Smyrna times., 1872-11-27

On THE WAR-PATH. The Deldwdrean is
on the war-path again, and is bidding defiance
to the General Government as in war times,
because tax collector of New Castle county
q Democrat, was tried by United States
Court and convicted, under the enforcement
act of Congress, of "wilfully and knowingly
abridging the rights of colored men ''by making
false returns to the Levy Court" 1t says that
such Ito it) odious acts will not only justify
but will require Legislative action for the pro-
tecticn of the good people of the State" 1t
states further, and speaks as one having
authority, that g No half way measures will
meet and remedy the evil. Let it be thorough
and efficient, and let Radicals in Congress and
out of it learn that Delaware Democrats know
how to protect themselves. This is of a
piece with the suggestions of that paper dur
ing the war, when the legislature put every
obstacle in tie way of the Government it dare,
consistent with its own safety, and left burden
upon the tax payers as the sequel to its folly.
All this balderdash is as senseless as the
"Pope's bull against the comet" The Gov
eminent is bound to protect all its citizens in
the rights it has guaranteed to them. Judge
Strong, in his charge to the jury that convicted
Mr.. Given stated that Congress has no power
TO compel State officers to perform an act not
required by the State, but ,Chcre hey are so
required, Congress may take judicial coguizsnce
of the fact, in order to prevent indirect dssdd-
DieRt of rights guaranteed Ly the Constitution.
He charged that an omission to collect or re-
. Al al
States, IF done ,oith rie,o to discriminate as
to race or color; so with false returns, if made
tciKinglg
This is plain statement of the case which
the DelaUareaR takes for a text to preach
sermon against the General Government. 1t
does not deny the guilt OF Mr. Given. He was
convicted by jury composed of citizens of the
highest reputation, among them such Demo
Gratis as Fl. q. Banning, Francis Barry, and
three others. But instead of condemning Mr..
Given for his disgraceful conduct it assails the
United States court for convicting him.
The indictments against the Collectors and
Levy Court of New Castle county show the
determination Of the Republicans to secure to
all citizens their rights under the laws of the
State and Congress. If by securing this right,
strength is added to their party, there can be
no just cause of complaint. Hundreds of
colored men were disfranchised at the last
election by such processes as were proven
against Mr.. Given. To secure their enfrau-
chisement by legal means is all that is proposed
by the Republicans-nothing mere, nothing
less. To try to thwart their effort, upon the
pretext thatt is an unjust Federal interference
with the rights of the States, shows the animus
Of the ring" against the colored vote, and
gives additional argument in favor of the en-
forcement act, which its organ so fercely
assails
The insinuation that District Attorney Hig.
gins hunted cases merely to secure fat salary
from the Government for the legal services of
q relative, Mr.. Spruance, is contemplate, and
will provoke a smile at the pot for calling the
kettle black. And its assertion relative to
'Radical paEtizans" in this county, that their
highest conception Of the duty of the citizen
is to prevent honest whits men from voting,
while they would stuff the baIlot-box with
illegal negro votes,' is well calculated to kill
whatever effect it would have its article pro-
ducs in the minds OF reasonable men.