The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-09-01
THE BAYoNET IN THE soUrH.
Concerning Don Camcron's Coming Campaign
Against Democratic Voters.

| Against Democratic Voters.
To THE EproR OF THE sun. Str: Did Il ever
ced bayyoHe S ia s nna oSe
saes That ne people Of ne south wog,d ee gag 70
which "shines for alp" Let a few benlenant rays
We do not object to the presence Of United states
troops per &C. laey as rae 6en s veil me .c ,hs
sSsnS ns em sG er aS
sha m mey assn Summit be drsss from
our homes and thrust Into the noisome casemstes OF
sns on 'es fsa .spqn naw t %e
propose 70 endure al we m and trust to our Uncle
Inc eoiored voters wiz largely support the con.er
vs'ive ticket and the popular majority IN Lousian,
Sesiief the RstaTnng board sSs aaisS @
osed to Og s oa triumph nn . " s
Dc DE-, el &c, and Ge Nlcno; not the man We ,s
Custom House robbers. So. " w ST. May.
| FsAsKiIs, La Aug es. 1870
We do not believe that the employment OF
troops In the South for the purpose OF inuml.
dating voters will have the effect there that
| Grant and Don Cameron Anticipate, while II 10
very certain that so bold and aggressive an at
tempt to carry the election at the point OF the
bayonet must work Infinite dlmaRe TO the Re-
| publican party among moderate aud intelligent
people everywhere. Tue arrival OF Federal
troops in Southern communities Just before
| election may have some influence upon tho
colored vote, for unless care Ia taken to inform
| the freedmen OF the truo situation, they will
| doubtless be led to believe that one object Of
the armed Invasion Ia to punish the oolored
people who have Joined Democratic clubs aud
refuse to vote for Hayes and Wheeler But
with efficient effort to engiten the minds OF
the negroes who tired OF the strife which
| has brought such disaster upon both races In
| the Southern States, this impression may be
| counteracted.
We do not believe that In the present state OF
| public feeling the authorities in Washington
will dare to repeat the system of arbitrary mill
tary arrests OF innocent people which they have
| heretofore used In the South as an efectual
| means Of maintaining themselves In power
| II 1t should be attempted, however, the laws
Of the country afford remedy for such
outrages. The gentlemen who have charge
OF the Democratic canvass In Louisiana
and In other States for that matter
| should employ tho most efficient lawyers
that can be obtlined to look after the victims
OF auy arbitrary arrests which may be ID lde, aud
| to see hat they have every protection that the
law can afford them. II the courts are OF 80
| partisan a character tnat Justice cannot be OBJ
| tanned In them, the evidence OF Illegal arrest
| aud persecution should be carefully collected
and held In reserve for tho Institution OF visor-
Gus prosecutions against all offenders when
| change Of government shalt have brought pro-
lection to the citizen of the South aud the
North alike, without distinction OF race, color,
| or previous condition.
| But It Is not probable that there will he many
illegal arrests during tho pending campaign.
The Enforcement act, by a decision Of Chief
| Justice WAITE Of tho United States Supreme
Court, delivered In October, 1875. has virtually
been declared unconstitutional, and Uaited
| States Commissioners and United States Mar
shals, u they nave any sense OF regard for their
| own interests, will be careful how they exceed
| their authority. Wherever they attempt to do
so, sworn evidence should at once be taken and
authenticated, to be used against them here
after.
| The mere presence OF troops In the Southern
States during the pending canvass can do no
harm, except that II NAV aintimidate COL
ored voters who are tired OF being used
| as tools Of the thievng oarpet-baggers.
The Officers OF the army as rule, have no
disposition to infringe upon the right OF the
| citizen to vote as he pleases, ami even II they
| had, they are not fools-they can see the quiet
| revolution In political sentiment which Is going
on. and they cannot oe expected to exhibit much
| enthusiasm IA the work OF unlawfuliy interior
Ing to prevent the election OF the man who will
probably be the next Pnssdept, no matter how
| this OF that special community may vote. We
have no doubt that our Southern friends and the
| troops sent to overawe them will get along
| very pleasantly together.
Above all tbings, we counsel the citizens OF
| Louisiana and elsewhere iu the reconstructed
| States to submit 10 almost ANYTHING rafheT than
be provoked into collisions either with troops
or with Republican negroes. Il Is the earnest
hope OF tue present corrupt Administration, and
Of the managers of the Hayes campaign to create
disturbances. Any sucn disturbances will be
exaggerated and misrepresenied in the North,
and among the people who have hitherto acted
70 A,,t. To-.