The New Orleans daily Democrat., 1878-11-23
1.-THE LAW MUST BE ENFORCED :"

Ii l. IJH w M UOL Db UMI oItbD
Very recently Mr.. Evnrts expressed some
very sensible views on the subject Of tho pro-
p1scd prosecution Of citizens of Louisiana, in
tho Federal courts, for alleged outrages dur
ing the late election. According TO tho dis
patches to the DEMOCRAT, ''ho looks doubt
ngIy to the enforcement Of the law against
the popular sontlmont.' This Is q states
mnnIike view Of the case, in striking con-
trast with tho incorporate and brutal howl Of
the ConkIlngs and Blaines and the Republican
press to prosecute, through unwise. arbitrary
and unconstitutional laws and partisan
courts, IL people who have done, In defense Of
their property, their civilization and liberties,
less perhaps thnn those Of the Northern
States would have done. "Let tho law be on
forced" strieks Conl;ling and his bloody shirt
rabble. "Let tho law be enforced" howl the
Now York Times and Tribune and tho lntters
Chicago namesnke. "Let the law be enforced
yels every carpet-bag thief who has been
driven from his field of plundor, and every
gcaIlnwng who hns Blunk away from tho
gcorn and contempt OF his people.
Let what law be enforced Do these
sbrielers for enforcement Of tho law mean
and Justice and In accordance with tho con-
stitution for the protection Of life, property,
society, civilization, religion and liberty?
No; they mean tho law framed by Con-
gress when the souls and minds cf It's mem
bers wero inilnmed with hatred OF the
South nnd with sectional malevolence, and
framed, Ms their leader. Thad Stevens sold,
outside and independent Of thnt sacred
bond Of the Union md charter Of civil iIbcr-
ty, the constitution Of tho United States. The
lnw tho Republicans nre 50 1iercBly dcmnnd-
ing to have enforced whs framed TO enforce
Ignorant negro md corrupt cnrpet-bag dom
inntfOn in louisiana; TO silence tho will Of
tho white cltIzcns Of the State In tho cloc-
tions and hold Louisiana "solid' against the
will Of her people for tho Republican pnrty.
referring to % then pending bill to enforce
an obnoxious law, John 9. Calhoun shid In
tho United States Senate "It is said the
bill must pass, because the law must be
enforced Tho law must be enforced! The
| imperial edict must be executed 1t Is
undor such 5Ophistry, Couched in general
terms, without looking to the limitations
which must over exist in tho practical exercise
of power, TINT the most cruel and dcspotic acts
ever have been covered. 1t was under such
sophistry as this that tho bloody edicts Of
| Moro and Calguln were executed" Speaking
also of the proposed enforcement Of an obnox-
ious and oppressive law, Lord Macaulay shid
in tho Parliament of England: ut is easy
| to sny 'be bold DO firm; defy intimidation
let the Inv have It's course; the law Is strong
enough to put down the seditious.' Sir, we
have heard this clustering before; and we
know in what 1t ended. It's the clustering OF
little mon who hnve fallen upon great crisis
Xerxes scourging the waves, ,Canute command
ing the waves to recede from his footstool
were but types of tho folly. The law Is moth
ing but piece Of paper printed by the Kings
printer till public opinion breathes the breath
of life into tho dead letter"
The Federal law designed to suppress civil
izltion and uphold ignorant negro and cor
rlpt carpet-bag domination in Louisana-tht
law which the Republicans demand to have en-
| forcod-is infinitely more obnoxious, Oppres
slvo and unconstitutional than those to which
Calhoun and Macaulny referred in such clio
ouent and burning language Of Indignation
These great men knew that laws, however
correct their forms, If contrary to publ
opinion, could not be enforced in u free State
Such laws have always been dend letters, OF
The attempt to enforce them has provoked
violence and not infreguentlY revolution
Such has always been tho case, and such al
ways will be the case.
There aro but two ways by which commu
mites can DO governed-by public opinio'
and by the sword. When the theory Of re
| ,t i,,,, tn,i hn iutaufinn
Republican leaders was to govern the Sout
by military force-by the sword. IT wns /
accordance with this scheme that the Fec
h crnl laws touching the elections In the States
. were enacted. There was no purpose In tn
2 passage Of those obnoxious and uncOn5titt
t tional statutes to protect the freedom {
elections the sole purpose was to protect tn
cnrpet-baggcrs md negroes In defrauding th
white people at tho ballot-box and In tn
: count, and they have been universally used
prosecute rs lhwbreakers and intimidation
those Democrats In Louisiana and South Ca1
olinn who attempted to maintain their right
4 and prevent wholesale frauds on the part (
Radicals they were but the sheath OF tn
, sword So long us the AdministrattO
ruled in q measure, these States by tt
sword those laws were effective, II not In r
9 pressing opposition and often fierce resen
t ment, at least in destroying the freedom
Il elections, which were carried and determine
q at the point of the bayonet.
Now. however, the situation is change
The Democratic sentiment Of the country hi
- forced the fraudulent Administration to IL
- down the sword; to withdraw the troop
70 The States Of South Carolina and Louisial
g. must now be governed by public opinion
their own laws, formed in accord with ii
sentiments Of their people, and for the prote
f. tlon of their interests and their civilization
# or they will not be governed at all. IL
G plain unvarnished truth offers the FEEDER
n authorities simple solution OF all the di1
20 cultics in these two ''bulldozed States"
70. One of the first things Congress should
is to repeal all the Federal statutes which 10
n to any sort or measure Of interference In
~ elections In the South. These laws square
a antagonize the public opinion OF these Stat