The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1879-06-18

1t is true that O majority OF the tax
payers of this State regarded the
Kellogg and Warmoth governments
as fraudulent, and established in vio-
lation of the Constitution of the
United States and of this State, yet
this question has been long since
adjudieated on by both the Execu-
tive and judicial departments of the
government, and is not now an open
question. Basing their right to re-
pudiate the debt contracted during
these two administrations on The le-
gal ground that the governments
were not de jwre, but fraudulent and
revolutionary, we think was as infe-
licitous as it is untenable, and there
fore weakens the report of the com.
mittee. The elaborate argument Of
Judge Land, reciting authorities to
sustain the position, has not changed
our opinion. In fact, so far as legal
argument goes, the opposition to re-
pudiation has decidedly the advau-
tage, and if the battle is to be fought
and decided on the law and adjudica-
tions of the courts, we fear the PEG.
pie will get no relief from taxation.
The Constitution of the United
States declares that no State shall
pass any law that will impair the
force and effect Of an obligation of
contract, aud the Convention has no
more authority to impair the force
of an obligation by an ordinance,
than the Legislature has by an act.
Now in law, the government of KEEL
logg being recognized by the proper
authorities as the lawful government
Of Louisiana, it follows that any debt
contracted or any act performed BY
this government not in violation OF
the Constitution, is legal and bind
ing on the people of the State
Should this question be left to the
no doubt they would affirm
the validity of the debt, unless it
could be Substantially shown that
it was created in fraud, or in viola
ton of the Constitution.
But we do not regard the question
of scaling the debt legal, but pc
lltical one-we prefer to justify our
actions on the broad ground of
necessity, the insolvency of the State
and people, rather than resort to TN.
certain legal propositions, that can
not be maintained. Like old Thad
Stevens, when the reconstruction
measures were before Congress, he
declared the right to pass them could
not be found in the Constitution, but
on the outside of it. 1t was neces
sity to perpetuate the power of the
"loyal aud true'' to give the rebelli-
Gus States to the Republican party,
and this was sufficient reason why
the measure should pass. Political
necessity made the right. So say
we In this instance. The power to
adjust, scale or repudiate the State
debt Is not found In the Constitution
or the laws, but on the outside of
them, the necessity of living and
supporting our families. The fact is
that these same reconstruction meas
ures were the cause of our financial
troubles, as these spewed into exist
ence Warmoth and Kellogg, and the
swarm Of vampires that preyed on
our substance, and as there was no
warrant for this great crime in the
Constitution, we no not propose to
look for constitutional right to re
lieve ourselves of the burdens which
they placed on us.
The statistical facts Of Mr..
Semmes, showing the rapid progress
of the State in prosperity, is very
we'll on paper, but it is not in accor-
dance with the every day experiences
OF planters, merchants, mechanics
and lawyers. For they have wit
messed, the decline of business, and
their labor each year but brings them
a bare subsistence. With but a few
instances, we venture the as
sertion that the people of this Parish
are poorer than they were ten years
ago. While the agricultural pro
ducts may be as great as they were
before the war, yet the tax-paying
land owner receives only about one
third of the proceeds after paying
all expenses. Before the war ditch
ing, fencing, blacksmithing, carpen-
sering, 10 fact, everything that was
necessary for the repairing and i'm
proving property, was done by the
hands on the plantations. Now all
,hese have to be paid for, at heavy
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