The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-09-07
GRANT, HAY0NETs AND HIS TOOL
rAFT.

A few days ago the STATESMAN made the
announcement, edltorially, thst Attorney
General Taft had been instructed to pre-
pare an opinion giving United States
marshals the power to use government
troops at the election. Taft says there are
two kinds of elections, some for State Off
GERS and others for officers of the Nation.
The Federal government, while it has no
control over the first, has, as he declares,
an undoubted exercise of power over the
latter, at least to protect voters against
whatever is calculated to prevent a free
exercise Of the elective franchise. The
opinion is issued in the shape of circular
letter Of instructions to United States mar
shals, and, LOVING so much the peace of the
United States, he instructs these officials to
preserve it at the polls with the armies of
the nation. He refers TO notorious events
in several States, which arc of course rep
resented as political, and says to the
marshals that they must be prepared to take
such steps to preserve tho peace Qn the
ates, recollect) ''as the chief Executive
officer of the United States Demands" Due
diligence is required, and to secure it the
marshsls are empowered to have deputies,
il deemed necessary, at all the polls, and
these marshals shall have the authority to
call out the posse cOmitatus, and here comes
in the most wonderful part of the opinion.
He explains that the posse comitatus means
every person over fifteen years Of age, ''civil-
ians or not, and including the military of
all denominations, militia, soldiers and ma
rines, all Of whom are alike bound to obey"
Taft continues: 1.-THE fact that they are
organized as military bodies, whether of
State or United States, under the immedi-
ate command of their own officers, does not
sin any wise, effect their legal character.
They are still the posse comitatus."
He thus establishes a new legal doctrine,
but Of course his master instructed him to
do so, and the object is simply to reach
the United States troops, and to use them
against constitutional law in interfering in
elections in the Southern States. He enun-
clates, to sustain his point, that ''the laws
of the United States are supreme, and so,
consequently, is the action of the officials
OF the United States in enforcing them"
This wonderfully plant Attorney General
winds up his instructions by saying that he
has laid them before the President and he
approves them. 'a
The Constitution of the United States
anticipates military interference with Fed
eral troops, only when called upon by the
Governors of States, and when any other
doctrine is submitted, it means military
despotism. Grant is not coward, but be
recognizes in Sherman no plant tool, and
hence he has had his ATTORNEY General pre-
sent this original opinion, and through 1t
through brute force, through despotism
he proposes to reach an end under one
man law opposed to all other law. Let hin
send his minions throughout the South, ant
let the southern people have only on,
thing in view-Democratic triumphant
be not led into the trap prepared by thes
scoundrels. Taft's instructions are general
but Grant dare not try the military game Il
New York, Philadelphia or Boston. lie
ua see