Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1871-10-05

surround the polls with the Federal army
at the cali of any enc Of the thousands OF
special deputies aud marshals, to be APP
pointed BY Federal authority, on the
affidavit of any wothless and irresponsible
partisan, whose vote has been rejected for
want of registration, these officials may
drag the officers of election from their
seats and cast them into Jail, and in this
and other ways break up the elections
throughout the State. They may, by
their own supervisors, intrude into the
elections. for State and local officers when
held az the same time with elections for
Congress, may supervise and interfere
with the reception, CONTRASTING and return
of votes, and otherwise, in all essential
points, control The election.
But their browning enormity is the act
to er force the fourteenth amendment and
for other purpose passed at the personal
instiga ton of the President himself. That
act clothes the President with the power
to invade at his pleasure any State of the
Union with the army and navy of the
United States, whenever he shall think
ssfs: HotaHn sS I il committed II IN the
stitution. which witbholds the exercise
OF any such power except at the request
of the State itself, and he may suspend
the writ of habeas corpus in such States
at will. though the power to suspend it
is vested by that instrument in Congress,
to be exercised in fit of emergency as
it arises, to be judged of by that body.
Again. where he shall think unlawful
combinations exist in State to obstruct
the execution of the laws of the State or
the United States, $50 numerous and pow
erful as to be able to set the constituted
au thorities at defiance, that may by
him be deemed rebellion, Treason against the
United States, and Ike same measures of
repre- ssion may be employed-tbus max
ing the ability to commit treason, apart
from the intent or overt act, equiva Leaf
to treason itsclf,whic by the Constitution
consists only of overt acts, of hostility a.
gainst the United States or adhering to
to their enemies. giving them aid and
comfort. Thus may the President p rvcl-
aim that rebellion exists in any State, Or
part of State-adjudge who are the
guilty, and punish lhen summarily ty mar
tial lava union of powers IN one
man which makes up the definition of
yranDy-Criminal jurisdiction is vested
in the Federal courts over acis of the citi-
zen. which, by partisan judiciary. may
be brought within the meaning of domes-
tic violence, by any 10 int purpose of two
or more persons. This is but enc among
the numerous acts of the citizen, described
in vague language in this law, under
which, by constructions, or expressly,
jurisdiction will be transferred to the
Federal courts in cases hitherto deemed
to be within the exclusive province of
the State tribunals, and to which, by
this act, enormous pena lilies are attached
And it is significant oft he spirit in which
it is Intended that such prosecution shall
be ex ercised, that no one is allowed to sit
as grand juror, or juror In any jurisdic
tion conducted under the law, who shall
be deemed by the judge to be in compiled
ty with the alleged o6erdern, and who
does not make oath to his innocence of
such completely. 1t will be neted, too,
that the law is not merely shift TO meet
passing emergency. bat declares the
permanent policy of faction in firm
possession of all the powers of the Gov
ernment. All these obnoxious enact
men is are said to be justified by the
authority TO carry liz to effect the recent
amendments to the Cons titution-a pre-
text merely for no such powers are even
remotely implied in the amendments
which are rather restrictions on the States
then grants of power In the General Gov
eminent.
1t was Alexander Hamilton (never sup
posed to be over friendly TO the rights of
Of the States) who declared 1.-The States
can never lose their powers until the
whole people Of America are robbed of
their liberties. These must 60 together.
They must support each other or meet
one common fate" And again ''The
gentleman was afraid the State govern
ments will be abolished. But. sir, their
existence does not depend upon the laws
o. the United States. Congress can no
more abolish the State government than
it cap dissolve the Uuion.'
And if it is not ominous of changes in
the womb of perhaps not distant future,
that unoer Radical administration moi on
" are these invasions of the rights of
States and IF individ uals the common
events of each passing day, but that :he
military force is everywhere supersedipg
the reign of law am ong the people :? By
design, they are made more familiar with
+, he idea of the habitual Use of the United
Sta les in the ordinary operations of the
Cove, rment, and in the language and
acts Of ., 'ch as support is authority
last vear YOU will remember, one of the
chief cities ., the Union saw her polls
surrounded b, Federal soldiers is s and
marines against thu n WIN ' aoo. , nas
Executive. Nay, the 'es, oensa upr av,
scruple to employ it to manage PIMA Ma y
political movements in the ''y ~ ~"
Orleans. when a Radical oo To- 49,
supposed to be unfriendly to his aa'd;o.1
was dispersed by the United States. -
controlled by his own brother-il 'a w.
with cannon and mitralIeuses, Milits
movements in force support the raids o.
revenue officers against unlicensed dis /
tillers, without the slightest warrant to
be found for it in their power to resist the
execution of the law. But when, in the
past year, certain negroes in unlawful
possession (under the action of the Freed
mems Bureau) of lands in Virginia, re-
sisted judgement in ejectment of one of
the State Courts with force too strong for
the sheriff to subdue, and the Governor
Of the State, under a joint resolution of
the Legislature, had obtained from the