New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-05-15
WHAT THE ADMINISTRATIONS CAN DO


WHAT THE ADMINISTRATIONS CAN DO
FOR SOUTH CAROLINA.
The three reports which have been pre-
sented to Congress concerning the affairs OF
South Carolina suggest no practical scheme
of legislative relief for the Outrages under
which the unfortunate State is suffering. Her
wrongs are undisputed; the origin of them is
not far to seek but no plan of redress has
been suggested which would not aggravate
the evils of the situation. In the meantime,
however. it is certain that the Federal Admin
istration could do something to break up the
system of fraud and plunder-if 1t would.
Nearly all the worst deeds of the South Caro-
lima robbers are committed under the protec-
ton of party politics The ruling party IN the
State is controlled by the Federal ONCE
holders, and is used and managed, as par
ties are in all the reconstructed States, with
reference chiefly to the interests OF persons at
Washington. An intimatiOn from the White
House that the party must purge ITSELF ana
live honestly would create revolution all
through South Carolina. And to illustrate our
meaning, we tell the story of a recent affair
at Charleston.
In the City of Charleston the white and
colored votes are about equal, and 1t has con-
seauently been the practice of the Republican
managers to import a large number of negroes
ON election day from the Sea Islands and the
neishborng counties. At the election last
October this fraud was perpetrated with
unusual effrontery. The steamboat NJ. S.
Allison in particular brought between two and
three hundred temporary voters from Edlst0
Island and way stations, and her captain de-
Iiafed that he would have brought thousand
if the weather had not been stormy. Certain
citizens of Charleston, determined that such
fragrant offense should be punished i'll some
way, and convinced that it would be useless
to proceed in the State courts for violation
of the election laws, brought an action in the
United States District Court to recover from
the captain and owners of the steamboat the
penalty imposed by the act of 1871 for carry
ing greater number of passengers than the
certificate permittod-the extreme number al
lowed the VI. S. Allison being one hundred.
On the trial it appeared that a contract for
the conveyance of these negroes had been
made by ex-Congressman C. c. Bowen, now
Sheriff of Charleston County and a
candidate on the Republican ticket at
he who paid the passage money. Strange
to say, when the case was called no less a
person than the United States District
Attorney, Mr. COrbin, appeared for the de-
Tense; and it would seem from the papers
before us that he exerted himself to the ut
most to discredit the motives of the libellants,
and to represent the action as political per-
secution. conviction was obtained. how
ever, and the captain of the vessel thereupon
applied to the Secretary of the Treasury for
q remission of the penalty. His petition
was accompanied, as the law provides
by statement of the District Judge,
reviewing tho facts in the case, and
certified copy of this statement is now before
us. In reference to the principal allegations
of the defense, Judge Bryan says: "The mo-
"tive of the lbelants has been called in
"question and referred to political resent
"ment. / have not thought that political
"passions and interest had legal bearing on
"the issue involved in these proceedings, but
"if the Allison and Ter owners did violate
the law, they certainly could not find in
their politics, or in the politics of tho in
formers vindicaton or excuse for their
"offense. 1t was certainly not less the right
"and duty Of the citizens who have moved in
"this matter, believing that the law had been
violated, to make an attempt to enforce it
because in their esteem that violation was
an outrage upon rights still more impor-
"tant, and far-reaching, and vital"
This statement is dated April II, 1874. On
the 4th of May, Frederick A. Sawyer, Acting
Secretary of the Treasury, RENTED the pen
atty protesting to be satisfied that it was
mot incurred by a willful violation of the
" statute.n Certainly no warrant for this belief
can be found in the report of the District
Judge, by which the law expects the Secre-
tary to be guided; on the contrary, Judge
Bryan is careful to repeat the declaration of
the captain that he would have carried a thou
sand negroes if the weather had been favor
able. But apart from this question, it is
clear that the Allison was engaged on law
less errand, being concerned in scheme of
fraudulent voting by wholesale; and when the
ultimate purpose of the voyage was criminal.
it is monstrous that the owners and master
should be relieved from any penalty they may
have incurred In lts prosecution.
The case is not of great consequence in it
self, but it is likely to be important in its eff
fects. When the Federal rict-Attorney
appears as counsel for the defendant in an
action of this kind, and the Acting Secretary
of the Treasury promptly RENTS a penalty
much too light for the Oifense, the people Of
South Carolina cannot fail to take the hint,
There was An explosion in the State House at