The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-08-24

ton, is manifestly and palpably unnecessary
and when the war power is resorted to by Great
ing merely constructive incapacity of the courts
TO act-as the Ku- klpx law certainly does-there
is yiolent and gross usurpaton of power, excl
cised through mere fictions OF law. ~ a ~
The whole schemeof Ihe FEDERAL SUBSTITUTION is
by such legislation dislocated and reversed for
whereas the Constitution has placed the rights
which II secures under tbs. projection of the judi
cial power, for theFery PURPOSE OF making a re-
sort TO the military arm unnecessary, and where
as the courts are at all times able to act when
there are ne actual distractions to the exercise
of their powers, the creation by Congress of the
oretical and fictitious distinctions as excuses for
the establishment of martial law, Is trick of in
gen,pty thatcan. find no Justification in the con
stit,fton.
The above, from the World, is the pith
of a labpred argument against the u-Klax
law, the temperate yet firm enforcement of
the law alarming the Democracy, of which
the Vorldclaims to4be ths special organ. i
I Now that the iron hand of leaden-footed
justice is laid upon those who for many
months past have been actively employed
in terrorizing over Republicans in Southern
States, the World fears that the reaction
of popular sentiment will be fatal to its
cherished hopes Of allowing none but
Democratic ballots to be cast at the COM
ing elections and that, in addition to
liberated Republicans, many honest men,
who have hitherto voted with the Demo-
Gratis, will cast their ballots On the side of
law and order, repudiating Democracy and
its reactionary measures Of violence and
coercion.
| But the World confesses judgment
against itself, and admits the propriety and
constitutionality of the Ku-Klux law, under
a certain state of facts which facts, the
iWotld itself cannot deny, the investigation
of special Congressional committee, (of
which several of its political friends are
members,) show clearly, exist in most of
the States lately in rebellioi1.ss / sG1s
| .m"When there is no actual obstruction to
the administration Of justice,' the Ku-Klux
law sis manifestly and palpably unneces-
sary y but as it sis manifestly and palpa-
blyp a fact, and not "mere fictions of law"
that there have been numerous and violent,
, not Constructive" but "actual .obstruc-
tons to the administrations Of justice" in
many of the Southern States a remedy
for the wrong, becomes necessary (even &C.
cortlng to the W@ld's argument and the
Ku-Klux law was enacted as the remedy.
It is folly 70 talk about the doors Of the
courts being open, if the aggrieyed is ''lostD
on his journey thither, under the murderous
guidance Of disguised ruffiians or II, by
| extraordinary good fortune, he enters the
open portals, to find his fate in the hands
of twelve men, who are either the tools or
4 confederates of his prosecutors. When the
"courts in a State are all open and in full
| OPERATION" and the midnight sittings of
/ Judge Lynch and his inyrmidons at cross
roads, have been discontinued !; when the
i officers of the former can execute legal pro-
cess, and the riiffiians who wait on the lat
ter are not sent to execute illegal punish
ment in other words, when suitors can
obtain, and the courts and their legal Off
GERS can grant to every citizen, equal rights
before the law, and execute righteous
judgement" we will cheerfully, nay glad
| ly, concur with the World that the Ku-Klux
lawis unnecessary" The Constructions
4 to the administration of justice" are the
work Of Democrats of which the World is
the mouthpiece. Let it address itself to
Il them, and if its arguments are effective, the
Ku-Klux law will soon be numbered with
the things of the past. it 1aiiaN
| .s. "a