Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1876-09-07

aid in the execution of " the laws ofsthe,
Union" is gross violation of the Con-
stitution it can only be done by the
calling forth of the organized militia.
And the proper mode in undoubtedly to
call out the militia when it becomes ne
cessary to- aid instho execution of the
laws of the Union, to suppress insurrec-
tions, and to repel invasions. But / have
no fear of interference on the part Of the
officers and soldiers of this command, or
of any other command. 1 respectfully
call their attention. to tho following law
passed by Congress, for their guidance
and for our protection:
"Every officer of the Army or Navy,
or other person in the civil, military or
naval service of the United States, who
orders, brings, keeps, or has under his
authority or control, any troops or arm
ed m en- at any place where general or
special election-is he!d.in any State, rn--
less such force be necessary to repel arm
ed enemies of the United States, or to
keep the peace ut the polls, shall he fined
not more than FIVE thousand dollars, and
suffer Imprisonment at hard labor not
less than three months, nor moro than
five wears" Revised Statutes of U. s.,
Sec. 552S, Page 1877.
Now are these troops necessary to re-
pei armed enemies Of the United States?
In the face of the decision of Chief JUS
tice Waite, in the case have twice quo
ted, when he says, "the UIited States
soldiers have not the power nor are they
required to do mere police duty in the
IStatcc," what kind of duty is keeping
the peace at the polls," if it is not police
duty? This portion of the act is there
fore clearly unconstitutional, null and
void, and has been so decided. There
fore any interference on the part of Uni
ted States troops "to keep the peace at
the polls" will DO gross violation OF
law, and of the spirit and letter of the
Constitution. AS yet there is no elec-
ton. and taey can not keep the peace at
the polls shSztb Of November, the
day of the &lectioii. Then why are they
sent here in advance of the day of cleo
ton? Clearly to alarm and intimitlate
the Democratic voters. And there is
further provision of the law to protect
our people from such Intimidation; it is
as follows:
"Every officer or other person i'll the
military or naval service who, by force,
threat, intimidation, order, advice, or
otherwise. prevents or attempt 10 prevent,
any qualified voter Of any State, from
freely exercising the right of suffrage at
any general or special election in such
State, shall be fined not more than five
thousand dollars, and imprisoned ut hard
labor not more than five years. Re
vised Statutes Of L. s, See. j52a, page
1917.
Now submit that the presence of
United States troops at Edgetield, under
all of the circumstances of the case,
amounts to an orert act Of intimidation,
for which the officers are liable to indict-
ment under tho foregoing law; and if
convicted they would be subjected to the
pains and penalties therein set forth.
If the peace should be violated at the
polls, it is the duty of the Sheriff and his
deputies to preserve it. If his officials
are not sufficient, it is his duty to sum
mon q posse comitdtuS; if they fail to
suppress the domestic violence, it is the
duty of the Governor to call to his aid
the military organizations of the State,
militia and volunteers; if they are not
sufficient, it is tho duty OF The Executive
to summon the Legislature Of the State,
whose duty it is to call upon the Presi-
dent for troops. And if there is an OBJ
stacle in the way of convening the Leg
islaturc, he is authorized to call upon the
President of the United States to furnish
him troops. Has single one Of these
precedent conditions been complied with7
Not one. But in their hot haste to in
timidate the voters of Edgefeld, they
have ignored the Constitutional safe
guards and projections of the people. 1
tell the President, and his party, that if
they place a United States soldier at the
door of every cottage and mansion in the
County of idgefield, and throughout the
State, they will tailUn preventing Demo-
crsts from c3eangS FER oar1qts ssrlT=
den and Hendfickh, and for Hampton
and Simpson, at the election on the 7th
of next November.
The people OF this State have resolved
To follow the example OF their twelve sis
tcrs. The galaxy OF the South will not
be complete until this State takes her
place in this splendid cluster. There is
nothing now TO prevent her. The deci-
sion of the Supreme Court is in our fa-
vor; the House tf Representatives in
Congress wishes us God speed we feel
the touch of the elbow of the National
Democracy and the State is now fired
with high hope and firm resolve. The
officers and soldiers of he army will pre-
sent arms to us, as we pass in review.
Law, Honor, Truth, Morality and Relig-
ion, all urge us to tllis redemption. The
spirit of broad and liberal statesman
ship has declared in our favor; and the
grand heart throbs of the Caucasian race
pulsate in happy unison with our great
resolves and noble aspirations. Under
such auspicious surroundings, South
Carolina announces that she will on the
7th November, Of this our glorious Gen.
tennial, with the spiit of 177G, take her
position by the side d the original thir-
teen and there she intends always to re-
main, the proud peer of every State in
this glorious Union.
---<p~-
For the Advertiser.
EDITORS ADVERTISER An article un-
der the caption, "JoLn A. Barker and
other Patriots" appeaed in late mum
bar of your valuable journal over the
signature "Pnilo Junius." The writer
referring to me says, : he turned scala
wag, tibet, robber and bribe. takcr so as
to fill his purse at the expense of his
race, and by the ruin of his country,
&C." am aware that in heated polit-
fcal campaign it is quite common nova
days ior politicians to use similar epi
thets and apply the same to those who
differ with them. am not content,
however, to have these epithets applied
to me, and desire to give them my un-
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