The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-12-15
THE ENFORCEMENT ACTS.

Nothing has proven so lruitiuia souree
of mischief and trouble in the country,
as the so-called enforcement acts. Not
only have they been used to secure party
ascendency, but they have always offered
a ready and convenient excuse for over
ruling the wishes, and overawing the
citizens of certain States by means Of
United States soldiery.
So far had this spirit advanced, that
crimes over which the States had clear
and entire jurisdiction, were taken notice
of by the general government, 1t claiming
that under the provisions ofthese acts, 1t
had supreme right and power to take cog
nizance, and dispose of them as 1t thought
hest II IS very easy to see then, what
considerable power, thus was vested
in the hands of one man,
and what dangerous provocative this
power became, especially when it was
exerted by reckless, vindictive and
ultra partisan Attorney-G eneral. But,
along with many other blessings recent
" vouchsafed othe country, we are glad
to see that spirit of justice administered
by United States Judges is prevailing
AGAINST the odious and tyrannous deeds
perpetuated under covering of these
acts.
Our readers will remember how, short
time ago, dastardly outrage was COM
mitted in Tennessee, by the unlawful
hanging. by mob of murdere!s, of GER
tain negroes confined in Jail in Gibson
county, that State, on charges of threat
ened instruction, &c. No matter how
guilty these men may have been, it
did not belong to any organized
band to lynch them. The crime of the
lynchers was cold blooded murder, moth
inc else. No one was more sensible to
the enormity of this crime than Gov
eruor BRowN, of Tennessee. He imme-
diatelv took vigorous steps toward the
arrest and prosecution Of the offenders,
intending to mete out to them tho full
demands Of the law. But while engaged
in thus performing his duty in protecting
the life, liberty and property of all citl-
zens of the State, without regard to color,
race or previous condition, he suddenly
found himself interrupted by what he
REGARDED as most unwarrantable pro
ceeding on the part of an United States
Marshall. The prisoners were iorcibIy
taken from his jurisdiction, and he was
told that the Government would exam
inc into, and settle their cases.
Immediately he wrote to the President
protesting in Il manly, dignifed manner
against such usurpation of his authority,
but he received no redress. He had these
enforcement acts thrown in his face, and
the Acknowledgement decided that they
gave perfect right to the general gov
eminent to act in the matter, which right
was superior to that of the States.
Thus the matter stood until the cases
came up for trial only few days ago
before Judge BALLARD, of the United
States District Court in Memphis. The
motion was made to quash the indictment
on the grounds that the court had no
jurisdiction. and that the prisoners were
indicted for the same oiiCnSe in another
court. The Judge granted the motion,
rs far rs his court was concerned; the
prisoners were discharged, of course to be
taken charge of, and tried by the State,
and punished too, if found guilty. This
action of Judge BALLARD, following so
closely upon that of Judge HUGHES, Of
Virginia, in the Petersburg election cases,
are most encouraging, for they will do a
great deal towards restoring the different
States to their proper position in the
Union. When this is done, and they
are left to manage their own affairs, there
will no longer be reports of outrages COM
mitted; but where now we hear only of
violence and bloodshed gotten up by
designing men for the very purpose of
invoking the enforcement acts TO sustain
their waning power, we will then hear