Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1871-09-09
Martial Law.


Governor Scott Of South Carolina has gone
10 Washington, Tor the purpose Of inducing
the President to take measures for quietins the
Ku Klux disturbances in certain sections Of
that home oF Secession. It is stated in the
Washington papers, that the matter has been
discussed in Cabinet meeting, as 90 whether
Martial Law should be declared there in order
10 repress the oUtrages complained o. 1t is
also surmised, that there is not entire unanimi-
~ among the Executive advisers as to the pro
priety and eXpediency Of resorting 10 such ex-
tremo measures, aud the question Of the au-
lhority Of the President 20 declare Martial Law
has been submitted for The decision of the At
torney General, whose opinion upon tho sub
iect will be read at the next Cabinet meeting
Some moves must be made upon the politi-
cal chessboard in order to a judicious arrange
meut Of combatants, in view Of the coming
game for the Presidency As things now go
Gen. Grant is emphatically master Of the stu
alton, and bids fair to hold his own, notwith-
standing Chief Justice Chase is strongly urged
by many Of the disafected Radicals.
So far as bayonet-rule in South Carolina is
concerned, and the overriding Of State authori-
ty by Federal force, it Is not such an outrage"
as it once would have been deemed in the bet
Ger days Of the Republics common have
such stretches of Executive interference become
in the South, in carrying out the ideas Of pro-
gressivism, that they almost cease to attract
public attention.
Cautiousness on The part Of Grants friends
now seems to be necessary, however, in order
that the party maynotbe divided in the South
The old proyerb says, that it is a bad rule
that won't work both ways" We therefore
commend to y Executive and his constitl-
sioual adyissFI thefollOwing instances of Union
League Ierr kism in North Carolina, State
which naS $50 recently voted truly loily "
ag2lSsS1 convention.
LEAGUE TERRORISM IN NORTH CARoLINA.-
y correspondent Of the New York Sun, writ
ing from Rocky Mount, n. c., August q,
gives a catalogue Of outrages committed upon
oolored men by members ofthe Union Leagues.
The writer specifies the following instances:
AT Spartansburg, in Wilson county,
oolored man was shockiugly beaten by band
Of negroes for expressing an intention Of yot-
ing for his employer, conservative, a Mr.
Barnes Near Brattleboro, Edgecomb county,
a colored man was seized while in his corn
field, by band Of colored leaguers, bound and
threatened with summary violence He was
released upon engaging to vote the League
ticket. The sheriff Of Nash county states that
oneOf bis hands, named Harry, came to him on
the eve Of the late convention election and told
him that orders were come from Raleigh TO
the League that any colored man who votes
for the convention was to be punished. Harry
was terrified into voting with the League
Wright jenkins, a colored man who had vot-
cd the conservative ticket, was twice set upon
by Leaguers, and made his escape after a hard
chase, through his superior speed. Riland
SOyey, at DOrtch's PTecint, four miles from
Rocky Mount, came to the polls with a con-
sentative ticket, which a white man, who act
cd as commander Of the League, compelled
him to change on the spot for League ticket
and vote it. Aud 50 on through long cata-
logue."
Can't a Congressional Committee be sent
down there next session to investigate this in
fringsment Of African rights Or, is that eff
Gent remedy Of protection only allowable in
this free government Of ours, when it happens
that an out-and-ous supporter Of the admins
tration is KuKluxed? But ives oppose, that
we are not sufficiently indoctrinated with pro-
greSsiye ideas or that we are too oId-fogyish in
believing that life, liberty, and the pursuits
Of happiness should be secured to all citizens,
irrespective of color or previous condition.
Such instances Of oppression for daring to
exercise the dearest rights Of manhood are by
no means confined to the tarry regions of the
Turpentine state,-they are witnessed at every
election in the Federal City, within sight of
the Goddess of Liberty, upon the dome of the
Capitol. We have even had an exhibition Of
this spirit in our own streets.