The Republican journal., 1875-03-04

The bill which was but dimly foreshad-
owed in the Congressional caucus a few
weeks ago, and which by its extraordi-
nary and threatening provisions excited
the fears of all men of patriotic impulses,
has passed the House.
The force bill was amended in some
particulars before its passage, but it is
understood that the most obnoxious feat
ure was retained, viz: the one by which
the President is authorized to suspend the
l.abeas corpus at his pleasure whenever,
in the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Ar
kansas, and Alabama, "unlawful combina-
tons shall be organized or attempted"
Wide sweeping language this, Tor a law
which gives authority to imprison citizens
without redress. The language of the
Constitution is not unlawful combina-
TONS" as authority for the suspension of
tbs writ, but it reads thus The privilege
Of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be
suspended unless when in cases Of rebel
lion or invasion the public safety may re-
quire it." A rebellion" or an ''invasion''
is a very different thing from an 'unlaw-
full combination" Under the head of
powers of Congress-, authority is given
that body to "decare war;" to "borrow
money on the credit of the United States"
to ''coin money" to establish post-offices
and post-roads,' to establish uniform
rule or naturalization, etc Can any of
these powers be delegated to the Presi-
dent to be used at his discretion Ger
tainly not, and neither can Congress dele
gate to him that other authority, given to
it in certain cases, to suspend the great
writ Of liberty, without which we are not
free people. One of the sections of the
bill makes it felony punishable with
$4,000 and ten years Imprisonment at
hard labor for two or more persons to
forclbly overthrow a State Government
OF any of the constituted authorities of
| the same, ''or interfere in any torcible or
unlawful manner with the due execution
OF the laws OF State of the United States :"
OF to ''conspire for such purposes" These
words, "conspire for such purposes" give
to the carpet-bag thieves who are now in
authority in some Southern States all the
authority they desire to imprison in the
penitentiary those who may warmly pro-
test against their proceedings, and by Or
ganization seek to avert robbery.
The answer to the question what consti-
tutes state government, concerning the
overthrow, OF attempted overthrow, OF I'M
lawful combinations against which, such
penalties are levelled, is not made clear.
In at least two of the states named there
are two organizations, each claiming TO
be the true state governments, and an
honest citizen, with the best intentions
may err in judgment. If the honest citi-
zen does so err, he is liable to q fine of
$4,000 and imprisonment. But" we
hear some follower of the administration
say, 1.-THE President makes that certain by
iuu INC IiSHulul
government, in case of dispute" Does
he, indeed? How was it in Arkansas?
In May last President Grant, by his pro-
clamation, informed the country that Eli
sha Baxter had been elected Governor of
Arkansas, and that he should sustain him
as such, and that Brooks who claimed the
office was member of Fan unlawful com
bination." In February he declared, in
message to Congress. Brooks to be the
lawfully elected Governor, who had been
illegally deprived of his office Now in
this whirligig of decisions-this boxing OF
the political compass-how is the well dis
posed citizen to act? Shall he sink his
manhood and citizenship to follow an ad-
ministration that is here to-day and there
tomorrow If not, how is he to avoid
being classed as member of an .'unlaw-
tul combination,' nd thus become liable
to fine of $50, 900 and ten years imprison-
mentp