The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-09-12
Military Usurpation and Lawlessness
The President Transcending his Duty.
LET THE PEOPLE READ.
The Carpet-Baggers Again Triumphant,
HE PEOPLE READ.
From Tie Ncp lIo5k Sun.

duty anu tne cares vi Oicc5 INC lEeslucnb
has Illuminated one of his reckless orders,
intended to strengthen the hands of the
thieves who, during the last five years of
Grantism, have spread ruin, desolation,
and outrage over the faircst portions of
the Southern States.
He did not wait to hear the other side,
or to investigate the facts connected with
"thc recent atrocities in Louisiana, Ala
bama, and South Carolina, but proceeded
entirely upon one-sided statements made
by the Attorney. General, whose conduct
on other occasions when he played a SINH
lar part, has lndered him utterly unworthy
of any credit or respect
II is notorious that Williams was
erammed with false statements by Kellogg,
Spencer, Patterson, and other carpet-bag-
gers, whose testimony would be questioned
in any court of justice, and whose whole
career as INSCRIPTIONS knayes is branded
with infaym These corrupt adventures
are allowed to direct tho policy of this
Government, affecting the property and
rights Of eight millions Of white citizens.
They do it by using the Attorney General
as an instrument of their vengeance and
vonality.
Everybody knows that no atrocities
have been committed in Alabama or
South Carolina, two States which the
President arraigns with Louisiana. Black
factions in the Georgetown, S. c. district
quarrelled among themselves, under the
lead Of imported negro leaders who we're
fighting for the spoils. Tho whites had
no part or lot in that bloodless battle.
There has been no disturbance in any
other part Of the State, and none is appre-
hended unless it be melted by Patterson
and his purchased gang, with the object of
procuring troops for their support
Alabama is peaeeable throughout her
borders, and has been so all along Re-
spectacle white Republicans who hereto
fore supported the Administration have
turned their backs upon it in disgust aud
now refuse to vote for Hays, Pelham, and
other sealawags who sustained the Civil
Rights bill, which they believe will de-
grade their children and destroy their
means of education. That is the only
"atrocity they have committed.
In Louisiana crime has been perpc.
trated which deserves severe punishment
no matter how great may have been the
provocation. So, too, in Tennessee, which
the President has strangely omitted from
his arraignment, though the ''atrocity'
there has attracted more attention than all
others together Perhaps he was not
aware Of the fact, aud thus can plead the
ignorance which he did three years ago, in
suspending the writ Of habeas corpus in
one Of the counties of South Carolina
which was not even charged with the
offence upon which martial law was pro
claimed in Others.
The crimes in Louisiana aud Tennessee
are punishable under the State laws, and
the authorities in both cases have asserted
their proper jurisdiction. There is hardly
a doubt but that the offenders will be
brought to justice, and then only can the
whole truth be known. The information
thus far obtained leads to the belief that a
conspiracy was organized in Louisiana by
a few desperate carpet baggers, to ineite
negroes to commit outragcs on the whites
in one Of the towns where their numbers
could overpower resistance. The knowl-
edge of this plot led to the summary treat
ment Of the white ringleaders. The Ten
nessee affair does not seem TO have had
this pretext, and has been denounced at
public meeting in Memphis called on that
account, by Jefferson Davis, Gen. Forrest
and others, quite as strongly as in this
latitude. Gov. Brown, without waiting
for details, acted vigorously to bring the
criminals to account, with all the power of
his Office.
1t is difficult for people at distance in
the enjoyment of all tho privileges Of free.
men to realize the actual situation of South
ern society in the reconstructed States
Trampled upon by alien adventures !;
neglected or oppressed by Congress !;
threatened with force at every election !;
impoverished by war; their remaining
substance stolen before their eyes crushed
by combinations of carpet baggers and
negroes, and their wives and daughters
insulted and outraged beyond all former
experience, it is not surprising that these
sporadic outbreaks should occur when new
wrongs are menaced.
Still these acts are not to be justified
Every crime Of this kind provokes only
more oppression, and is gladly seized upon
by the Administrator us a pretext for
imposing still worse penalties. At last
the punishment falls upon the mass of the
innocent population Of the South, whose
first interest is peace and good relations
with the colored race, which would prevail
but for the wicked interference Of incen.
diaries employed to stir up strife.
No law Of the United States was offend
ed which called for the Intervention Of the
President. Neither of the Governors
made any demand for the aid which the
Constitution authorized in certain contin-
gencies. II was therefore gratuitous,
offensive, and unauthorized exercise Of
power, wholly prompted by low partisan
motive, and designed to intimidatc the
whites at the coming elections, whose sue
cess the kclloggs, Spcnccrs, Pattersons,
and that tribe began to fear, in spite of
the support Of the Administration.
Neither is there any doubt that the
public money is to be poured out again by
millions to -olong tho rule Of these mis-
creauts in the South. Although the Presi-
dent has made these atrocities" the
subject of quasi proclamation, he does
not purpose TO give up his ease at Long
Branch, but has turned over the whole re
sponsibility to the retained counsel of the
carpet-baggers in these words;
AN proceedings for tho protection of the
South Il. e., Kellogg, Spencer, Patterson and
Company viii be under the law department
Of the Government, aud will be directed by
the Attorneys General in accordance with the
provisions OF the enforcement acts.
Williams was quick to improve his
chance. SO he issued circular to United
States marshals and attorneys as follows I.
{" eonsderit my duty, iu view Of these
circumstances, to instruct you to proceed with
all possible energy and despatch To detect,
expose, arrest, and punish the perpetrators OF
these crimes; and to that end you are 10