The Republican journal., 1871-01-12
A VIGOROUS PROTEST.

NEW YORK, Jan. 3. Governor Hoffman in
his annual message to the Legislature, al
ludes in strong terms to the presence Of the
Federal troops in this city on election day
lie says The peaceful conduct of the cleo
ton and the good order of the city were
made to depend on the discretion of hastily
collected, inexperienced and undisciplined
men, some OF them habitulated to felOnous
violations of law, and all of them unused to
the exercise of important trusts of power,
all having been appointed to one political in
terest and having common partisan pur
pose to subserve. The police and civil au-
thorities of the city and State, whose duty it
is to preserve order, We're ignored under in
structions from Washington, as if the people
OF the State were IN rebellion against the
Government of the United States. 1t was
bold attempt on the part of the Federal Gov
eminent to assume absolute control OF the
State and local elections in order to accom-
piish partisan ends; and officials. both judi
cial and executive, seemed determined to
prosecute it without any regard to the rights
either of the local officers or of the people
The law of Congress under which he was
acting required the Federal Judge to appoint
one-half of the whole number Of supervisors
from each political party, yet he deliberately
refused to appoint any of the political organi-
E.tNAJA NliiNH lC "Cll htloW lCI)IcScIltCu tllc
great majority Of voters in the city, Every
popular right was ostentatiously denied, as
if the purpose was to iYritate and excite the
people and to provoke tumult, which might
result in breaking up the election and depriv-
INC the city of its vote The President we'll
knew that the people intended no forcible re-
S4tance to the law Their determination
WAS 10 meet it simply and exclusively by the
force Of public opinion. 1t must have been
apparent to every mind that the interest of
the great majority in the city was to have a
quiet and orderly election. 1t could be the
interest only of minority to provoke an out
break. The President knew, also, that even
ii disorder OF any degree should cnsue, the
whole civil and police power of the State,
sustained by the National Guard, military
organization Of our own citizens, composed
OF men of all classes and all political parties
and maintained by the State to do service as
occasion may demand for the State OF the
United States, and which has never vet failed
III It's duty to either, were both ready and
able TO preserve order and protect all officers
81 the law IN the execution of judicial process
SEES and The discharge Of official duty
Notwithstanding all his, by the PRESIDENT
orders, United States troops were brought
from distant posts and quartered in the city
OF New York, and ships Of war were anchor
cd i'll its harbor. 1t was certainly not I'M
reasonable to expect that the first drop 0
citizens blood shed in the city of New Yorl
hy Federal troops in times of peace NIGH
lead to terrible results, involving great los
of life and untold destruction of property
Therefore, as Chief Magistrate of this State
charged with the duty Of enforcing the law
and preserving order within its boundaries,
used every eXcrtion and made every prepare
ton and provision in my power to preserv
order and protect the people in their rights
their lives and property. At the last moment
that is to say, the afternoon Immediately be
tore the election, the officers of the Unite
States fortunately and wisely abandoned til
extreme ground they had taken, and entere
into stipulation with the local authorities {
New York city, and in my presence, whic
resulted in preventing any armed interference
OF troops either of the United States or {
the State. Nevertheless, it is we'll know
that about two thousand Deputy U. S. MAJ
shals were appointed in the city Of Ne'
York, who were, each one of them, arme
with what is known as the navy revolver
worn in the belt bearing the DESIGNATION r
the Federal Army. They did not. it is true
torn any portion of the regular force of tn
army and navy. They were undiscipline
and without a military commander, but the
were armed by the United States Governmer
and paid out of its treasury, and were st,
toned thus armed at the election polls, havin
been taught that they were the superiors
the lawfully appointed peace officers of IL
State, upon whom the preservation OF ordt
in large city depends. 1t was due to tn
patient forbearance of the people and to tt
earnest cndeavors and great GOODNESS an
discretion of the peace officers OF the cit
that order was preserved.
| deem it my solemn duty to protest, no
formally, against these outrages which. it