New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-11-28
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.


the significant fact that the Democratic
majority in the House of Representatives
has not offered to amend that law in any
respect whatever. The President inherits
all this authority deemed by the nation
necessary to maintain the integrity Of the
Union. At the present time, however, il
has not been necessary to roll out the
heavier ordnance Of executive discretion.
There is no present need to declare State
in instruction against the Federal gov
eminent; to appoint military command
ants, declare martial law or blockade any
insurrecionary city or district, and cut of
its communication with any other part of
the United States. The President, acting
under the first section of this ample law,
announces by military command:
| The government has been called Upon to
| aid with the military and naval forces of
the United States to maintain republican
government in the State against resistance
too formidable to be overcome by State au-
thcrities.
He thus orders the Secretary of War
You are hereby directed to sustain Gov
ernOr Chamberlain in his authority against
domestic violence, until otherwise directed.
The definition of domestic violence hav-
ing been thus given, it will become our duty
as in some part guardians of the public well
fare to SO apply that definition that our
own friends and fellow citizens may profit
by it. What is the domestic violence in
South Carolina? It began with the Ham
burg massacre. It has continued through
the violence and abuse Of an excited can
vass. It has united the whole military
force Of the warlike whites against the
unarmed suffrage of the colored citizens
It has bullied the authorities appointed
by law to decide elections, and attempted
by the device of injunction and the duress
Of imprisonment to compel them to cede
and submit their duties to the judicial de-
partment of the government.
This attempt to defeat the will Of the
people as expressed through the personal
authority of the law, constitutes domestic
violence and threatens the suspension of
republican government within the State
of South Carolina. We turn from that
State to this. We pray the people, who
are more concerned in the peace of society
than in the success of rapacious and blood
thirsty politicians, to compare the defini-
ton of domestic violence, as impressed by
the order of President Grant, with the
state Of affairs presented in Louisiana.
Upon the banner of the Last Ditchers is
inscribed, ''Colfax," ''Coushatta," ''La-
fourche," Feliciana," with hundred
minor victories over the weak and unpro-
tected which are syllabled on its folds.
A Governor installed under the law has
been fired at by the assassin, his authority
has been overthrown by armed and or
ganized force, and, though reinstated by
the same Federal power that is now ex-
erted to suppress domestic violence in
South Carolina, has never been recog-
nized as authority by those who
deposed the State rulers up to this
day. There is even a circumstance of
domestic violence and q violation of re-
publican rule peculiar to Louisiana. It
is a provisional government claiming
equal legality, with superior authority
over that of the State. 1t has all the attri-
butes Of a government, and the obedience
to it's orders by the party which has Or
ganized it. This provisional and revolu-
tionary government has ordered the bust |
ness and social prescription of its politi-
cal opponents; denied them the rights of |
political courtesy; recommended the Or |
ganization of cavalry movement at the
polls; demanded choice in the equal ap-
potntment of commissioners to scrutinize |
The legality of the election, and pro-
claimed the success Of q Democratic |
President upon certified" returns before |
the lawful commissioners had received |
The reports of a half dozen precincts. This
provisional government has recently been |
reinforced by the political and pecuniary
interests of the Democratic pools and
politicians of New York, and may be alone
from proclaiming its own re-
turns end seating its own candidates by |
the presence of United States troops in |
his city. President Grant is not man of |
many words, but they are significant and |
weighty. He has defined the domestic
violence which in South Carolina has |
justified him in ordering the support of |
The authorities Of that State. We ask any |
reflective man in what would it be neces- |
'ary to change word of that order should |
Governor Kellogg deem it necessary to
make the same demand that Governor |
Chamberlain has made?
The duplication of that order would be |
inevitable should similar application
become necessary. But, says this des-
perate Last Ditcher, we will go further
md commit such acts of violence as will
throw the State under military govern
nent, and throw an explosive into the
Union which shall shake it into fragments. |
Men who do not wish to incur another
war-men who have some other business
han salary hunting, will note the nature
If the Presidents order. In Carolina the |
forces are directed ''to sustain Governor |
in his authority" Thus far |
his force is subordinate and auxiliary to |
he State authorities. There are, then,