The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1876-11-18
THE SHOTGUN CRISIS.
BY EMERSON BENTLEY.

votes and lS4 conceded to Tilden.
| But the counc has not been completed
| in the three States of South Carolina,
| Florida and Louisiana. Until the de-
cisiou is rendered, the whole nation
endures Il suspense of the most painful
character. Hayes will require the
united vote of the three States to have
u majority of one in the electoral col
lege, while any Que of them would
elect fiiden. To prevent a dishonest
count or interference with the officials
| of those States in the discharge of
their duty, President Grant has di-
rected the General of the army to
station troops instheir vicinity, and
has also invited host of prominent
citizens of the country of both parties
to be present aud witness all proceed
ings in connection Herewith.
The crisis is very grave one. The
hinging of the election of the Presi-
dent on a close State, as Florida, or
upon single electoral vote, is an un-
paralleled and unlocked for contin-
gency, and it calls into play the deep
est partisan sentiments in contradis-
tinction from that spirit of judicial
fairness of Judgment which the occa-
sion demands. Before the returning
boards have eutered upon their du-
ties, the public mind is being prepared
by the Bourbon press for the recep-
ton of complaints of foul play in ease
of an adverse decision to Tiltlen and
it is also apparent that reverse can
not be accepted rs conclusive by the
friends of Mr.. Hayes.
This is not merely u personal con-
test it is drawn battle between
antagonistic principles of government,
and in that contest HAYES and Tilden
are only standard bearers. The Con
federate element is ready to grasp
the long hoped for opportunity of vim
dieatiol !; and the men who gave their
allegiance TO the Union will not allow
the work of years to he toppled over
in day. The situation is conipre-
hended at glance. 1t is not brought
about by the expression of voters
through the ballot boxes, AS contem-
plated by the laws, but by the coer
cion of lnajorities by armed bands of
outlaws under the command and di-
iection of the Democratic party. The
registei. of a majority of electoral votes
for Tilden, would be due solely To
shotgun influences, and an outrage
against every honorable principle of
government. Mr.. Tilden, in accepting
an election under tile circumstances,
would be as guilty as when he de-
frauded the government of his income
tax, and history should be as unmer-
ciful with him as it has been with
Jefferson Davis.
The Democratic press claims Louis
lana for Tilden to-day outside of the
pale of the law, and when the return
ing board shall throw out the product
of villainous outiawry in the parishes
of East Feliciana, 0uachita, Lincoln,
Morehouse and Union, as they prob
ably will be compelled to do in the
faithful discharge of their duty under
oath, aud in common honesty give
the correct expression to the,mai0lity
of the people of this State, it will pro-
ceed with the stale programme of de
famation aud slander, which it has so
long practiced unblustlingly. While
Democracy will decry the legal result
under the laws of Louisiana, and will
ask to have the electoral vote set aside
on the ground of frtudulency, nothing
could be more natural than that Re
publicans, on equal grounds or even
stronger proofs, should demand that
the gigantic swindle for two years
practiccd npon the majority in Mis-
sissippi should not profit the Confed
crate hopes.
The hours will be like days, and
days like weeks, until the crisis is
passed. The nation is being tried as
in crucible, and the wisest counsel
alone will bridge us over a sharp and
bloody revolution. Let us hope the
friends Of the Union may be as united
as when Lincoln led them, and viii
be as true to the principles of eternal
right, unde: Grant, as when the clear
voice of the martyr President exhorted
them. There must be no compromise
with wrong. but the right must be
contended for because it is the right,
let the sacrifice be what it may. The
shotgun decree brings with it no VIC
tory which freemen are bound to re-
spect; for treason is as odious within
nc, Al - +lta