Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1871-03-29
The Ku Klur Bill.

Section " Of article lY. Of the
Constitution Of the United States pro
vides this:
"The United States shall guarantee 70 every
STATE in this tiuioa repsbiicau foria Of govern.
meut, and shall protest each Of them froaI iurA-
sion and. % applisatan Of the isg stature. or ol
the Executive, when the LrEiEaiuru canu1t b
eonYcnedl againsl domestic Fiuilusi-t
Itis hardly necessary to point onl
that this provision Is 10 strict barmO.
py with the general spirit and intent
of the Constitution, which carefully
defines and limits the powers Of the
Federal Government, aud in its care
to prevent Capitalization, aimed TO
leave the State organizations all the
powers and duties which thes,assuisi
best exercise. The States are now, rs
Speaker Blaine remarked in his ad-
dress on dissolving the last Congress
al once more represented in Congresss
reconstruction is completed We are
again IN the old course. For a long
time Congress has been legislating
and the Executive actng with no
such strict Difference 10 constitutional
powers, duties and linassztions as was
exacted by public opinion before the
war. Whatever excuses there may
have been for excesscs exists DO long
er. The war closed nearly six years
ago; tie work of reconstruction has
been completed strictly according to
the will and requirements OF Congress,
by executive officers in harmony with
IT, All has been done that Congress
ought 10 do, or that the people will
tolerate.
BHt now come certain men in Con
gress, under the leadership Of General
Butler in the House, and Mr. Morton
in the Senate, and demand still furth-
er interfereuces BY the Federal Gov
orument in the local concerns Of the
States. Ills reported that, TO excuse
their demand for such unconsiituu0n.
al legislation they viii present 90
Congress a report of Southern out
RACES" and ii is said that the Presi.
dent viii send n message TO Congress
urging legislation to authorize him to
interfere in some Of The States with
the military arm.
We hope Congress viii do nothing
Of the kind, and for the single and
sufficient reason that the Constitution
gives il no suthority 70 doso Undor
the Constitution, the States are 70
keep order and pat down violence
within their limits, and the Federal
authority may intcrpOse only at the
request Of the Legislature or Cover
nor Of State. Bat when n Legisla-
ture or Governor makes such request,
the President needs no law Of Con
grcss 10 empower him 10 act.
The disorders in some Souihern
States are lamentable. Most Of them
---,sssid, su-PrUe, disappear ~ once
il all disfranchising laws were repeal
ed but in any case, Congress las no
authority under the Constitution 10
interfere iu these cases. and If Gene.
raj Butler and Mr. Morton wish %
PASS sf0rce bill," thcy ought first 90
bring forward n Consii;utional amend
mcnt authorizing Congress TO pass
such an act
As matter OF mere political expc.
diency, the Republican leaders can do
nothing 50 unwise rs 10 continue their
special legislative interference 10 the
Southern States, i0r the people every
where long 20 return 90 the old and
safe constitutional forms and gnar5s
and viii resent futhCr extra c0nstitu-
tional legislation As a matter OF
policy in tho southern STATES, expert
euce has shown that interference bT
the Federal Government only pcrpet-
uatcs and increases disorders and
the quickest way 20 peace Is 10 cause
al parties in the States 10 understand
that thCy must live together in har.
m0nv OF themselves suffer from ihr
disorders they create, that hereafter
Congress viii pay no attention to
their complaints. except at the request
ola State Legislature, in the Consti-
tuiional form. ~, y. Post, lRldiclL)