, 1874-12-09
EXECUTIVE INTERFERENCE IN TIE
STATES.

That portion of tho PRESIDENTS message
ioyotefl to tho question Of Executive interfer-
enco with the ntfairs Of the States is not only
remarkably concise and pertinent, but states
naauli1ze. Els utterancos upon this question are
80 brief, simple, and yet energetic, that no
one can mistake their meaning, or doubt that
the President Yves thoroughlyin earnest when
ho wrote them. Tho South caunot complain
hereafter that thero is any ambiguity in
the policy Of tho President; md, il Ex-
ccutive interference becomes necessary,
thou tho South will have provoked it
with q full knowledge Of the consequences.
With regard to his general policy, the Prcsi-
dent deprecatca interference, and hopes
s' that all necessity for Executive direction
1nny become unnecessary and obsolete" but
at the same time he warns them TINT, while
no remains tile Executive, "all the laws Of
Congress. and tho provisions Of tile Constr
tuition, including the amendments added
thereto will be enforced with Grmncs3, but
with regret that they should have edled ono
jot or title to Executive duties and powers"
This emphatic announcement OF policy is
coupled with MI earnest moral appeal to the
people Of tho South they would do well to
heed. in making this appeal, the President
takes high moral ground without reference
to party or politics, and addresses himself to
both sides in the following language:
II thesc not disposition, a!dG 10 magnify
Fopgs mud ousrages and On tue other allt. to nst.
directed to correct Survey OF w},at is, a1: 10 re-
tuking wrong, nua aiding tho proper authorities n
ruuiatng II, better state Of fcoilng would 10 incul
catsll uptt tia sooler we would have that pexce which
would Ieayo the States free indeed to regulate their
aoe1 icy IT, a etsss oh hs part a. q, our n
thena,-there IL disposition to Ge aw-aAding, and to
do No 5eeuce either 70 Individuals or tho lsWa cxia
violence aud bloodslel iu resistance 10 constituted
thogttY2
The President follows this unse]lish mud
mlgnalinous appoal with d concise state
1ucnt Of the causo which has led to Executive
interference, namely: "Violcnco has been
rampant in sonic localities, and Inns further
been justified or denied by those who could
hayo prevented it," aud then atates tho
! remedy "Trcat tho negro rs a citizen and n
voter, as lie IL mud must remain, aud soon
parties will bo divided, not OH the color line,
but on principles. Then we shall have no
complaint Of sectional inteyfcrcnceB
This stato,nellt Of tho Presidents policy
should ho carefully studied in tho South, Ho
hns sunk al political considerations, nil party
| pyciulices, and addressed himself to the
common sense md tho conscience Of tic
Southern people. He has pointed out to
tlolu tho eaaisos which have led to Executive
interference in the past, the errors into
which they hive fallen, and the ouly method
in which they cnn nyoid such interference
in the future, and his policy upor
this point is founded not only upon tho Con
stitution and the laws, but upon impartia
Justice aud humane considerations. If thu
South lad acted upon such policy from ths
outeet, there would haye been no occasion
for Executive interference. II tho Soutl. hat
appealed to tho low instead Of overriding it
there would have been order instead Of anar
cly. If it had recognized tho colored ,na,
US citizen aud voter, "as llo is and must 70
,urin," tho South would have becl
aa peaceful es tho North, End the,a
would hive been no moro occasion 70
Executive interference in Louisiana or Arkan
| Eas than there hos been in Illinois or Ohio
Tho violence at Vicksburg, reported III OIL
/ Inst issue, is case iu point. There was III
infornlality III tho bond OF the Sheriff, col
orcd man. The citizens claimed that lle wa
: outing without Legal bond, and tue noard o
Supervisors refused to order Il new one
! Hore wns grievance FOR wl.iGh thor
, was clear hud simple legal remedy. IL
. steal Of ayailjnz themselves Of this remedy
: rs tho citizons Of any Northern State woul
i havo done, thoy band together, will. asrns i
:, their hands, md drive tho Sheriff from III
i Office. Tho friends Of the Sheriff band then
o oclvos together in turn, meet forco wit
!. FORCE aaid lloodshod is tho necessary resul
It This attempt Of tho Democrats nf Vicksbul
i TO get rltl Of Republican county officers III
:: Republican county lly force a,ll violence, Is
;. fair sample Of the manner In Which the l,trt
It Of violence III the South hna tleliutl law M
II sought to carry out its measures by fore
It 10 such, the statement Of the Prosifel
q is both a lecsou mud warllln
y m t,craisf n,,v In,taor thnrefo.n IN trnin,