The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1870-08-18
The New Republican Rule of Fed
eral>MmaerEerence with


Elections.
On the eve of the elections in Ken |
lucky, Tennessee and North Carolina,
Mr.. Grants Attorney General issued
circular to United States District Attor-
neys, Marshals, and Commissioners, in
closing copy of the act passed at the re-
cent session of Congress, to enforce the
Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments,
and informed them that they would be
required to carry its provisions into eff
feet
The law was passed in conformity TO
the policy of the Republican party to
prolong its ascendany and had especial
reference TO the Southern States in which
Mongrel governments had been set up
against popular consent in the interest of
Republicanism.
The provisions of this law are printed
in another column 1t has been properly
called force bill-a vile expedient of
desperate demagogues and usurPers to
continue their hold upon the purse and
sword..of the country. Mr.. Cox, Demo
cratic member Of Congress from New
York, pending the measure, aptly said
that it would turn out ''forcible fee
ble' affair "A bill with pains and pen
''alties so excessive and extraordinary,
$50 largely disproportionate in their
equality of punitiOn to the crimes alleg-
"ed, will fail" 1t has certainly failed
in its intended effect in the States
above named; but it will prove effective
| in accommodating the elements of Opposi-
ton which is undermining the founda-
tons of the Republican party. The bill
is monstrous in its design to place under
the control of the Federal forces every
thing that relates to the elective franchise.
While it is intended to bear especially up
on the South which is the chosen object
of Republican vindictivness, like the fif
teenth amendment, it has the merit of
applicability to all sections, and will
therefore array the friends of free gov
eminent in all parts of the Union against
it,
In violation of the doctrine of local
selfgQvernment and the constitutional
right of the people of the States TO man
age their own elections, this bill will
create a swarm of officials, and federal
spies, on the watch for costs, penalties
and fines. 1t offers reward for ''infor-
nation, and places a premium upon per-
jury. 1t degrades State officers and
makes them responsible to federal au-
thority for the manner of discharging
their duties. Itopens an unlimited field
for extortion, perjury and vindictive pun
ishment. Section declares ''that if
''any person shall prevent, hinder, con-
''trol, or intimidate, or shall attempt to
"prevent, hinder, control, or intimidate
''any person from exercising, or in eXcr-
''cising the right Of suffrage to whom the
fright of suffrage is secured or guaran-
cited by the fifteenth amendment to the
Constitution of the United States, by
"'means OF bribery, threats, or threats of
"depriving such person of employment,
exc, he shall be deemed guilty of
highly penal ofense, punishable by fine
land imprisonment.
Now, what is 10 constitute "hinde ring;
or what is to constitute controlling" The
language is Intentionally indefinite in its
meaning to give the widest scope for of
fetal intermedling in elections. Taken
in connection with sec. 4, it will be en-
plOyed as an instrument of outrageoUs
wrong. Section offers a bride to base
men to procure the appearance of vio-
lation of the provisions of sec. 5, and
then preferring criminal charges to drag
white citizens into the United States
Courts, for the purposes of persecution
and plumber The bill gives TO each
complainant $500 with full costs and such
allowances for counsel fees as the Court
shall deem just-thus further to procure
perjury and to encourage prosecution.
But we have not space nor is it worth
while to elaborate the various points cf
the measure. 1t is gigantic abomina-
ton, hideous in allits parts; and eminent
ly expressive of the desperation and cor
ruption of the Republican party.