The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1877-01-13
THE REORGANIZATION OF
LOUISIANA.
BY FMERsON BENTLEY.

aggravated state of her chronic dlsOr
der-revolution. The advocates of |
the forms of law are confronted by the |
agitators who hang up all their hopes
on the unf1uitful tree of discord. From |
stage of avowed misgovernment
they rush us into condition in which
we shall be governed too much. Ii
the men who are chosen to be the
law makers for constituencies, and
solemnly swear to abide by and pro-
tect the constitution reekfessly league
themselves togetherin ii complete sub
version of its provisions, what moral
weight does their example have upon
those guilty of minor infractions of the
law who are fined in police and paro-
chial courts? Clearly none at all,
except adversely to the true interests
of society. Ii the educated wealthy
citizen openly and with impunity may
defy the statutes it is tyranny to pun
ish the thief, the robber OF the muir
derer. If one class may set up law
unto itself, SO may another with equal
right. And pray what benefit will
accrue to a society governed by its
individual interpretations of the law 7
Let the thoughtful citizen ponder this.
If the Returning Board has violated
the rights of majOrities by declaring
elected minority candidates, it is a
grievous evil which liberty loving cit
liens are not expected to submit to.
Like all other wrongs it must have
remedy. In obtaining a remedy, an
impartial judge and an unbiased
jury are prerequisites. If the courts
are open they must be tried to their
fullest extent. Ifthey offer inadequate
redress, other channels must be re-
sorted to.
If General Francis T. Nichols be-
lieves that he is warranted in contest
ing the right of Stephen B. Packard
to the gu6ernatOritl chair, he clearly
possesses the right tn institute suits
in State Courts or the National ones
under the enforcement act. He
should not fear d jury which will be
composed in part of his friends and
his opponents, being given ample
opportunity to submit the evidence
his party would produce IN his behalf.
He should exhaust the powers of all
the courts having jurisdiction of the
case. If legal technicalities are inter
posed defeating the substantial ends
of Justice, he may memorializ- Con
gress tu exercise the provision OF the
National Constitution requiring il to
guarantee to each State OF the Union
IA republican form of government.
l This petition would have tile benefit,
l like jury of his own State, of il
5 larger jury composed of Que House OF
his political friends and another oi
/, his opponents. There is possibility
that through all these methods, he
s would still fail to procure the remedy
he would petition for, but what OF
that Is it not well known fact thai
every citizen is frequently compelled
to accept II dec ision in ordinary suits
something less than the spirit of exact
Justice would warrant This being
the case, what right has General
: Nichols to presume his individual
claims to be superior to those of his
equals and peers 7 With what sense
of rectitude, and conformity to the
laws he is under obligation to sup
port, does he allow himself to he sworn
in as an officer i'll advance of any com.
: petent decision in his behalfq
y Will it be contended for a moment
i that a rebellion against law is II surel
$ remedy for evils suffered Hereunder
than an appeal for its more perfect AL.
. ministration Such might be the cast
. in the unfortunate republic of Mexico
). where the tenure of office is held
$ through the allegiance of partisans
and broken by the pronunciamento>
of the restless, turbulent elements OF
: society. But it is insulting TO the in
telligence of the people of Louisiana
as we'll as of the Union of which SHE
forms part, to base political actor
: on the assumption that one infractioI
of the law may be counterba'anced by
an equal one. Yet it is the platform
upon which the friends of Mr.. Nicholl.