National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1878-02-16

We cite these ILLUSIONS 10 tine assumed
action of the President for the purpose of
advising our readers of the fact that the
southern press sympathizes with the out
RACES that are being committed by the State
governments, in violation of the following
resolution, which was passed by the MICH
Oils Legislature on the 18th of April last,
after the troops had been withdrawn from
the Statc-H House, and the NICHOLS govern
ment had assumed control of the affairs of
that State, and in ACCORDANCE with the as
suances that had led the President to act
in the premises:
Filth, DESTROYS Of healing the discussions
\ that have disturbed the State for years. and
anxious that the citizens of all political par
| ties may be free from the anxietics Of political
strife, and Join hands In honestly restoring the
prosperity OF Louisiana, the NICHOLS govern
ment will discOuntenauce any persecution,
from any quarter, of individuals for past polit-
ical conduct.
The acts committed by the returning
board and which are now dcnominated of
f. nscs against the State laws were of po-
litical character, and If the above resolution
had been clothed with sincerity, il would
have shielded them from the prosecutions
that now follow their conduct. This, no
doubt, is the opinion Of the President, or
he would not have taken the step imputed
to him. The action of the State judiciary
has occurred. no doubt, under the inspimtion
of Governor NICHOLS; and it shows how
little reliance is to be reposed in any pledge
or assurance given by the late insurgents
when il comes between them and the graft
fcation of their hate toward Republicans
and a Republican Administration, when it
reaches point where 1t ceases to be sub
servient to their peculiar designs and pur-
poses.
II is now held by the Southern press, and
for that matter by the Democratic dough
face press of the North, that the President
has no right or power to take action in the
returning board cases, inasmuch as they
are being dealt with by the State courts
Technically this may he true, but corrupt
judiciary, whether constituted by State or
Federal authority, ceases to secure to State
, n republican form of government such as
= the Constitution cOntemplates and approves,
and it is the constitutional prerogative of
the President to see to it that such form
of government is secured to each State in
r the Union, no matter at what expense. The
State authority is subordinate to the Federal
power so long as it holds place in the
Federal compact. When this constitutional
I right is relinquishod the bond of Union is
p practically broken.
:" But leaving the Louisiana question where
| IL ia xya desire n pun the attention of the
f Federal Government to certain cases in
I which this embarrassment or the question
. OF State jurisdiction do not occur. There
a are now pending in the Federal courts OF
the State of South Carolina over 800 in
f dictments for outragcs committed against
o Republicans by White-Leaguers, bull.
r dozers and rifle clubs that have never beer
@ brought to trial, and from which the offend
n ers hope to escape. There is no doubt tina
p il is the prerogative of the Federal authori
e ties to bring these cases to trial. Justic,
p has already been cheated out of its right
d in that State too long, and sense O
l. duty should promptly set il
motion the ball that will bring
these offenders against law and right t,
v coha'gh punishment ihese ihu'c'ineh.
of 'nciuue III ''''' p',Se"."ieh'S every shao
h Oh CRIME from ,'''"ef 'o"n " 'n'''''oa'io'
u and suffering for opinion sake. In ninety
- nine cases out of hundred the proofs o
is gum are positive anu convincing anu IN
10 Offenders ought u oe Drought 10 Justice an
,e condohe 'heit crimes ei'her Oh 'he e"iio"
ye OF III 'he Peh''ch''"'s.
" Inc senate OIL the .h''eo states shoul
g dispose Vi Nohi hhor e''se ny prompt IT
We lection and give the PRESIDENT an oppol
RI '"nity 10 nominate capable brave an
&C. true man Us DiS.rlct attorney Tor INA
'u prosecute these cases TO conviction and nun
III ishment Such n nomination would n
ed 1o,h, ho oror,nt,y corGrnod h, ,ho Sar