, 1876-12-05
THE TR0opg IN TIE SOUTH,

If Speaker RANpAn1s address yesterday
on taking the chair means anything, it
sounds tho initiation to the most unscrapu-
lous, indecent performance upon the part Of
tho Democratic House. Immediately upon
hfs election, Speaker RANDALL, for tho ma
jority Of tho House and as the presiding OIL.
cor Of d coordinate branch Of the Govern
ment, descends 10 a ferocious nttack upon
tho President for sending troops to the South
to preserve peace; and, possnring In heroic
attitude. Mr.. RANDALL menaoingly declares
"that Executive lntsrfereuco with tho rights
Of citizens Of tho South will he frowned
down by the people," The troops were sent
to South Carolina upon rcquisttion, in due
form, by the Governor Of that State, to gunrd
against domestic violence. Under tho Con-
atitution of the United States II WAS the inl-
peratiyo duty Of the President, upon such
requisition, to send the troops there
to sustain the regularly organized, recog-
nized, and do .}acto State Government which
called upon the National Government for
support. When the troops wero sent into
South Caroliua Alr. WADE HAMrToS's rillo-
ciubs were exercising what they estesm tho
rights Of citizens OF tho South in rough-ria-
ing over tho country, maintaining reign Of
terror by bulldozing colorod men. Had not
these citizens OF the South boon interfored
with On requisition Of tho Governor by the
General Government, there Gun be no doubt
but TINT the flro.aaters of South Carolina, III
the exercise Of what they prize MS their
rights as citizens Of the South, with a few
repetitious Of such performances as tho Ham,
burg massacre, and through violence and
frauds ut tho polls, would have completely
Bubjugated the majority Of the constitutional
vuters and mado of ttls election q bloody
farce. The presence Of the troops prevented
bloodshed, preserved order, md secured a
1neaaurably fnir md FREQ election. Their
withdrawal at any time since would have
Government. Had tho troops been with
drnwn on Tuesday last, there IL no doubt but
that the claimants to the sokts from Edge
field aud Laurons Counties, who were refused
certificates by the returning officers, wonld
hare been forcibly seated, and that there
would hare been no scruple at any violence
required to assure tho Democratic party full
control OF the State. The presence OF the
troops prevented my revolutionary meas
ures and sustained tho existing State
Government, the validity Of which no.
body questions, in the exercise Of
it's lawful functions. That is all that
the presence OF the troops has effected iu
South Carolina. The courts ara open
md will bo sustained by the troops, it re-
quired, in the exercise Of their legitimate
functions in passing upon tho questions in-
volved when these shall be duly presented,
The qualifications md election Of a member
or claimant to seat IN the Legislature have
notbeen determined by troops, nor the rights
Of any one cut off and it rcnains for tho
House itself and the courts TO settle tho
disputes that have arisen.
What IN true Of sonth Carolina ia true OF
Louisiaua md Florida. For tho President to
havo failed to send troops 10 theso Stntes
upon the requisition OF their Governors
would have been for him to vio-
late his clear constitutional duty. His
solo interference with the rights OF tho cits-
zenH Of the South In tue matter has been to
maintain the supremacy Of the law. against
violence; and what Mr. RANDALL denouuces
and threatens about is TINT tho President
did not permit the State Governments to DO
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