The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-04-20
Tho Renewal OF the Ku Klux Act.

corpus, expires by Limitation at the close
of the present session of Congress. The
! dominant faction would undoubtedly
have made perpetual q prerogative Of
power so irresistible hs this section con-
iers upou their chief, had they dared
the experiment. Even in Radical
Congress-, it was necessary, in order to
cure the passage of the bill, to limit it's
duration to very brief period. But as
the steps of child are to the stride of q
full-grown man, SO ore the advances
upon popular rights and justice by sci.
fish ambition, heightened and accelc-
rated as it advances to tho maturity OF
despotism. A bill to extend tho opera.
tions Of. the fourth section Of this alto
gether odious Act is special order OF
the Senate for Monday next. To extend
it how long? Until short time beyond
the close of the Presidential campaign.
Failing OF which, if they should full by
reason Of the opposition of the Demo
Gratis nnd liberal Republicans, it is an
nounced to be the intention Of the Ra,ll-
oals to take o recess when tho time for
adjournment arrives, until November 80,
thus prolonging the session for tho pnr-
pose of prolonging the existence of the
statute until the campaign is over.
Now, what is this privilege which it
seems to vex the Administration SO
gricvously to see in the possession OF tie
people? What is this right which, since
the days OF Runnymede and King John,
has been held 80 precious by the people,
and defended with such desperate jeal-
ousy by patriot statesmen and warriors?
What IS this popular idol which, for
hundreds Of years, has been so feared
and hated by tyrants? It is simply the
humble and homely right of trial in ac-
cordarce with the law of the land. Ha.
6eas corpus arc the initial words of the
ancient writ issued 10y Il Judge of compe-
tent Jurisdiction, commanding civil
officer to have or produce the body of
the accused in court, that the offence
charged against him may be duly in
quirea into. 1t is, indeed, but homely
right, but it clothed the representatives
of law with powers which dciieC the
most absolute monarch, opening The
walls of prisons, overaweing the unions
OF civil and military drspots, and cx.
tending to all culprits, whether innocent
or guilty, tie privilege Of meeting their
accuscrs and making their defence. L,
it not " monstrous thing tLnt safe
guard OF individual right, so humble aud
natural as this-a safe guard Of personal
freedom SO Inherent and esotcric in that
common sense Of justice which all men
inherit as to have impellcd the English
barons, i'll the midst of the oppression
of the dark ages, to wrest it from the
prerogatives of the crown in AL express
grant to tho subjects it not m0nstrous
that this same Safeguard, this common
and natural and legal right, is denied to
its citizens in time of peace by the model
repablic OF tho nineteenth century?
The Constitution of the United States,
rs of EDglnnd, guarantees to the citizon
the privileges OF this writ, with the sole
reservation that it may DO suspended
during war or insurrection. Opinions
vary us to the extent to which this uu-
t!lority may be lawfully exercised during
active hostilitics, but iii time Of peace it
Inns no cclor OF constitutional warrant ut
all. The most shameless and proiligate
apoiogist of power and corruption would
dare assert pretcnsc go false and absurd.
Hence it became necessary to Justify the
opposition vi South Carolina ANA the
other Southern States by falsely assnm-
ing that they were in condition Of in
snrrrc.ion or rebellion. Under the
guisn of this subtcrfuse The Enforce
,ucHl VI hu NluA plll WIS pas eel, giving
The President, among other powers. that
Of declaring martial law when he thought
proper, and thereby suspend Tie right to
II writ OF huJe0S co,pMs.
But what is Inc prc!cXt for The con.
tinnance OF this outrage? TIE only riot
which has occurred III Southern State
Eor many months was the negro riot AZ
Chicot, III which wLitc citizens were
hanged and shot ;,nl driven :.om their
homes by The wards Of the nation. The
hundreds OF business men and owners ci
the soil who were imprisoned OH negro
testimony III South Carolina quietly sab
m:ttcd to their fate, and were ic!. hy
ti.c!r ncighbors 10 be led to prison and
whatever doom might be awarded thea.
Wrongs were undoubtedly co!M.nit:ed h.
white men fer which scarcely any punish
uAcht could DC too severe, FOR there are
40 greater enemies to tho country 1t.
large than those misguided wretchc;
whose mistimed folly gave rise 10 the In
hlnX bugaboo. But Tie sequel hns
provcn that the civil law n;.d IL, oriina-
rs constnbnlary force were aDnndnntiy
oI"al to al the requirements oi Justice.
IL Il single sheriff hal bcon in.m,lltcd
from the arrest OF IL supposed llu Klnx
IL Il United States mursual had even ~.