriot Of the
thieves who have plundered us for eight
years, and thereby affront somebody in
Washington, we have not heard OF 1t.
As for our part, and we believe we
speak the opinions Of nine.tenths
of the people, we think the Leg
islature should proceed Immediately
with this business. We think 1t should
ignore all dictation from Washington,
choose that man among our fellow-citi-
zens whose abilities, integrity and devo
ton to the liberties and material inter-
ests best fits him to represent the State
in the Senate, and most entities him
to the reward conferred in the bestowal
of public confidence and high political
honors. -