The Russellville Democrat., 1876-09-14
Thc Attorney Generals Circu-
 lar.

The Attorney Generals Circu-
 lar.
 Attorney -Generai Taft has issu-
 ed the circular to U. s. marshais
 which, we heard, he was prepar- l ing just after the adjournment of 1 Congress. It is letter of instruc-
 tions to the marshalls concerning
 the execution of the cnforccment
 act; it directs them to preserve
 the peace of the United States
 and to protect persons in voting
 in the next presidential election.
 They are instructed to arrest all who violate the enforcement act
 and to suppress riots growing out
 of such violations, or that threateu
 the integrity of the registration.
 They are advised that they have
 power to summon as posse every person in the district over fifteen years of age including the militia
 y, militia, soldiers and marInes." The fact that they are organize,l as military bodies, whether of the State or the United States, under immediate command of their owiI officers does not in any wise af- feet thoir legal character; they are still the posse comitatus," says the attorney general.
 What is the occasion for this elaborate circular? Viewed in connection with the presidents order to General sherman direct ing him to station troops in the Southern states, it gives the i'm pression that tue object of the ad nliuistration is not so much to preserve the peace of the United States as to carry four or five Southern states for the Republi- can ticket. It is set two months till the election, and there are no disturbances in the South that come within the range of the en- forcement law. Why, then, should the attorney general anticipate troubles of so serious and threat ening nature as to remind mar shals that they have authority to summon, not only all the United States troops and all the State mi litia, but all the males and females over fifteen years of age in the State to suppress them2 The en- torcement act, which the marshals are instructed on, has nothing to do with the election of State or To- cal officers; it applies only to the election of federal oflicers-presi- dent, vice president, ard members of congress. But as the State elections in the South are held at the same time with the preslden- tial election, the attorney gener- al's circular virtually places the peace of the States for the time being in the hands of partisali and their deputies,
 It is announced in connection with the circular that there was a lengthy conference held at the war office to consider it. Sccreta- rics Robcson, Chandler, Attorney General Taft, Gen. Sherman and Governor Chamberlain and Sena- tor Patterson, of South Carolina, were present and took part in the discussion. The presence of this Republican governor, and this Re publican Senator from South Car. lima at the meeting possibly throws some light on the object of the circular. Is it part of D scheme to intimidate the Southern to carry tho southern States by books of aflidavits like those on which the Kellogg gov arnment in Louisiana rests, or to return fraudulent certificates from States for warrant tu .he Senate to declare Hayes cleo ed? There are some accompa- !ylng indications that point to such scheme, but we do not be ieve the people will approve 1t. If the Southern whites shall bear themselves with moderation and 'atience, the people of the North will insist that they have their tights in spite of all that the aa- ninistration may do to disrran hise them. If there is to be rouhle at the south. we hope the ,eople of that section will take are that the plotters at Washing ou are the authors oi it.-St. Louis