New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1878-11-03


according 70 these everyday interests, that
by the action Of the Republican party it
should be finally understood that the
armed intervention Of the Federal govern
msat in the States was no longer neees-
sary and needed not to be repeated except
upon some new occasion. Applause.
This has sometimes been spoken OF as il
it was the policy" of the administration.
1t was nothing but treatment by the ad-
ministration, under a constitutional duty,
of = particular situation that was presented
for their action. The policy of the adj
ministration, as the policy Of the Repub-
ican party, and, as I hope, the policy Of
all honest citizens of either party, is that
there shall be no hesitation and no doubt,
but that the whole constitutional weight
the whole legal authority of this country
in the hands of the executive of the nation,
shall be directed everywhere to the en-.
forcement of the laws and the security of
the privileges of the weakest of our citi-
zens. [Great applause 1t is the policy
of this party Of ours; it is the policy of
this government of ours, in Massachusetts,
or in South Carolina, [spplsusel; the
same duty and the same courage for that
duty in the great State of New York and
in the feeble State of Louisiana. It is not
affected by climate or by circumstances,
except as the occasions arise under dis
turblDg influences of one kind and another.
Sometimes it may be needed to protect
property against the rash councils and the
momentary excitement of citizens in null
titudes; sometimes to protect the poor and
ignorant freedmen against the wrath and
malice OF the whole surrounding COM
munity, [spplause, and sometimes to up
hold the rights of commerce in its ships
and cargoes, and sometimes of q single
obscure citizen in his personal protection
in the remotest corner of the world. Zap
plsuse. l challenge the least accusation
against the Republican party, or against
any administration of that party to the
present time, of any desertioL of that
duty, Of any indifference to these appeals.
Applause.
AN INToLERABLE CONDITION OF THINGS.
Now, you will observe that the one in
tolerable thing in this country, either in
the nation or any of the States, is anarchy.
A double government disputing each
others authority is anarchy. Communi-
ties always find some way to work them
selves out of anarchy that is intolerable
Sometimes they resort to the overthrow of
liberty, Preferring even submission to
anarchy. Sometimes they assert both
government and liberty together, and
maintain the rights of both. By our
Constitution the Federal government is
jealously excluded from all interven-
ton by military power in the af-
airs Of a State, except upon the
invitation Of the authorities of the State,
and that intervention is strictly limited to
the one condition of existing domestic
violence too great for suppression by the
authorities of the State. Whatever be
the will, whatever the bias, whatever the
sympathy which is felt by party or felt
by any of its constituted agents to exercise
the public will, the Constitution, is the
limit and the authority. The Constitu-
ton, put in the Executive hand, is capa-
BILE of execution no further than the
legislation of Congress has given the
authority; and under that action there
was given an opportunity in every State
of this Union that by such methods, ju.
dic1al, social, civil, as belong to it there
should be security of the rights of al
its citizens aud peace throughout its Dor
ders. I need not say to you that thiE
makes them actual. On the contrary,
the suffrage is by your Constitution anG
your laws accorded to all residents of al
States, yet in some States large portion
of that people do not practically possess
or exercise those rights; and that is al
intolerable condition of things to ever,
free community. Applause 1t is, how
ever, a condition of things that is to b
met, adjusted, and overcome by the peace
ful influences that belong to the anchor
alton and the correction of abuses, or t
the regular and orderly punishment b,
process of law Of infractions of thos
rights. But, nevertheless, the people o
this country, hope, without distinction
of party-I would fain hope without dis
tinction OF residence or of State citizen
ship-will always consider it an intoler
able condition of things that great com
muuity, restored to all the privileges @
the Constitution, and with an enlargement
of their suffrage in the councils Of tn
nation, should insist upon mGintainin
the voting power to themselves and SUP
press the voting privilege which was til
only occasion and consideration for it
being accorded. Against that, all tn
forces of free society struggle. and wi
continue to struggle, and all the mora
all the social, all the legal, all the const
tutional authority Of the Republica
party in the government Of this countr
shall always be thrown in favor of maxim
that practical and real which in the Cor
stitution and in the rights Of the populi
ton of these States is accorded to th
humblest citizen. Applause So Ion
as there remains this discord in the ha,
mony of our restored allegiance, 80 lon
the Republican party will have its dutiC
which it will not hesitate to perform
Applause
ECONOMY IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE.
Now, gentlemen, another great an
important interest which the people
their original and primary capacity
citizens have for many years shown
considerable interest in, is IN seeing tn
the public service was really brougl
within the limits of the needs Of u
government, within the proper economi
for its administration, and that the CHAM
of that service, either by the change
party or the change Of administrator
should be as little in extent and as few
instances as the public service won
permit. They have, think, also beC
quite unanimous in seeing that it WI
right that the executive authority
which these numerous officers form
branch, and which is held responsible
the conduct of these officers, shou
really have the potential control, as
has the individual responsibility. I agr
with that very lively writer, Mistress q
Hamilton. who. in a series of charmil