Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-10-25
The South Carolina Imbrogllo.

Whatever differences Of opinion may ex-
list as TO the primary cause of the present
perilous condition of affairs in this unfor.
tunate state, we believe all uupreiudiced
minds will agree that President Grant is
fully justified in the action he has taken.
He but makes the lawful response to the
lawful call of Governor Chamberlain. lie
has issued a proclamation warning the law
less and violent classes who are defying the
constituted authorities, and assailng the
rights and lives OF peaceable citizens, to
abandon their revolutionary proceedings and
submit TO the laws. Was any other course
possible? Certainly not, if the exigency is
anything like that which is officially Tepres-
ented by Governor Chamberlain; for the
government that either cannot or will not
protect its citizens subjects itself TO con
tempt.
But are these representations true The
great difficulty in forming correct judg-
ment arises from the conflicting representa-
tons Of interested parties. The exigencies
Of a Presidential election seem TO have de
veloped the intensest partisan bitterness,
and rendered it next TO impossible to get at
the actual facts in the case But under such
circumstances we can only lay hold Of the
most impartial evidence at hand We find
a most remarkable statement on this subject,
published in and endorsed by the New York
Tribune, which seems to fully warrant the
action Of President Grant. According 10
this writer, the election Of Governor Cham
berlain, as a reform Governor, gave general
satisfaction all parties acquiesced, aud
heartily accepted his administration under
it peace and good order prevailed and the
ire-eaters consumed their fire in silence,
spouting forth none Of it. The election OF
democratic House OF Representatives, two
years ago, gave TO the confederates new
nope they armed organized in rifle clubs
began systematic course of violence, and
low break up the Republican mass-meetings,
'hoot both black and white on small provo
alton, or none at all, until South Carolina
q resembles vast camp; the de-
)ots are crowded with cases Of firearms or
Tered from the North and the stores can
not supply the demand for arms and ammu-
nition." This picture is substantially con
irmed by Governor Chamberlain, who
pledges himself I" to prove a condition Of az
fairs in this state, produced by the demo-
cratic party, more disgraceful than appears
by any statement yet made by me and
who asserts that any only oifense is too
great caution in obtaining evidence, and too
great delay in exercising my utmost powers
10 protect our citizens"
Presuming the foregoing representation
TO be even Aaf true, the administration
would be criminally derelict if it did not, by
very power at its command, protect every
Hector in the exercise Of his right--a right
more sacred than any other conferred upon
m American citizen, and without which
there could be 10 Republcanism, no democ-
-acy and no government. Armed organiza-
| ton against any class of electors is armed
treason and those Thus organized, and who
| carry out their purpose by force and slaugh-
| ter, should be dealt with as traitors. Better
an election under the bayonet" (as the
democratic journals characterize the pro-
posed governmental interposition in South
Carolina) when the purpose is 10 protect all
alike, than an election under armed organi-
cations whose purpose is to forcibly prevent
a single class from reaching the ballot-box
And just this seems to be the alternative
presented by the South to-day. If the adj
ministration should neglect its constitutional
iuty in this emergency it would be disgraced
| and deserve the execrations OF every friend
of true government in all the world. Let
every man entitled to vote be protected in
The exercise of that right, at whatever cost.
Whatever is done to secure this result will
be approved by all honest men, whatever
may be said by those who would rather see
mancipated slaves slaughtered than that
the vote of Solid South" should not be
east for Tilden.
y CENTENNARIAN.-Alrs. Hannah Haw.
| Low prOhahiv tho oIdapt ,,arso, l., ~.