Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1871-11-22

"
disorganizers and aspirants for office
for men who have little interest at
stake in the State beyond what they
can make out of the Offices or the dis.
ruption of civil government. No
doubt there have been dcplorable out.
RACES upon individuals by local bands,
and probably tho Civil Rights bill of
Congress may have been violated in
some cases. No good citizen would
attempt to justify these But such
crimes are not peculiar to South Caro-.
lima. Crimes as bad or moro hoinous
arc committed in all States, and it
would be easy enough to attribute
them TO Klu Klux if it should suit the
federal government to do so for po
litical ends. Indeed, there might be
no limit TO federal interference in the
local affairs of the several States, or
even in this city Of New York, if the
proclamation of martial law is to fol.
low the commission of similar crimes
as those perpetrated in South Carolina.
Should the clamor Of u few partisan
politicians be heeded more than the
principles of local self government,
upon which the fabric of our inslitu-
tions rests, there will be an end to
civil liberty.
1t is u curious fact, showing the
recklessness Of the administration in
the high handed course it is pursuing,
that one Of the most quiet counties in
the State of South Carolina, that OF
Marion, is included in those placed
under martial law, while the work OF
Ku KluX county-Union-is omitted
This Governor Scott, it is said, admits
though ho says, in pallitation Of the
conduct Of the administration, ii must
be a clerical error Ifit be necessary
to put portion of South Carolina un
der martial law, for crimes against
individuals, what should bo done in
North Carolina, where a few bandit,
successfully defed all the constituted
authorities? 4? Nothing has occurred
in South Carolina since the war com.
parable to the frightiul dcpredations
and defiant conduct Of these bandits
in the adjoining State cnlrcnched in
the swamps for months and commit
ting the most diabolical murders and
other fearful crimes. So we might re-
fer to the hanging ofnegroes in Tenn
essee recently by the populaco with
out law in defiance Of the authorities
for outragcs committed on white wo
men, or to many other lawless acts
both in the South aud North. Where
in fact, would there not be found I
prcteXt for the exercise of fedora
military authority if the government
should wish to strain the law for that
purpose. or had u political object tc
accomplish
The President believes perhaps, that
he is doing his duty. We are not will
ling TO think otherwise. Bat, unior
ltunately he is not a civilian, ana hu'
little .onportunifJ- 60 study State al
fairs, in the light of civil and constitu
tional law. His training has been
military and his mind is imbued with
military ideas. No doubt he is a pa
lriot and wishes well to the country
and believes, probably, that he la:
intuitively tho same capacity to gov
crn in peace as he had to command in
the war; but if he would have his
name 90 down to posterity as states
man he must leave the camp and drop
the sword-he must in time of peace
respect above all things tho civil law
and civil liberty. And will he not
have some regard for the anomalous
and trying situation of those poor
Southcrners, who, though they erred
are brave and high spirited people
of our own race and blood ? Can he
not see the humiliatng position they
are placed in, particularly in South
Carolina, in being political slaves tc
their former domestic slaves-an in
telIigent and cultivated population
put under the rule Of ignorant and
semi savage negroes and corrupt
strangers, who have little or no inter
est in the State, except to rob ity Has
he no bowels Of compassion for these
unfortunate people of his own blood
under such trying circumstances 7 We
think, as we said, before, that he
means well; but he has been led
doubtless, to extreme measures, which
are cruel to the people Of South Caro-
lima and dangerous to civil liberty, by
partizan and narrow minded politi
clans who care only for their own i'm
mediate interests. The President
should know that he can make more
political capital and win the good will
of the generous American people, both
North and South, more by kind and
liberal policy TO the Southerners than
by military coercion, "Lot us have
peace" seems to be his favorto motto,
and he can have peace in the South
as well as good will everywhere, by
abandoning his military idea of gov
ornment and making the civil law
supreme in every section ofour com
mon country.