Year: 1872

| AAO ArOUOAcs In Aouhshemo-Ino DAN


ger Arising from Our Southern
| Policy.


The HERALD special dispatches from New
Orleans, published to-day, represent q re-
newal of the excitement in that city, and indi-
cate that determined resistance is to be made
to the overthrow Of the State government by
the orders of Judge Durell and the aid of the
federal troops. The leading merchants, bank
ers and business men have held meeting to
consider the situation, and have resolved that
for the security of property and the protection
OF the credit as well as of the liberty of the
State, the duly elected Executive and Legisla-
ture must be sustained at all hazards. They
have therefore guaranteed the payment at par
Of all warrants issued by the State Auditor for
the expenses of the Legislature recognized as
regular by the State authorities and the Audi
tor has signifed his determination to issue no
warrants for Legislative services to any other
body. Backed by this expression of
public sympathy and support the State
Legislature met at the City Hall, and, quorum
being present, organized for business. It
remains to be seen whether the interference of
the United States Circuit Court will go SO far
as to dispense the Legislative body at the point
of the bayonet, or whether the conflict of au-
thority will be taken to the Courts in peace
full manner, and the legality of Judge Durells
action tested by the proper tribunal It is
clear that the moneyed interests of New Or
leans appreciate the vital importance of q
proper judicial decision on the question of
which Legislature is constitutionally and law
fully in session, for on this must depend the
credit of the State and the safety of its bonds.
There is little doubt that the great mass of
the people would resist the payment of taxes
imposed by the Durell- Kellogg Legislature if
it should be suffered to retain power through
the force of the federal troops alone with
out o legal test, and in that event
nothing could save the State from bankruptcy.
Meanwhile Attorney General Williams tele-
graphs, in response to the request of the United
States Circuit Court Legislature for martial
law, 'that whenever it becomes necessary in
the Judgment of the President, the State will
be protected from domestic violence"


What may be the next step in this dangerous
confictit is difficult to foresee. The Supreme
Court of the United States has announced its
decision to hear to-day the application of the
q rule upon Judge Durell, to show cause why
writ of prohibition should not issue upon
him in the case Of Kellogg against Warmoth,
and hence it is possible that fair judgment
as to the legality of Judge Durells action
may be arrived at. Republican organs, how
ever, predict in advance that the Supreme
Court will deny the application and leave the
Custom House party in armed possession Of
tho State right or wrong. At present
all that we know is that the miserable
scramble for Office" as President Grant ex-
presses it, has brought Louisiana to the verge
of anarchy. Indeed, the state Of things in
Alabama and South Carolina is little better.
As consequence federal authority has been
invoked in purely local State affairs, and the
xsderal bayonet is supreme.


The troubles in Louisiana as well as in
Alabama South Carolina and other parts of
the South, arise primarily from the recNn-
struction policy Of Congress, or, more properly
speaking, from the policy of the dominant
radical republican party. In disfranchising
the intelligent and leading men of the South,
and in elevating the whole mass Of ignorant
negroes to political power, we find the cause of
the present deplorable state of things. The
object as is well known, was to secure the
votes of the Southern States so as to
perpetuate the rule Of the radical re-
publican party. This might not be
considered altogether unfair in strictly
party or political sense, and it may be
that any other party would have used the
same advantages for like purpose. Never
theless, this feeling has proved disastrous.
The world cannot be governed by ignorance.
The attempt to govern the South through the
mass Of ignorant blacks, who were just eman-
cipated from slavery and who were not at all
prepared for civic duties, has proved
o lamentable failure, as every statesman
must have seen it would. But, to
make matters worse, the dominant party,
in carrying out its policy, flooded the
Southern States with carpet-baggers, with
men of no means or conscience and no feel
ing of abiding interest in that section of the
country. These unscrupulous and needy ad-
venturers were placed in positions of power
and trust, while those who belonged to and
had q deep interest in the peace and welfare
of the South were ostracised. The miserable
scramble" that President Grant speaks of for
the spoils Of Office is among these very adven-
turers. Still the federal government seems to
adhere to its original policy, Notwithstanding
the frightful consequences that have resulted
from it, for we have seen one faction sustained
in Louisiana and another in Alabama, which
are in accord with the party in power at
Washington, regardless of the will of the peo-
pie, the right Of local self-government, or the
forms Of State law.


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