Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-12-15

CEsARIsM DEFENDED.
Grant never loses and opportunity to
Justify usurpation and defiance of law
Hitherto, in sending troops into States
for political purposes and to secure the
success of the party to which be pro-
claims he belongs, he has as a rule been
called on by the Governor, and thus
could make at least an evasive defense.
Florida afforded an exception. Troops
we're ordered from Aiken, s, c., to Tai
lahassee without any demand for Federal
intervention from toe Governor. Every
thing was so quiet that the idea, perhaps,
had never occurred 10 him. Grant and
the other c~onspirators, however, had pre-
%yiously laid the plan and sent the troops
ANYHOW to intimidate county returning
officers and assure the State cauvassing
board. But the most glazing outrage yet
committed, although on a small scale and
without political result as it happened,
was the sending Of a company Of artillery
into the pesceable State OF Virgins, to
be stationed at Petersburg during the
election. There was no disturbance and
no report Of any 10 the State. Perhaps
no State in the Union ever had a more
quiet, serene state Of affairs at any cleo
ton than Virginia when a portion of the
army was sent to Petersburg to su-
pervise the election aud oyerswe the
people. The Senate on the 9Th instant
passed a resolution requesting iniorma-
ton as to whether troops had been sta
toned at Petersburg, aud if SO by what
authority. Grant answered yesterday
in a tone Of brayado. justifying the action
apou general grounds, although not
claiming any legal authority for it. The
only pretext offered is that complaints
had been mads by Republicans that they
feared a disturbance. II this is to be
taken as a precedent and to 20 I'M
rebuked we may expect hereafter
that the members Of the dominant party
can call for troops at any point which
they may not feel assured Of carrying.
Such minorities caH always furnish ah.
davits that they are in great bodily dsu-
ger and fear. The Institutions Of this
country have at no time been 10 50 great
danger. We have a President who kno7s
nothing q civil Law and respects it less.
Trained up to uilitary habits and ideas,
With q love Of power ard a %sensuous,
stolid nature, vain, sensitive and morbid
ly ambitious, he is a dangerous nsn.
Here is q barefsced violation Of the Con-
stitution. and yet bis party susiaius him.
Even the fair-minded, liberal, l~av-sbidiDg
Republicans are borne along by the
surgiDg. thoughtless ussseG. Rather
than be banished from the party they
wilItacitly approve that which they 40
cretly condemn and would avert. Th'
voice Of this class Is seldom raise IL
protest, and then only 10 be 6Fowned b.
derisive groans fror the reckless mob.
Grant thinks il was q susll matter e
send q company down to Petersburg q
the secret cali Of some irresponsible Ani
unknown person. The immediate resul
was nothing. bat it was an encroachmep
upon the rights Of q State and
free people, which, II carried on
to It's original sequences wopl,
sub7ert the liberties Of all the psopi
aud ultimately dispense with civil gos
eminent and elections by popular vot
altogether. There vas a purpose in
beyond the protection Of . few voter
who pretended to be alarmed or TO act a
police ard preserve the peace in a quiel
orderly city. 1t was to Try the tempe
OF the people, to familiarize them wit
the spectacle of bayOnets abou, the bal
lot-boK, to draw out the sentiments G
the Republican party in favor Of sac
things, to undermine constitutional GOV
eminent, and make ready for a NOR
decisive step than any yet taken towar
the Capitalization Of power, aud TIE mi
itary stability Of the Republican part.
which in future no State or half a dcze
great States may be able to resist. Til
is the great and impending crisis.