The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-12-08

There is a pretence all the while That the
army was sent into the southern states to
preserve the peace.
This pretext is wholly basele,s. Every
body keeps the peace there just the same
as il is kept everywhere else. II is pre-
tended that il was necessary To put the
troops into the South Carolina state House
in order TO prevent disturbance aud vio-
lcnce. But there was not only no disturb
ance, but no attempt at any. once there,
however. they were used for the grossest
partisan purpose. They stopped the adj
mission of the Democratic members Of the
Legislature. just before the hour appointed
for its meeting, while the Republicans
were admitted by a back door TO the place
of assembage. While the Democrats were
thus held back till the hour OF couvening
had arrived, the Republicans. already in
then places, on the instant the hour struck,
went through the form Of organizing and
,lecting officers Of the House. Here was
an audacious trick 10y "A body OF partisans
10 get possession Of legislative organiZa-
ton which they knew could not be- got by
far means. Aud the army did the work.
Without the army II could not have been
done. The troops We're put there aud used
there 10 accomplish this purpose. There
was never any other design among those
who exercised the immediate control over
them. 1t was plain. bold, scandalous
despicahle trick, which the United states
troops were obtained and used To carry
out and it was all done under the false pre-
tence of preserving the public peace.
But the commanding officer and the
President say. IN substance, that they were
| fooled in the business, and were the uucon-
| scious tools of the scurvy trcksters The
| General in his report OF the transaction
| says the result was not intended, but that
| 1T came about The President. who al
| ways supports his subordinates, right OF
wrong says he doesn't believe the General
meant 10 do any wrong. But the wrong
was done, ana done by the army, aud the
| army was sent down there 10 do II. Two
| OF GRANTS Cabinet officers were the agents
| IN the business They were the active
members Of the conspiracy organized to
prevent the legal and peaceable organiza-
ton OF the South Carolina Legislature.
| They knew Just how "it came about" that
| the troops were on the precise spot Ia
accomplish this exccrable fraud. and how
they were to do it. They were not fooled
at all. CHANDLER Of the Interior, and
CAMERON of the War Department, were
| the prominent actors in this great offence
and scandal. But, were they alone in the
enterprise Were they its sole authors in
| conjunction with CHAMBERLAIN, the Gov
ernor of the slater Did President GRANT
and Gen. RUGER know nothing nor sus.
pect anything of the trick which they now
say was played on thomf II they knew
nothing about the Infamous business con.
| temDlated and consummatcd, where now
is their indignationy They SEQ what
has been done. how il was done, and
that il was all accomplished through thoiI
fundamentally, and that without their CO.
operation the disgaceful and criminal
proceeding could not have taken place.
If they are innocent. is there nothing
here TO excite their indignant auimndver
sioni Are they disposed to hold the posi-
ton of willing tools of the most violent
and INSCRIPTIONS men in the Republican
party in public scandal at which the de
cency of the whole country revoltsf II
they are not why have they not made II
manifest Was II enough for the command
or Of the troops 10 fccbly say OF the out
rage, that it came about without any de
sign Of his, aud for the President to add L
this weakness by saying that he did no
believe the General meant any hnrml
We say that this was not enough, ant
that the President ana the command
ing general were cnllci upon cithe
openly to condemn ana publicly cen
sure the active instruments of this afro
cious outlngc, or be more than suspccte,
81 fun completely III the fonl transaction
me truth II TINT the evidence is nbundan
~ this case 10 show that the troops wer
not sent 10 the State House at Colun
bln 10 keep The peace, but were sent Their
to promote aud insure the completion o
AN Infamous outrage. And while the Prcsi
dent has stood idly by, with no words o
| reproof for CHANDLER. and CAMERON, an'