Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1872-07-19
"BayOnet Legislatlon."

SOME of the pretexts which are, given
for opposition to the National Admins
tration and the Republican party, come
with a particularly i'll grace from those
who make them. Conspicuously, the
charge of Capitalization OF power, OF
"bayonet legislation" +" illustrates the weak
ness of those who have taken active part
| in all the acts for establishing order at
the South, and who now denounce those
measures in the height of their success.
The great steps toward "centrallzatlon,
| If anv have been taken, are the amend
ments to the National Constitution, per-
fecting emancipation, comforting civil
rights, maintaining the national credit,
and assuring free ballot. Is it against
these that assault is now to be directedg
! If this is the offense of the Republican
party, let proclamation be issued, ana
! let the verdict of the country be pro
nounced. For in those amendments are
written the victories of the war: Begin
ming there, cry against centrallzation Is
ineligible. The persons who deny the
validity of these new guarantees OF 1ree-
dom. which, for the first time, under our
republican system complete and symmet-
rical, submit for adjudication question
which the American people will NOT pe
slow to decide.
Out of these amendments have sprung
two. and only two laws of especial i'm
portance. A constitution will not enforce
itself. Statutes must apply their princI-
pies, and assign the duties of courts. 80
far as criticism is directed against tne
Administration, it runs against laws en-
acted, and no pretense is put forward
that the President has exceeded by an
iota his legal authority. The two laws TO
which partisans now take exception are
the enforcement act and the Ku-klux
act Neither of these involves claim
for Federal sovereignty so broad and
sweeping as is embodied i'll the Internal
Revenue law. That puts the strong band
on the citizen and his property, and en-
tiers his home and extorts the inmost Sc
crets of his life. The Republican party
makes haste to mitigate and remove that
necessity of the war, with little help from
Democrats or their new allies VI that
inquisitOrial and arbitrary exercise Oh
national power, our enemies say little,
for the speedy removal of it is one of the
greatest triumphs of the present Admin
stration and of the Republican party IN
Congress.
Upon two laws, then, the Indictment
must proceed, if at all. The Enforce
ment act was passed May 81, 1871, and
its purpose and character are designated
by its title "To enforce the right of cit
izens of the United States to vote in the
several States of the Union who have
hithe rto beer denied that right on ac-
count of race, color or previous condltlon
of servitude" The law naturally and
wisely limited and defined the methods
by which the rights of our new citizens
should be secured and one of its leading
features is the placing in the courts NJ
powers which might have been conhded
10 the Executive. For example, the
, officers designated to watch and verify
registry and elections, are appointed by
the courts Observe the time and cir
cumstances which called for this law.
The validity of the amendments was de-
MED by great party and by many States.
They must be enforced. The mode was
not left to the choice of the President.
1t was carefully defined by written stat
ute, and so far as could be, the duty was
: imposed on the courts. Even Senator
4 Trum6ull supported the bill on its pas
f sage. His intense dread of bayonet
: legislation" took no alarm at its pro-
visions. Clearly the Liberals" do not
. base their charges against the Republican
party upon the Enforcement act of 1871
/ In 1871, the Democratic minority OF
t committee of the Senate of the United
r States, speaking Of North Carolina said !:
n "All the disorders which exist in that
SJdIp, were CI6dlCu ny
and unconstitutional legislation of Con-
y gress, in regard to its government" So
Democratic Senators admitted that dis
r orders existed, and they were political in
character What was true of North Caro-
lima, was true in worse degree of other
States Murder, mutilation and outrage
were perpetrated on unoffending citizens
/, only because they were Republicans. An
investigation committee was appointed +;
the Ku-KluX law was passed; and to
many States, almost wholly, and to all IN
!, good part, quiet and order have been re-
stored. This has been done by due pro-
cess of law, except that an Executive
i, proclamation of warning was issued In
two cases. This law, after full discus
sion, was passed The Tribune earnestly
demanded it. Among others, Senators
Fenton, Schurz, Trumbull, Upton, who
are now "Liberal apostles, and de
nounce bitterly "bayonet legislation,
n, claimed to be good Republicans after its
passage. Clearly their antagonism is MOI
to the Ku-KluX act of 1871, which has
achieved such beneticent results.
-e Nor is such criticism based on the Re
% construction laws, by which the severa
.e States were restored to loyalty and repre-
sentation; fol these men participated II
their passage. Moreover, those acts hav'
accomplished their purpose, and passed
into history. AS things of the past
they cannot divide parties in present &C
, u ton.
I What, then, is the "bayonet legisla
IN ton" which alarms the timid nerves o
"a persons, who, failing to control patron
K age, seek preteXt for opposition to thu
lie Republican partyg The issue has beel
nc created during the past session of Con
ye gress. The moderation of the Republican
IN party could not be more strongly ex
ne pressed than in the fact that the onl
&c provision of law. even in preteXt, repres
u; sive, passed at the recent session, author
ly ICES witnesses of the election of Repre-
IL sentatives and Presidential Electors. i
ne some Southern States intimidation an
ar violation, at elections, are alleged
at Difficulty has existed to obtain ties
IN timony, and threats and danger ar
ne assigned as the reason. Here is a
ty evil which might bring into dii
#, pute a Presidential election or the pc
'h litical complexion of Congress. TIL
e9 remedy proposed is not "bayonets, " is nc
eu the interference of the President 1t
ne simply that the United States Courts
TO when requested, shall designate two wi
10 nesses, one from each party, to observ
AT the proceedings at elections, so that, |
H. contested cases. sure evidence can he OF
ne tanned Should they be driven away
VI violence will be apparent. Their presenc
&c will go far to guarantee regular ballotin
Is; and honest returns. Is there reasons
ed BILE citizen who says that the eye of tn
ng Republic shall not be over the election
is, in which its very existence is involved
he Could there be a less Objectionable metl
lis cd TO guard against alleged intimidatio
De- and violence2 Yet absolutely this is tn
Is. whole sum of legislation, repressive, Gel
Ter tralizinp desnotic. which Congress. at /
81 recent session, placed on the statut
lie books. The pretext of ''bayonet legisl
M tion" advanced for opposition to the r
So publican party, has less basis than Il
mists of the morning, Utica (N ~ lie
aid.