, 1876-12-16
THE CRISIS In THE SOUTH.
The Army I'm South CarOIina-Fraud
Sustained by Force.

the hall, and the State Government
transferred wholly TO the republicans,
| who haze since controlled 1t with re
sul:s well known 10 the country. Now
this act OF military unsurpation has
been repeated in South Carolina. The
! last act is the worst, for the Governs
ment has had nearly two years to re.
uent of lis first blGnder, had been
warned of tie danger by The ahleSt
men in the country, and had, indeed,
admitted and repudiated the wrong
which had been done. The occupa
ton of the South Carolina State House
by troops, and the delivery Of the
State to one party, is, therefore,
greater outrage than that ecnsumma
ted ct New Orleans, IS it was ordered
with full knowledge Of lis illegaIity.
The difference is that between an Of
lence committed in ignorance, per-
haps, and a crime done in the light OF
day. In uroof of this President Grant
NAV be cited as witness. In bis mess
sage TO Congress, Just after the Louisl.
ana outrage, The President said that
he did not know of the event until
after it had occurred, and disciaimed
the responsibility. lie added, 81 am
weli aware that any military interter-
ence by the officers or troops of the
United States, with the organization
of State Legislature, or any OF It's
proceedings, or with any civil depart
ment of the government, is repugnant
10 our ideas OF government. | can con
ceive Of no case, not Involving re-
bellion or insurrection, where such in
reference by authority Of the general
government ought 10 be permitted or
can be justified"
This is true. The country has now
TO learn what rebellion or insurrection
existed in South Carolina on the 2Slh
of November, 1876. All accounts
agree that the State was as tranquil
as New York. Not blow had been
struck, not a shot fred, during the
four weeks in which the result of the
election remained undecided. The
orly outrage of any moment recorded
was the burning Of the house cf Wade
Hampton, the democratic candidate
for Governor and General Grant
would hard ' consider that " rebellion
or insuTrecti0n" At all events, he
did not send General Ruger to Colum
bla IN tue interest Of Wade Hampton,
bni ordered him to obey the orders Of
Cham beriain, as the legal Governor {;
and the first order issued under this
authority was to exclude from the As
sembly hail all democratic members
of the Legislature, and 10 allow fifty
four cojoTed ani fifty i've white repCb-
ilcanS 10 meet Ia secret session, organ
IZe The GOyernmt nl, and declare what
candidates were elected State officers
This was the overthrow of republican
government in South Carolina, and it
was carried out without the least pre-
text Of rebellion" not even street
quarrel in Columbia. At midnight
the capitol was darkened and de,rr-
ted soon after midnight it was bar
racks for the United States troous,
and tie next morning the republican
members were admitted 10 the hall,
while the democrats were confronted
al the doors by sentlnels with fixed
bayOnets. We do not see how this
act of military Interference can be
reconciled with the Presidents decla
ration OF the !aw. Out Of his own
mouth he is convicted.
To this desperate condition the
country is brought by the act Of the
Government. After the election the
President counSelIed peace, and peace
was preserved with really astonishing
manimity The people were resolved
to endure almost any evil rather than
resort to illegal methods of asserting
: their rights. But now the Govern
, ment itself creates the very diStur-
bance it appealed TO the nation TO
avert. 1t calls out troops where there
is no foe =; it makes war upon a
sovereign Legislature; it interferes in
local politics, plainly in order to main
tam lis own party IN power Ii there
should be b!oodshed in South Carolina
and we trust the example of Wade
Hampton and his noble advice will
prevent ii, who would be responsible
but the President, who has invaded
It's territory without cause, and in
= violation of his own Interpretation of
the national law? Is all this appeal
) Tor submission and tranquility only
intended rs strategy under which the
President is to silently move, step by
2 step, to the conquest Of the three
doubtful States, and force upon them
officers they did not elect, by pro-
tecting frauds or by the direct uss Of
military power
The country is compelled to believe
: so. -Four weeks have passed since the
election, and the only States in which
the results are not settled, are those
into which troops were sent previous
TO the 1lh. of November. In each of
these States the machinery Of counts
ing the votes has been controlled by
the administration partizaus. aud by
the men who are at once candidates for
J State offices and judges OF the vote.
This is the case IN South Carolina,
where Governor Chamberlain is a can
dldale for reelection, and entrusted
with the command of the United
States troops by the President. II il