The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1874-09-16
The President and Attorney
General.

General.
We cull the attention of our readers
to the language used by the Attorney
General in his circular, dated Septcri-
Der 3rd, 1874, and addressed to the
United States MarSIlals aud Distric,
Attorneys i'll th* Southern States, but
having particular reference: according
to President Grant. to those in Ala
bama, Louisiana and South Carolina.
He says III the outset: 'O1tragcs Of
various descriptions, and in some cases.
atrociouS murders, have been commit
ted in your districts By bodies Of armed
men: sometimes in disguise, and with
The view, it is believed. Of oycrawine
and intimidating peaceful and law
abiding citizens: and depriving them
Of the rights guaranteed to them by
the Constitution and laws Of the Uni
ted States" So far as this statement
applies to South Carolina, it is unjust
and untrue. There have been but
two disturbances in the State. one at
the Ridge in Ed geiell County, which
WIS SETTLED without blood<hcd and
without difficulty. and one at George
town between two rival factions If the
blacks, which Was settled BY the State
authorities, without the lu$< Uf life and
without the necessity of assistance from
the General Government. There is
not 4 Stat, in the Union where life,
liberty and property are safer than in
South Carolina. Not single murder
has been committed in the State.
which can be attributed to politics, in
the last four years, aud no one has heard
of or seen any band of men in disguise
in the same length OF time. The
Attorncy-Gcucral goes on to call the
attention Of the District Attorneys
and MarshaiS to the Acts of Congress,
passed April Q: 1866 and April 20,
1870, and the Ei:tnrcemcnt Act passed
May 50. 1870: and states that these
acts, with their amendments, make
these deeds of violence and blood of-
fences within I'll" jurisdiction Of the
General Government" He then states
that under these circumstances lie
considers it his duty To instruct them
Ito proceed with all possible energy
and despatch to detect. expose: arrest
and punish tie perpetrators of these
crinics;" that United States troops
will be stationed at differeutand conve-
nic,t places within the districts for the
par7o$c Of giving them all needful aid
in the discharge of .hoir duties that
no Interference is intended with any
political or party action: but protectio2
t" the citizens. both white and colorcd.
III the exercise Of their rights under
the Constitution and laws Of the Uni
ted States; aid that tic circulars aTc
issued uudcr the authority Of the
President and with the concurrence of
the Secretary Of War.
We would not care how many troops
were stationed in this State. it they
were under The command Of mcn who
would make just aud Impartial use
Of their powers. But they are vir-
tnally placed under the command of
A;torncy-G -Gcncral Williams, and the
District Attorney and Marshal for this
District. and VIC can but fear that they
will be used for the furthcrancc of
party aims. If any offences against
the laws of the United States have
been committed in this State. the Of
tenders can be brought to justice by
the civil authorities. without the as
sistancc Of the military, which should
only be called in in cases Of absolute
necessity, after all Other remedies have
been exhausted, and then only strictly
in accordance with the Constitution. |
The Acknowledgement disclaims any |
Intention of interfering with political
Or party action, but dangerous powers
are conferred in such manner that
they can be used to carry out party
designs. The President in author
ling these measures has acted upon
false Information. given doubtless by
Patterson, the man who of all otl ers
has doue most to stir up bad fee'ii gs