The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-09-07
THAT ORDER

Acknowledgement Taft has Rugged as
closely as possible to Cameron's bayonet
election order for defeating honest elections
| in the South, but he has evidently had some
trouble between his natural respect for law
and the violent political duties assigned TO
him. There is little That is OF moment IN
bis more legal disquisitions, but lie strikes
the marrow of Cameronism when he defines
the powers OF United States marshals and
the elements which compose the posse conf
tatuS. He was not prepared exactly to say
that the characterleSs carpct-bag adventll-
rers, such as ill the position OF marshal In
most of the southern States, should have the
supreme command OF the military. That
would have been cutting it quite too lat Tor
generaldigcstion, but he takes sinuousroute
| to reach the same point, and practically
places the army and their guns ut the back
OF the gracelesS civil officers whose special
business it is to plumber the people and pol
lutte their elections. II Sherman, or Sherl-
dan, or Hancock should be in New Orleans
or Charleston on election-day, Marshal
Packard, OF Louisiana, or Senator Patter-
sons marshal of South Carolina, couldn't
command them to deploy their troops about
the polls and arrest the peaceable citizens
who may be apparently involved in Vloi
lence, but they can summon sherman,
or Sheridan, or Hancock, and all their
troops, not as troops, but rs posse COM
itotus, and command them as citizens,
with their arms, to obey the orders OF the
marshal. This is simply monstrous per-
version of the plain spirit Of the law, and
is disgrace to Attorney-General Taft. II
there shall be violence in any State, North
or South, the remedy is clearly defined, and
only when the State authorities are exhaust
ed and unable to maintain peace can the
army be called upon in any manner. But
NIr. Taft deliberately evadeS, or rather null
| lilies, the clear mandate Of the law to find
some feeble excuse for Cameron's revolu-
tionary attempts upon the peace and honest
expression OF the southern States. It's not
worth the trouble and degradation. 1t
won't pay.-PhNadeIphia Times (Republi-
CAM. ...
The circular, which is very fifty called an
order, was at once given to the press. The
marshals and their deputies at the South
will be very quick to use the enormous
powers conferred upon them by the circu-
| lar. It is understood that the mode adopted
by the War Department OF carrying out the
new policy will be to send the opinion to the
army officers in the South for their infOrma-
ton and guidance. They will then be at
the beck and call Of the infamous class OF
persons now filing the offices OF United
States marshals at the South and the depll-
ties they may select, and may be used to any
extent that party eXigencies may require.
The machinery being now ready, the carpet
baggers will incite the more vicious class OF
negroes to outragcs to white men and ladies
at the South, so as to bring about race con-
tficts, which they will use a. the preteNt for
an extensive system OF arrests by the SOL
diery. In this way they hope to carry four
! or five southern States Washington CORE
spondence Ne,o YORK; World.
The marshal in Sorth Carolina has only
to suspect the whole State, or any dozen
counties in it, and he may appoint every
Republican in the suspected district or
neighborhood general deputy" clothed
with all the powers conferred by section
2022 OF the Revised Statutes OF the United
States. And every deputy, general and spe-
cial. as well as the marshal himself, has the
power at common law to summon the
troops OF the United States, under COM
mand OF their officers, us posse CONT
tdtuS. At least 80 says Attorney-Gene-
raj Taft, and the Secretary OF War ana
General Sherman, it is stated, are "in strong
accord" with the Acknowledgement. NO
scheme for dragooning the South-for con,
trolling the elections by the bayonet-couid
be more complete or more frankly aVoweo.
It remains to be seen what view sober
minded people at the North, who are not
blinded by partisanship, will take OF pro-
clamation 50 extraordinary, issued two
months prior to the election, and in advance
o1 any evidence or indication OF violence or
disorder ut the South which would afford
even the least justification for such extreme
measures. Baltimore SIN.
II anything can arouse the people OF this
country to sense of the grave danger to
which they are now eXposed-of having
their libel ties destroyed by military power
and the strong mailed hand Of partisan des-
potism-these gradual advances made by
Giant towards the dragooning Of the south
ern States should suffice to reach their tor
pid consciences and dormant fears, and
command prompt action to save the fraS-
mcnts OF constitutional freedom that remain
intact by Radical spoliation. For the order
OF Taft, carefully and reluctantly expressed
as it is, amounts to plain notice to the oth-
cials representing the United States military
authority in the different judicial districts
that they are IN effect armed with
unlimited power to call on the
soldiery, the militia, and the general
body of citizens, to carry into effect the die
tation OF Radical committees, and force the
election OF candidates who would be de-
feated if the popular will was. left free and
the polls were. unchallenged by the naked
sword. The proposition is plain one in
! its effrontery and infamy, and worthy in all
respects OF the infamous inspiration which
has sent it forth that the hand which
yields the bayonet shall supercede the hand
wherein the honest ballot has been lodged !;
and that the minority which iustlties Grant
ism may be strengthened and seconded by
the open aid OF the sword, against the great
4 popular majority whichis ready to repudi-
/ ate Grantism, and which only asks a fair
poll and an unterrifed opportunity at the
polls to reject Grants candidates OH the
7th OF November misunderstanding IRde1-
appeal. +. alt~ 1855:
I On the face OF these Instructions we do
not see anything particularly offensive nor
transcending the odious LAWS under which
they are issued, and which were adopted by
a Radical Congress in 1865 for the further
humiliation and subjugation OF the South.
But as the Supreme Court OF the United
States has distinctly pronounced the en-
forcement law to be unc constitution and
i inoperatiye, the issue Of this UEase is in ut
i ter contempt OF that highest OF tribunals,
i and as. there is. IroaViolence at the bal
Il lot-box 8 threatened In any, quarter,
and the Goyernorfs0f mo State hos ofd-
lcially called for Federal aid or protection Of