The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-10-19
iellll,olll lspatcl.
THURSDAY /. -. OCTOBER IS, 1876.
An Unconstssuti proclamation.

An UnconstltMt ional Procl aInaSion
8. General GRANT had no more right 70 issue
The proclamation which we published yes
serday than the Queen OF Great b1ata lll'
would have had II called upon by an expa-
traated Irish,nan to perform the SAINT: !s act.
We have so often discussed this question,
and there is SO little respect for the Consti-
tuition left among the northern people, that
we have no heart to pursue the theme.
Nevertheless, 1t should never be forgotten
that the constitutional provision is as fol-
I lows: ;@i !.
q g The United States shall guarantee to
every State In this Union o republican form
OF government, and shall protect each OF
them against invasion; and on application
OF the Legislature, or OF the Executive
against domestic violence" y
LIST. It istne United States-nott the Presi-
! dent--which has this power. he must fol-
i low the law strictly. No discretion is left
1 TO him. 49, tfst t'.aSe fGcsl 49,, j
81 Cd. He cannot possibly have the right to
intervene unless the !" VIC Ience" be directed
against Che State. There is no such violence
4 in South Carolina. Not q man in that State
has raised his hand OF his voice against the
State government. There is not the shadow
J; OF shade OF ground for the Presidents in.
reference for this. reason.
Sd. Even il there were domestic violence
directed against the State there is no reason
why the Legislature should not be con-
s .yened., GRANT tries to justify his usurpa.
ton OF authority byssying that the Legisla-
7 ture cannot be convened 'sin time," DC.
But these are his own words. They are not
in, the Constitution. That instrument is
clear. It provides for intervention by the
United States only when the State Legisa'
ture /" cannot be convened" There is moth
ing to prevent the converting Of the Legis'
lsture. There is not o rebel against the
State Government in South Carolina. There
is no g domestic violence" to prevent its
assembling. The execution OF the laws Is
unobstructed. 4
.s The conclusion inevitably follows that
the act Of General GRANT. in issuing this
proclamation was direct, unmistakab.e
usurpation OF authority, and atotally unju
tlfiable interference with the domestic con-
Germs of South Carolina. But the North
Z, viii not SO regard it, we fear, though ayeaI
ago the United States Acknowledgement said
in reply to Governor AMEs, OF Mississippi,
that the President declined to order the
troops to Mississippi "except under cal
made strictly in accordance with the terms OF
the Constitution" as we have given them
above. In reply to Governor AMEs's formal
call, the Attorney-Gen on the l4th OF
September, 1876, wrote MS follows:
cit is the plain meaning Of the Constitu-
ton and the laws, when taken together,
that the Executive Of the State may cal!
upon the President for military aid to quell
i domestic violence ontv in case OF an ansur-
rection in any State against the Govern.
mcnt thereof, irhen the Legislature cannot
. be called together. You make no suggestion
i even that there is any instruction against
the Government Of the United States, or
that the Legislature would not support you
in any measures you might propose to pre-
serve the peace" .-... ..
So GRANT has not only us,rped authority
and violated the Constitution, but he has
done SO knowingly and wilfully.
But we won't argue the point. There is
but one side to the question. The Presi-
dent has rendered himself liable to impeach'
ment