Montgomery County sentinel., 1876-08-25
Military Interference.

While we feel certain that the late order
issued from The military department Of the
government nstruciing General Sherman to
place troops in the Southern States to be used
at the approaching election will result at the
North in benefit for the Democratic ticket,
yet we cannot help regarding it with consid-
cradle sadness. Any dshonorable act upon
the part of the President reflects discredit up
on the country, and when he prostitutes Lis
high office for party purposes and uses il as a
mere machine for the success of the Renubli-
can ticket he disgraces the government whose
affairs he administrates. His late order was
issued for no other conceivable purpose than
TO carry the Southern States with the point Of
the bayonet and to secure that end he subor-
climates the constitution TO his base motives
and tramples upon those laws which he has
sworn to exesute faithfully. He can find no
law from which an inference of right can be
deducted to station troops in aIy State for
military operations of any character against
any person or persons except when the officers
OF the States are powerless TO preserve peace
and the authorities of the State request the
aid of the general government. There are a
number OF States in the South where no such
necessity has arisen and where no such re-
quest has been made, yet the President with
out shadow Of right or color of law issues
this order to make all Of the Southern States
the camping ground of Federal troops as if they
were in open hostility against the general
government. The avowcd purpose of this or
der is for the protection of the negro in the
exercise of the right OF franchise but where
does he find the right to throw the wings oil
military shelter around the colored citizen
while he indalges in the wisdom Of casting a
ballot. Congress has MADE certain laws for
this purpose and those laws declare that any
one who interleres with their right TO vote
may be prosecuted and if convicted punished
br a civil tribunal, and not one word ap-
pears in any Of them which provides for mill
tary interference, yet the President, in the
absence of all authority under law, assumes
.he prerogative TO garrison States for this
avowed purpose.
While this order has occasioned much pain
to the people of the country us base pros
titution of the Presidential authority, it has
also awakened apprehensions which will wal,
with no little dread 10 discover the conse-
quences which will follow. Fears are enter
tanned that the tramp of troops among people
who have only short while since expert
enced the evils of military subsection will in
timidate them from the exercise of their right
to vote and thus by illegal influences secure
rhe electoral vote of the South for the Repub
lican ticket Fears are also entertained tina
this progressive stride toward military despo
tism, being an assumption of power graspet
by the executive without receiving it unde
constitutional license, will set dangerous
precedent which may not only be followed
but enlarged by succeeding administrations
until the President will have usurped indi
vidual control of the government. When tn
people submit calmly and quietly to the de
struction of one right which is guaranteed Il
them under law, it encourages the ambition
of those who exercise power TO step onward
TO an unlimited sway And here rises befor
the people another gigantic reason why th
Republican party should be banished from
power. The safety of the constitution, tn,
perpe,uation of the rights guaranteed by i
and faithful administration of the laws un
der il demand that the government should b,
placed in the hands of some other party thar
the one which has only used it 10 abuse it,
Mr.. Tilden having been elected 10 the As
sembly, the New York Times of November
18th, 1871, speaks of him as follows:
On the Democratic side of the Assembly
Mr.. Tilden will undoubtedly be the leader,
and such ought to be able TO promote the
cause of sound reformatory legislation in a
very marked manner. His judgment in regard
10 municipal affairs is ripe, and his independ-
ence has been proven by the severest tests.-
His voice will be entitled 10 great weight.
How different from the Times of ,o-dav.